October 23, 2016 – Gen. 5:1 – 6:8 – Adam’s generations; Giants

Posted on October 22, 2016 by admin

Torah Readings – Gen. 5:1 – 6:8 – Adam’s generations, the Nephilim

Satan’s first attempts to thwart God’s promise of the Messiah by corrupting Adam’s bloodline.

Psalm 4

Haftorah – Isaiah 29:18-24; 30:15

Notes on Genesis 5:1 – 6:8

Fallen Angels and Evil Spirits

More on the Nephilim

Notes on Psalm 4

Notes on Isaiah 29:18-24; 30:15

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October 16, 2016 – Gen. 3:22 – 4:26 – Banished from Eden, Cain & Abel

Posted on October 10, 2016 by admin

Torah Reading – Gen. 3:22 – 4:26 – Banished from Eden, Cain & Abel

God promises that if we “do not well” like Cain, the sin offering is always available if we repent.

Psalm 3

Haftorah – Ezekiel 28:13-19 + 24-26

Notes on Genesis 3:22-4:26

Humanity lost and regained

Psalm 3 Notes

Ezekiel 28 Notes

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The Ethrog and the Feast of Tabernacles

Posted on October 3, 2016 by admin

pomegranate
This year we’re bringing the ethrog ceremony – one of the most important aspects of the Tabernacles Feast – front and center.

The ethrog is a special fruit that was a vital part of the eight-day Jewish harvest festival of Tabernacles.

In a ritual ceremony, the “lulav” bundle of palm, willow, and myrtle branches is held in one hand and the ethrog in the other, and both are “waved.” The Talmud says the lulav and ethrog represent the whole human body, with the ethrog representing the heart. Waving them reflects the command to “love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind.” Continue reading →

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October 2, 2016 – Gen. 2:4 – 3:21 – Adam, Eve and the Fall

Posted on September 19, 2016 by admin

Torah Reading – Gen. 2:4 – 3:21 – Adam and Eve, the Fall

Humankind’s fall into bondage to sin, and the promise of a Deliverer through the “seed of the woman.”

Psalm 2

Haftorah – Isaiah 51:6-16
Isaiah 40:26 – 41:4

These readings span two weeks, through the Feast of Tabernacles.

Genesis 2:4 – 3:21 Notes

See more notes here.

Why was Adam placed in the Garden?

The Garden was a test

Additional notes on Genesis 3.

Note: Genesis 3:15 as a prophecy of Christ

Notes on Psalm 2

Haftorah Notes

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Sept. 25, 2016 – Yom Kippur – Day of Atonement

Posted on September 19, 2016 by admin

The binding of Isaac is said to have occurred on Yom Kippur. The fast, which we will observe September 24-25, coincided with the sin offering offered for all Israel and the Kol Nidrei, the absolution of vows. Twin goats were chosen by lot, one for sacrifice and the other for release, bearing away the people’s guilt. It was the one time of the year that the high priest entered into the Temple’s Holy of Holies. Jesus fulfilled this feast:

Hebrews 9:12 – “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”

Read the Yom Kippur memo here.

The Triennial Cycle Torah readings will resume October 2.

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September 18, 2016 – Gen. 1:1 – 2:3 – Creation

Posted on September 16, 2016 by admin

Torah Reading – Gen. 1:1 – 2:3 – Creation

We’re also celebrating Rosh Hashanah!

Psalm 1 – Delight in the Torah

Haftorah – Isaiah 42:5-13 + 21; Isaiah 44:24 – 45:5, 7;
Isaiah 45:18-25; 46:9-10
Isaiah 65:17-25; 66:22
Special: Hosea 14:2-10; ‎ Micah 7:18-20

See some additional notes.

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The Summer Fasts of Tammuz and Ab

Posted on July 5, 2016 by admin
destruction_of_temple_small

Destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem by Francesco Hayez, 1867.

Zechariah 8:19 – Thus saith the LORD of hosts; The fast of the fourth month, and the fast of the fifth, and the fast of the seventh, and the fast of the tenth, shall be to the house of Judah joy and gladness, and cheerful feasts; therefore love the truth and peace.

The Fast of Tammuz, which we will celebrate this year on July 24, and the Fast of Ab on Aug. 14, mark off a season of mourning. The first fast reminded Jews of the day when the wall of Jerusalem was breached by the Babylonians in 587 B.C. (and later by the Romans in 70 A.D.). The second fast designated the complete destruction of the Temple and Israel carried off into captivity. The focus is on the idolatry that brought God’s judgment upon them, and a search to rid themselves of any idolatry within.

The medieval Jewish commentator Maimonides said that all these fasts would cease in the times of the Messiah. So Zechariah’s prophesy points to God’s final victory, which as believers we celebrate from our position as “seated with him in the heavenlies.”

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