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Thread: Genesis to Deuteronomy, a weekly study

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    Registered User JacobBenAvraham's Avatar
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    Genesis to Deuteronomy, a weekly study

    Welcome to this new study series, this time, over the book of Leviticus, the third book in the Torah, Each thread that follows this first one will be dated, so you can follow along. Since we follow the Jewish "Parasha" teaching method, I always include a midrash (commentary) from the Torah, from the Haf Torah (Prophets) and as Messianic believers, we include a section from the New Testament.

    After reading this Parasha (VaYikra) next week, I will attach the next Parasha under the "response" section, and of course, with next week's date, so you can follow each study section, if there are comments, just scroll down until you see the next Parasha study, These studies are from a messianic Jewish perspective.

    So, as each week comes by, just return to "LEVITICUS (a week by week study...) and scroll down to the next study section. The posts will be added every weekend, so, when Saturdays come around, look for a new thread.
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    PARASHA: VaYikra (and he called)......................March 19, 2016 / 9th of Adar, 5776

    LEVITICUS 1:1-6:7...............ISAIAH 43:21-44:23........................HEB 10: 1-18

    We start a new study in the Book of VaYikra (Leviticus) thus named so in Greek because it talks about the Levitical priesthood and the sacrifices.

    "VaYikra El Moshe" starts verse 1 of Leviticus, "God called to Moshe" this happened three times, the first time that Adonai called TO Moshe was at the burning bush, then he called TO Moshe when he invited Moshe up to the mountain top to give him the commandments, then he called TO Moshe to teach these commandments to his people.

    The word "sacrifice" in Hebrew is "korban" the root word is "Karav" (krv) which means "to approach" or "come near to". So the animal sacrifices were instituted to bring the people "near to" or to "approach" God. By all means, the animal sacrifices with their blood never SAVED a person, but through their FAITH they were saved, the same applies to us today, our faith in the one-time "korban" of Yeshua, his sacrifice of blood on the cross saved us for ever, provided that we BELIEVE and HAVE FAITH. back then, the sacrifices COVERED
    the sins of Israel, today, our sins have been "blotted out" "erased" for ever.

    BURNT OFFERING was for ALL people, symbolizing the recognition of our sin nature, bulls, sheep, goats, turtledoves and young pigeons were used. There was an animal for every person no matter what economic status. The rich could bring a bull (unblemished) the middle class (one could say) could bring sheep or goats, and the very poor would bring a turtle dove or a pigeon. It speaks that ALL OF US, no MATTER WHAT OUR STATUS in this world, ALL ARE SINNERS, AND WE ALL HAVE THE SIN NATURE. the animals of course symbolize Yeshua, who was the ultimate "korban" the bull symbolizes the "strength of God" the ancient letter "aleph" took the form of the head of a bull or ox in paleo-Hebrew. The sheep/lamb symbolizes "Yeshua who is the Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world. The goats symbolize the sacrifice at Yom Kippur, one was sacrificed and the other sent away, symbolizing that Yeshua bore our sins on the cross, and "took them away" never to be remembered again.

    GRAIN OFFERING symbolize the faith that the people had in the provision of Adonai, for their future crops, that the people's lives were in God's hands, it was a tribute to YHVH the name is MINCHAH offering. It consisted of fine flour, with oil and frankincense. The priest would take three fingers (as kind of a spoon) and scoop up some of the mixture and throw it on the fire on the brazen altar. It would go up in smoke as an offering. We can see Yeshua illustrated in this, since the fine flour is used to make bread, and Yeshua is the "Bread of Life" the olive oil symbolizes the "Ruach HaKodesh" (The Holy Spirit) and the frankincense, symbolizes our prayers as it is used also in incense. The smoke goes up as a "sweet savor" unto Adonai, just like our prayers go up to Heaven, and the LORD delights in hearing them. The grain/flour mixture did not contain leaven, since leaven symbolizes "sin" and Yeshua is "without" sin, and so we will be in "Ha Olam Haba" (in the world to come)

    PEACE OFFERING, The "korban Shalom" was a voluntary offering to Adonai as a "thanksgiving" or in "gratitude" for blessings received, kind of like what we do in the USA on "Thanksgiving" we invite family and friends and roast a turkey as a "thanksgiving offering" thanking God for blessings. The animals were bulls, cows, sheep, and goats. The fat was burned on the altar, and the other portions were for Aaron and his sons, they would participate in eating the offering together with the offerer. This reminds us also of holidays when families go to the parks and bring hamburgers, hot dogs, sausages (hopefully kosher) and "fajitas" and have a BBQ over an open fire, we can look at these times as times of "celebrations of peace and blessings" We as believers have the "peace which passes all understanding" because we know we are saved through "HaDam Yeshua" the blood of Yeshua and we are part of the family of Elohim. Any time is a good time to offer a "korban shalom".

