As we approach Rosh Chodesh Sh'vat next Thursday evening, I want to discuss a topic that has been on my mind concerning the traditions surrounding the observance of the "New Moon" as it is often translated. Rosh Chodesh, the day that celebrates the arrival of the new Hebrew month has long been recognized as a woman's holiday …
Va’era (I appeared)
Torah - Exodus 6:2-9:35 Haftarah - Isaiah 26:20, Ezekiel 28:25-29:21, Zephaniah 2:3 Brit Hadashah - Romans 9:14-18, 2 Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Revelation 6:1-17, 8:1-13, ch16 This week we pick up right after Moshe's first encounter with Pharaoh which didn't end so well for the Hebrew children. After the foremen scolded Moshe for getting them into trouble …
Sh’mot (Names)
Torah - Exodus 1:1-6:1 Haftarah - Isaiah 27:6-28:13; 29:22-23, Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 Brit Hadashah - Matthew 22:23-46, Luke 5:12-39, Acts 3:12-15; 5:27-32; 7:17-36; 22:1-22; 24:14-16, Hebrews 11:23-26 The book of Exodus picks up right where the book of Genesis leaves off, by listing the "names" (sh'mot) of the descendants of Jacob who came down to Egypt …
Vayigash (And He Came Near)
Torah - Genesis 44:18-47:27 Haftarah - Ezekiel 37:15-28 Brit Hadashah - Acts 7:13-15, 2 Corinthians 5:1-21 Ephesians 2:1-10 Colossians 1:1-29 This is the eleventh reading from the book of Genesis (Bereshith). In this parshah we see Joseph's final and most telling test of his brothers, their tearful reunion, and Israel's journey to Egypt after receiving a …
Miketz (at the end)
Torah - Genesis 41:44:17 Haftarah - 1 Kings 3:15-4:1 Brit Hadashah - Acts 7:9-16, Revelation 12:1-17 This is the tenth reading from the book of Genesis. Last weeks portion (Vayeshev) ended with Joseph still in prison for a crime he did not commit, and now any hope of an appeal are pretty much gone as …
Tzitzit – Do you wear them?
Numbers 15:38 Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: This command was given on the heals of event that had the whole congregation of Israel …
Take up your Cross…
Luke 9:23 And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. What does it mean to take up your cross? Seriously? In the western Greco-Roman church mindset, what does that statement even mean? We don’t crucify people these …
