October 30, 2016 – Genesis 6:9 – 7:24 – Noah and the flood

Posted on October 30, 2016 by admin

Torah Readings: Genesis 6:9 – 7:24 – Noah and the flood

Psalm 5

Haftorah – Isaiah 54:9-17 + 55:5

Isaiah 60:18 – 61:4 + 9

Notes on Genesis 6:9 – 7:24

Psalm 5 Notes

Notes on Isaiah 54:9-17 + 55:5 and Isaiah 60:18 – 61:4 + 9

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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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