    SIN OFFERING, would be for someone who sinned "unintentionally" the animals would be a bull, goat, or a lamb. The animal would be slaughtered at the altar and the priest would dip his finger in the blood and sprinkle the blood 7 times toward the curtain of the Holy Place, we see the number 7, the perfect number, symbolizing our God who is perfect and pure, Today, we need not to sacrifice animals since Yeshua was the "sacrificed lamb" and all we need do is "confess and turn " from our sins, and we receive forgiveness.

    TRESPASS OFFERING, would be for a person who took an oath falsely, or touched some unclean thing unknowingly, or without thinking, uttered "thoughtless, not-very-nice, words
    (like a lot of us do today) the animals were a lamb, goat, or a turtledove, or pigeon. We see there is a provision for ALL PEOPLE, like the burnt offering. we are ALL GULTY before the LORD in trespassing his commandments, we do it all the time, even in thought. But again, all we need do is confess our sins and "turn" (Teshuvah) from our sins, Yeshua took the place of all the sacrificial animals, he gave his ALL for ALL of us, past, present, and future
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    ISAIAH 43:21-44:23

    Adonai is stating his case, and he is showing mercy and ever-lasting love and forgiveness for his people. Israel has forgotten about the "Korbanot" (sacrifices) and have been living in sin, far from Adonai, but he will not forget Israel, and offers redemption, He is the ALEF and the TAV (et) in ancient Hebrew illustrates the "Strong God of the Covenant" He is the ROCK (HaTzur) as Yeshua is the ROCK. Adonai says the "idolatry is foolishness" statues of wood, rock, etc., have no life, so why bow down before them? (Shall I fall down before a block of wood?) 44 vs 19. For YHVH has redeemed Jacob and glorifies himself in Israel, through Yeshua Ha Goel, Yeshua the Redeemer, not only for Israel but for all mankind.
    __________________________________________________ _____________________________________

    HEBREWS 10:1-18

    Rav Shaul states what we learned before, that the animal sacrifices could not take away the sins of the people, they could only cover them, but now, through Yeshua, our sins have been blotted out, cast away from us, erased, The old covenant was not perfect, in this way, so therefore, under the New Covenant, which is a better covenant, we need not get our hands bloody with animal blood, only lift up our hands on high and thank Yeshua for his one-time all sufficient sacrifice for our sins, for all time.

    Shabbat Shalom......................Rabbi J. Ben Avraham
    Last edited by JacobBenAvraham; 03-26-2016 at 04:52 PM.

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    LEVITICUS 6:8 - 8:36 sacrifices and the anointing of the High Priest Aaron



    PARASHA: "Tzav' (Command) March 26th, 2016 / 16th of Adar, 5776



    LEV 6:8-8:36.......................JEREMIAH 7:21-8:3......................HEB 8:1-6

    We continue to look at the "Korbanot Shel Mishkan" (the sacrifices of the tabernacle)

    "The Burnt offering" (korban Olah), "The grain offering" (Mincha) , "The Peace offering' (Zevah Shelamim) , "The sin offering" (Korban Chatat), "the trespass or guilt offering" (Korban Asham) . One thing about the burnt, sin, and guilt offerings, there had to be "Teshuvah" repentance, this had to come from the heart, a "turning away from sin" like Yeshua told the woman caught in the act of adultery, "Go and sin no more" she was forgiven, but she was told "not to sin any more".

    The burnt offerings symbolized the recognition of our sin nature and a willingness to give one self to God... The sin and trespass/guilt offerings symbolized the offerer's recognition that "I have sinned" in a specific way, unintentionally, and forgiveness was sought. if the trespass was some property damage, item lost or stolen , the person offering the animal had to first "compensate" the lost, THEN, bring the offering, the grain and peace offering were to "give thanks to God" for blessings received, it could be a bumper crop of wheat, an increase in cattle or in the herds of sheep and goats.

