Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Vayeshev, Jealousy, Hatred, Envy, Joseph, and Me
This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayeshev (Bereshit / Genesis 37:1-40:23), we learn that Jacob loved Joseph more than his brothers (37:3, וְיִשְֹרָאֵל אָהַב אֶת-יוֹסֵף מִכָּל-בָּנָיו). Joseph had a dream about his future (37:5-10) as a result his brothers become jealous (37:11). As the story continues, Joseph’s brothers plot murder in their hearts (37:18-22) but instead they put him...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Vayishlach, What do you think Righteousness is about?
This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayishlach (Bereshit / Genesis 32:3-36:43). This week we read that Jacob, before crossing over the river Jordan into Eretz Canaan, wrestles with a man (32:24) and realizes that he has seen God face to face and lived (32:25-31). God instructs Jacob to go to Bethel and dwell there (35:1). The Lord appears to...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Vayetze, How Awesome is this Place
This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayetze (Bereshit / Genesis 28:10-32:2). Jacob flees from his brother Esav from Beersheba toward Haran and falls asleep. The Lord speaks to Jacob in a dream (וַיַּחֲלֹם) reaffirming the covenant He made with Jacob’s fathers (Bereshit / Genesis 28:10-19). Jacob travels to Haran and meets Laban his mother’s brother (29:9-14) and also meets...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Toldot, Who are You?
This weeks reading is from Parashat Toldot (Bereshit / Genesis 25:19-28:9). Parashat Toldot may be summarized in the following way: (i) the struggle between Jacob and Esav within Rebecca’s womb (25:21-23), (ii) Esav became a skilled hunter and Jacob dwelled in tents (25:27-28) Isaac loved Esav and Rebecca loved Jacob, (iii) Esav sold his birthright for a bowl of...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Chayei Sarah, Everything we do is Spiritual
This weeks reading is from Parashat Chayei Sarah (Bereshit / Genesis 23:1-25:18). This week’s reading is relatively short and may be outlined in the following way, (i) Sarah Abraham’s wife dies (Bereshit / Genesis 23:1-3), (ii) Abraham bargains for a piece of land from the sons of Heth to bury his wife (Bereshit / Genesis 23:4-20), (iii) Abraham sends...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Vayera, Making Godly Choices
This weeks reading is from Parashat Vayera (Bereshit / Genesis 18:1-22:24), we read in the opening verses וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יְהֹוָה בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא “the Lord appeared to him (Abraham) by the oaks of Mamre,” according to the Scriptures, the Lord God almighty visits Abraham along with two men (angels) traveling with Him (18:1-3). Abraham learns his wife Sarah is going...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Lech Lecha, All the Nations will Share in the Blessing
This weeks reading is from Parashat Lech Lecha (Bereshit / Genesis 12:1-17:27). This week the Lord God calls Abram to leave his land, leave his father’s house, and to leave his people (וַיֹּאמֶר יְהוָֹה אֶל-אַבְרָם לֶךְ-לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ וּמִמּוֹלַדְתְּךָ וּמִבֵּית אָבִיךָ אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר אַרְאֶךּ) and go to a new land. The Lord promises to bless Abram and make him into...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Noach, Giving rest from the work and toil of our hands?
This weeks reading is from Parashat Noach (Bereshit / Genesis 6:9-11:32), which opens with the Lord seeing the wickedness of man on the face of the earth (וַיַּרְא יְהֹוָה כִּי רַבָּה רָעַת הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ וְכָל-יֵצֶר מַחְשְׁבֹת לִבּוֹ רַק רַע כָּל-הַיּוֹם: ו וַיִּנָּחֶם יְהֹוָה כִּי-עָשָֹה אֶת-הָאָדָם בָּאָרֶץ וַיִּתְעַצֵּב אֶל-לִבּוֹ). The Scriptures tell us that the heart of man was consistently...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Bereshit, Is Yeshua (Jesus) God?