    Every time we go to the park for a BBQ or host a Thanksgiving turkey for family and friends , we are in a way hosting a "Peace and/or grain offering" do we not have meat? bread? and drinks there? of course, can you in imagine fajitas without tortillas and soft drinks or juice? these offerings included "wine" and also olive oil and Frankincense were added to the meal/grain offerings.

    We can see Yeshua in all of these offerings, The clean animals symbolized Yeshua, the Sacrificed Lamb, the grain offering Yeshua the Bread of Life, the peace offering, Yeshua Prince of Peace.

    In this Parasha we see "Ner Tamid" or "Esh Tamid" (the eternal flame or fire) the burnt offering roasted all night and ashes were left in the morning, they were removed to a clean place outside the camp, and a new korban added to the flames, Fire symbolizes purification, destruction, heat, light, it also symbolizes our zeal and love for God and the things of HaShem and service to Adonai, you have heard the expression "Being on fire for God!" The things we did yesterday are gone, and the things of today remain to be done, we can take the "ashes" to be the things of yesterday, yet they will be remembered and not forgotten, and YHVH takes into account ALL the things we do for his name's sake, honor, and glory, we might look upon them as ashes from yesterday's service, yet HE looks at them as future rewards in the World to Come.

    Chapter 8 is the highlight of the Torah, the Torah (Genesis - Deuteronomy) has 304,805 Hebrew letters. 79,977 words, and 5845 verses. Lev 8:15 is the "midpoint" the word "Yesod" (foundation) or "base" is the middle "Word" in the Torah. It talks about Aaron being anointed as high priest. He is symbolically a type of "Mashiach" (Messiah) since "to anoint" is "m sh k" in Hebrew letters, He was the mediator between the people and God,

    The blood of the animals used to anoint Aaron and his sons, was sprinkled on the horns of the brazen altar and poured out at the "base" or "foundation" of the altar, pointing us to Yeshua who is the "chief corner-stone, and the foundation stone" upon who our faith is based on.

    It is also interesting to see that the first word in the Torah is "B'reisheet" (In the beginning) the middle is, as we know "Yesod" (base or foundation) and the last word in Deuteronomy is "Israel" giving us the message that Yeshua is the Foundation stone of Israel from the beginning. If we take the last letters of the first three words in the first verse of Genesis we get the word "Emet" (truth) "alef" "mem" and "tav" which is one of Messiah's titles, Yeshua Ha Emet, from his statement "I AM the Way, the TRUTH (emet) and the life.

    Aaron and sons were anointed with blood on his right ear lobe, the right thumb, and the big toe on his right foot. This can symbolize our "HEARING " (Shema) and putting into action what we hear from his Word, our DOING, through mitzvoth (good deeds/ and per-forming commandments, and WALKING according to HIS direction, walking a "torah based lifestyle, or "Halacha" as some put it. This was the ministry of Aaron and his sons, and also, our ministry as well.
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    JEREMIAH 7:21-8:3, 9:22,23

    Adonai speaks through Yirimyahu telling Israel to repent and return to God, yet God told Jeremiah that Israel would not listen to him, sad, that was the case, sacrifices were performed without true repentance, kind of like the big bosses of the Mafia murdering and gunning down people, and then going to mass at the church and confessing before the priests, Israel was taken into slavery to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzer. We need to get back to God today, by true Teshuvah (repentance) from the heart, not just with words, God did not ask for sacrifices when HE took his people out of Egypt, he only asked for obedience, yet Israel failed to obey, the "Korbanot" was HIS way to point his people back to Him, through Yeshua, Ha Emet, the foundation stone, from the beginning.
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ___________________

    HEBREWS 8:1-6

    Yeshua is our High Priest, who mediates before the Father on our behalf. Aaron and his sons symbolized Yeshua, in their work and ministry as high priests. Yet the first covenant had fault, as it did not erase, get rid of our sinfulness, only covered, and only for a year.

    However, the one-time sacrifice of Yeshua on Calvary's cross blotted out our sins for ever, that is why HIS sacrifice is a "better" covenant, it bit the curse of sin right in the neck, crushed the head of the serpent, of HaSatan. That is why the sacrificial system was a "shadow" of "That which would come" (Yeshua's complete work of redemption)

    Shabbat Shalom.........................Rabbi Ben Avraham

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    LEV 9:1-11:47 "Being CONSECRATED" To God, Aaron and sons, "

    PARASHA: "Shemini" (eighth) April 2, 2016...........Adar 23, 5776

    LEV 9:1-11:47.................2 SAM 6:1-7:17.........................ACTS 10:9-22

    Aaron and his sons have been in the Mishkan (Tabernacle) for 7 days, awaiting the LORD, praying and getting ready to be consecrated as priests, in our terms, we would use the word "ordained". so now, on day "eight" of the "waiting on the LORD" all is ready, the number 8 in the bible symbolizes "new beginning" it will be a "new life" for Aaron and his sons, they will represent HaShem, the Great I AM , Adonai-Elohim-Yeshua, as mediators between the people and God. It is an important event. The animals are sacrificed, the blood placed on the 4 horns of the brazen altar, we can look at these 4 horns in each corner of the altar like the cross of Calvary, two on either side of the cross beam, and one at the head, and one at the foot, illustrating what Messiah did for us all. The blood was also poured out at the Base "Yesod" (remember last week's Parasha)

    Today, when we look and think on the word "consecrate" we think of "setting something apart" like the word "Kadosh" to be "set apart" When Adonai puts in the hearts and minds of those who wish to follow HIM and minister the Word to others, may chose to study in Bible Colleges, and so, "consecrating" themselves in studying the Word, preparation to teach, to become rabbis, pastors, etc. and finally, the "ordination" process follows, I studied 5 years in a Baptist Bible college, and afterwards, enrolled in a Messianic Jewish Yeshiva (Shema Israel Jewish Theological Institute) for another 5 years, and later was ordained Messianic rabbi in 2005, I consider this a very necessary preparation, studying and looking at scripture from both a Christian and Jewish perspective, and applying both in teaching Torah and Yeshua as Mashiach

    When the sacrifices were ready on the altar, Aaron blessed the people and fire came out from heaven and "fired up" the sacrifices, the first fire on the altar was lit by the LORD, All the people were glad, and shouted praises and fell on their faces in praising YHVH, what a glorious time, but wait.....something happened that dampened the whole event.

    Chap. 10 tells us about Nadab and Abihu, two of the sons of Aaron. Many want to know why? Why did Adonai "light-up" these two men (literally) when we read chap 10, we read that Nadab and Abihu offered "strange fire before the LORD. What could this have been?

    Scripture does not tell us for sure, we can only take an educated guess, we will find out for sure in heaven some day when we meet these two young men, they will tell us themselves, in the mean while we can only guess;

    1. They offered incense to Adonai, were told to do so? were they authorized? perhaps they were doing their "own thing" and got "fired-up" for it. We can not come to God on our terms, doing own "own thing" (what ever our "own thing" might be)

    2. "Strange fire" was mentioned. Well, let's say they were authorized to offer incense, but they made "their own fire" instead of taking of the burning coals on the brazen altar that the LORD had just kindled. It would be like trying to get to God without Messiah Yeshua intervening. If they indeed made their own fire, symbolically, they were offering up incense (prayers) without going through Yeshua, Yeshua said "I AM THE WAY...the truth and the life...NO ONE comes to the FATHER but by ME"

    3. They may have been drinking wine, and because of this, they might have been a little drunk and not thinking clearly, and thus suffered this untimely death by offering "strange fire" when we are in the presence of the LORD, doing ministry, we should always be awake, sober, and not affected by alcohol, drugs, etc

    It is interesting to note that they were dragged out of the tabernacle by their coats (tunics) seems like this was a special fire that consumed only Nadab and Abihu, and did not affect their clothing. Normally, when a person is on fire, their clothing burns too, this was not a "normal fire case"

    Chap 11 is always a topic of fussing and discussing, there is a saying "don't stand before a man and his food, or you're look for a rumble" or "We're not under law but grace" or "the LORD cleaned all foods, (remember Acts? Peter and sheet of unclean foods) or "It isn't what goes into a person which defiles man, but what comes out of a person" or "I just don't care, I'll eat what I want, everyone has to die someday"...............Well...yeah!...BUT...

    the word "law" has been wrongly translated from the Hebrew into something "legalistic" (the latin "legis" from where we get the word "legislature" the correct word is "Torah" which means "teaching and instruction" Do we consider ourselves guided by God's perfect teaching and instruction in his WORD? YES! are we also under his perfect GRACE? YES, so, we are both under his TEACHING AND GRACE. (torah v'chesed) There has always been his TORAH his guidance by his teaching since Adam and Eve, and GRACE has always been his WAY, since the beginning.