This weeks reading is for Parashat Bereshit (Bereshit / Genesis 1:1-6:8), we learn about the creation of the world, the creation of man and woman, and the fall of man into sin through disobedience to the command of the Lord. Studying Bereshit / Genesis 2 we read that the Lord God formed man from the dust of the earth...
Bits of Torah Truths, Chol HaMoed Sukkot, A Midrash on Achari Mot and HaMoed Sukkot
This weeks reading is for Chol HaMoed Sukkot (Shemot / Exodus 33:12-34:26) and is taken from the end of Parashat Ki Tisa (Shemot / Exodus 33:12-34:26). Here Moshe asked the Lord God to forgive the sins of the Children of Israel and Moshe asks the Lord to reveal Himself and His glory. The Lord commands Moshe to make two...
Bits of Torah Truths, Yom Kippur, How important is Yom Kippur for us today?
This weeks reading is for Yom Kippur (Vayikra / Leviticus 16) יום כיפור “Day of Atonement” (September 14th) Yom Kippur is observed on the 10th day of the month of Tishri which concludes 10 days of repentance that began with Rosh Hashanah. Vayikra / Leviticus 16 describes the temple service and sacrificial ceremony the High Priest would perform on...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Ha’azinu, The Torah on God Buying and Selling
This weeks reading is from Parashat Ha’azinu (Devarim / Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52), Moshe writes a song that he spoke to the children of Israel in Devarim / Deuteronomy 32:1-52. In last week’s Parashah, the Lord God told Moshe that Joshua will lead the people after his death. The Lord told Moshe to write down this song (וְעַתָּה כִּתְבוּ לָכֶם אֶת-הַשִּׁירָה...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parshiot Nitzavim and Vayelech, How important is Circumcision today?
This weeks reading is from Parshiot Nitzavim and Vayelech (Devarim / Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30), Moshe writes of the future when the people are scattered to the nations because of their rebellion, and come to their senses, and the Lord will remember the covenant and have compassion (mercy, וְרִחֲמֶךָ) and restore them from captivity by gathering them from all the nations....
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Ki Tavo, Is it important to diligently study the Bible?
In weeks reading is from Parashat Ki Tavo (Devarim / Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8), the name “Ki Tavo” means “when you come,” is taken from the opening verse of the section of Scripture that says וְהָיָה כִּי-תָבוֹא אֶל-הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר יְהוָֹה אֱלֹהֶיךָ נֹתֵן לְךָ נַחֲלָה וִירִשְׁתָּהּ וְיָשַׁבְתָּ בָּהּ: “When you come into the land that the Lord God has given you as...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Ki Tetze, Who we are in Christ as God’s chosen people!
In weeks reading, from Parashat Ki Tetze (Devarim / Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19), Moshe lists 21 Mitzvot spanning a number of topics when the people enter into the Promised Land: (i) Laws relating to a prisoner of war (21:10-15), (ii) Inheritance to the first born (21:15-17), (iii) Rebellious children (21:18-21), (iv) Capital punishment by hanging on a tree (21:22-23), (v) Not...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Shoftim, Shoftim v’Shotrim (Judges and Officers)
In weeks reading, from Parashat Shoftim (Devarim / Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9), Moshe tells the people they are to appoint judges, officers, from the men who are righteous who will give righteous judgement (16:18). It is written that they are not to distort justice, not to be partial, and not to take a bribe, these things pervert the words of the...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Re’eh, If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you
In weeks reading, from Parashat Re’eh (Devarim / Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17), Moshe says “See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse.” Moshe says the blessing comes if we “listen and obey.” The curse comes to those who turn aside from the way God has commanded. Moshe states that when the Lord brings you into the land,...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Ekev, Pursuing God