    About Peter's vision, the "focal point" was on the unclean foods, but the message was for the "gentiles" God told Peter he considered the "gentiles" of the surrounding nations as "clean" if they came to Yeshua by faith, just like the Jews of Israel.

    "It isn't what goes into a man that defiles him but what comes out of man" this is talking about "spiritual defilement" not physical, unclean meats do not make a person 'Spiritually" defiled, yet unclean, non-kosher meats/foods can defile the body "physically" . Many of the "meats" in the supermarkets have not been ordained by Adonai for human consumption, but man thinks he is smarter than God, so man adds to God's pre approved menu. Pork, shell fish, crabs, lobster, crawfish, catfish, can bring on diseases, high cholesterol, and in time, bring down the health of a person. As much as we love the smell of frying bacon, pork sausage, Italian salami, dirty rice, craw fish boils, sea food gumbo, etc, lets try to stay away from them, they are NOT nor EVER WILL BE on God's food menu for his children. He loves us so much, he wants the best for us, he made our bodies so he knows what should go inside of us.

    So just read the list of approved grocery items in Leviticus 11, this list is for TODAY as well as thousands of years ago. God talks to us seriously. Yet people today are used to eating anything they see in the supermarket, and anything that comes out of the water dangling from the fish hook or net. There is a saying, "if it flies in the air, and it isn't an airplane, eat it! if it has 4 legs and it isn't a table, eat it!, if it swims and isn't a submarine, eat it! but God says NO, it is our choice to either obey or disobey, blessings or curses, the choice is ours to make. "Be ye Holy for I AM holy" (11:45) "K'doshim Atem ki Kadosh Ani" (Holy means to be "set apart" , not sinless) Some say, "is it a sin to eat pork?" well, are we disobeying scripture? are we going against his commandment NOT to? then we have answered that question. But these are not my words, these are God words for us today as well as those that lived thousands of years ago.

    Hey, ever eat a bug? you can roast a grasshopper, or a cricket on an open campfire, those bugs are KOSHER (11:21,22) talk about a Winnie roast, get a basket full of grasshoppers or locusts (John the Baptist ate those) with some crickets too, a bit of salt and pepper and hot sauce, roast them and YEAH! bon-appetite
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ __________________

    2 SAMUEL 6:1-7:17

    when we read this Haf Torah portion, we see something similar to what happened to Nadab and Abihu, King David was transporting the Ark of the Covenant that was returned by the Philistines, on an ox cart, the WRONG Method, the oxen stumbled an "Uzzah" one of David's men put forth his hand to keep the Ark from moving (perhaps he thought it would fall to the ground) but God stuck him down and killed him for that. The Ark was not to be touched at all, only the Levites were allowed to carry it, on two poles, NOT on an ox cart. Perhaps Uzzah was sincere in his attempt to keep the Ark from falling, but he was sincerely WRONG.

    It is good that today, things are different, God does not kill us for mishandling holy things

    but we should take care to treat the things of God and worship with respect. When things are worn out so as to be of no more use, like old bibles, torn pages, prayer shawls, stained and torn, things of worship have lived their usefulness, they should be buried in the ground, like one would bury a loved one, not thrown in the trash (believe me when I say that I have found a few bibles in the trash dumpsters)
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ __________________

    ACTS 10:9-22

    This is the story I was referring to, God showed Kefa (Peter) the sheet with unclean animals and told him to EAT, because he was trying to prove a point to the disciple, Peter knew these were unclean animals, and God's message to Peter was;

    "Just as you know that these meats are unclean, you are also thinking that the gentiles (Greeks, Romans, Egyptians, etc) are also unclean, but I tell you that THEY (the gentiles) ARE CLEAN, (those that come to me by faith in Yeshua) (read verse 28) Cornelius was a Roman centurion, and he had accepted Yeshua as Messiah, so, He (a Roman) was now part of the family of God, and part of the commonwealth of Israel, the "grafted-in believers" outside of Israel.