This weeks reading is from Parashat Ekev (Devarim / Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25), Moshe says וְהָיָה | עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִֹיתֶם אֹתָם וְשָׁמַר יְהֹוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ לְךָ אֶת-הַבְּרִית וְאֶת-הַחֶסֶד אֲשֶׁר נִשְׁבַּע לַאֲבֹתֶיךָ 7:12 ‘Then it shall come about, because you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you His...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Va’etchanan, Moshe the Prototypic Mashiach
This weeks reading is from Parashat Va’etchanan (Devarim / Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11), Parashat Va’etchanan, Moshe is summarizing the main points during Israel’s journey from Egypt to their present location (Beth Peor). Moshe requests to enter the Promised Land but God said to go to the top of mount Pisgah to see the land with his eyes only. In Devarim /...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Devarim, Faith in the Promises
This weeks reading is from Parashat Devarim (Devarim / Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22), the Scriptrues say 1:1 These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel across the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite Suph, between Paran and Tophel and Laban and Hazeroth and Dizahab. (NASB) It appears that Deuteronomy begins following the end of Israel’s journey in...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parshiot Matot and Maasei, Fire, Water, and God’s Holiness
This weeks reading is from Parshiot Matot and Massei (Bamidbar / Numbers 30:2-36:13), Moshe speaks to the heads of the tribes of the sons if Israel saying א וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל כְּכֹל אֲשֶׁר-צִוָּה יְהוָֹה אֶת-מֹשֶׁה: 30:1 Then Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes of the sons of Israel, saying, ‘This is the word which the Lord...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Pinchas, The Blessing of the King Messiah
This weeks reading is from Parashat Pinchas (Bamidbar / Numbers 25:10-30:1), the Lord speaks to Moshe saying that Pinchas, the son of Eleazar, has turned away His wrath from the sons of Israel because he was zealous for the Lord. Pinchas’ Jealousy for the Lord is found in Bamidbar / Numbers 25:7-9. Pinchas observed the sin of the sons...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Balak, The importance of Prayer
This weeks reading is from Parashat Balak (Bamidbar / Numbers 16:1-18:32), Balak king of Moab saw what the children of Israel had done to the Amorites and both he and the people of Moab were afraid being very anxious about Israel’s presence. As a result, Balak asks for help from a man named Bilam. Now Bilam was well known...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Chukat, Looking to the One who was lifted up
This weeks reading is from Parashat Chukat (Bamidbar / Numbers 16:1-18:32), the priest takes the “red heifer” outside of the camp, slaughters the heifer, and sprinkles the blood towards the front of the Tent of Meeting seven times. The entire heifer is burned to ashes, its hide, flesh, blood, refuse (19:5) and cedar wood, hyssop, and scarlet material are...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Korach, Reckless Abandon
This weeks reading is from Parashat Korach (Bamidbar / Numbers 16:1-18:32), Korach, Datan, and Aviram rose up and assembled themselves against Moshe and against Aaron and questioned whether their role as priests was really the will of God. Two hundred and fifty men went to offer incense by fire before the Lord. As a result, the 250 men died...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Shelach Lecha, The Fear of the Lord is a Healthy Thing!
This weeks reading is from Parashat Shelach Lecha (Bamidbar / Numbers 13:1-15:41), the Lord commands Moshe to send men to spy out the land of Canaan which He was giving to the Children of Yisrael (13:1-2). Moshe says יח וּרְאִיתֶם אֶת-הָאָרֶץ מַה-הִוא וְאֶת-הָעָם הַיֹּשֵׁב עָלֶיהָ הֶחָזָק הוּא הֲרָפֶה הַמְעַט הוּא אִם-רָב: 13:18 ‘See what the land is like, and...
Bits of Torah Truths, Parashat Beha’alotcha, Walking in the Truth and Light of His Word
This weeks reading is from Parashat Beha’alotcha (Bamidbar / Numbers 4:21-7:89), the Lord instructs Moshe to cleanse the Leviim; the purification process includes sprinkling of water, removing all hair, and to wash their bodies and clothing (8:6-7). The Priests are purified then by an offering made in the blood of a bull for a Chatat Korban (Sin Offering) and...