    Shabbat Shalom.....................rabbi Ben Avraham

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    Quote Originally Posted by JacobBenAvraham View Post
    It is good that today, things are different, God does not kill us for mishandling holy things

    but we should take care to treat the things of God and worship with respect. When things are worn out so as to be of no more use, like old bibles, torn pages, prayer shawls, stained and torn, things of worship have lived their usefulness, they should be buried in the ground, like one would bury a loved one, not thrown in the trash (believe me when I say that I have found a few bibles in the trash dumpsters)
    Oh, what a merciful and sympathetic god we have to endure. From killer to mere tormentor. As far as celestial judgement goes, not bad...

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    LEV 12:1-13:59 When a woman gives childbirth, what does "leprosy" mean?, and.....

    Preview: LEV 12:1-13:59 when a woman gives childbirth...and...


    Parasha: TAZRIA (when she bears seed) LEV 12:1-13:59.................2 KINGS 4:42-5:19.....................MATTHEW 8:1-4

    In this Parasha study, we see two themes, one of which when a woman gives birth and the other which covers what we usually call "leprosy" and finally, why do we say "Happy New Year" today?

    When a woman gives birth to a male child, she is considered unclean for 7 days, but she is not to forget that on the 8th day, she is to have her child circumcised, and afterwards, she is to remain in a state of "purification" for 33 days. Why all these days, scripture does not shed light, yet we can see that "7" is the perfect number of holiness, "8" is the number for a "new beginning". The male child is circumcised on day 8, the child goes from being in the womb to the "outside world" participating in the covenant of Abraham, this is the child's "new beginning" the woman goes through "41" days of recuperation, her body has been "tested" for 9 months, and she goes through 7 days of . could one say, isolation, if that be the case, then 33 days of purification, one could say, "rest and relaxation" hopefully, the husband and family will attend to her needs during this time, afterwards, the husband can; "know her" again.

    If the woman births a female baby, the case is different, mother must remain unclean for 14 days, and afterwards, purification time of 66 days, that is a total of 80 days. Why the longer time? scripture does not say. But we see the number "8" again in (80) "a new beginning" could we say for both mother and child. giving birth to a female, (some believe) is more taxing to the mother, she suffers more. We can see that in birthing children, there are 2 souls involved (nefesh) the mother's nefesh and the child's nefesh, but with the female, she carries eggs inside her, potential "nefeshim" (souls) once they are fertilized by the male sperm, thus creating more "living souls" (nefesh chayim), so, within the female baby are many more (future babies) all awaiting to be born in God's perfect timing. Perhaps this is why the mother needs the extra time to rest and relax, and "begin anew" after 80 days, (just an opinion)

    TZA-ARAT: (leprosy) the rest of the Parasha deals with this. But the word "Tza-arat" covers "all skin diseases in general" not only leprosy, (which is the worse case scenario) this is when the nerves die and the body goes "feeling less" and fingers dry and fall off, the nose falls off, ears, fall off, the body extremities just rot away. Today there is medicine available for this disease, but thousands of years ago, this disease was a death sentence, unless the person was healed by Yeshua. But the general meaning of "tza-arat" is "diseases and disorders of the skin" from mild skin rashes, scabies, shingles, ring worm, psoriasis, etc. People who had these diseases had to be isolated from the camp of Israel, and be inspected by the priest, if the disease was not serious, and it went away, the person could come back after isolation, if not, they were considered "tamei" (unclean) we can only imagine the pain and suffering some went through if their "tza-arat" was the worse case,

    Miriam was struck with tza-arat, for 7 days, for having criticized Moshe, that is why "tza-arat" is related to "Leshon-hara" (evil tongue) some believe that skin diseases come from having a loose and gossiping tongue (it has never been proved though). Moshe prayed the shortest prayer in the Bible, "LORD, please heal her" and Adonai healed her, Baruch HaShem!

    Tza-arat is also known as "mildew" in clothing, and "mold" in houses and buildings. God gives instructions to wash and clean clothing with mildew, if it re-appears, it must be burned, same with houses, if mold is found in the walls, one has to replace the wall, thousands of years ago, God knew the dangers of mold in housing walls and structures, something we just found out a few years ago. No wonder he says "tear it down" if it returns .

    There is such a thing as being "tamei" spiritually, we can have "tza-arat" of the spirit, and be "unclean" spiritually, if we do not walk in God's ways of his Torah, refuse to honor the Sabbath, ignore his Holy days, walk contrary to the Torah, living in rebellion is being "tamei" but through "Teshuvah" repentance, and returning to God's ways, bring us forgiveness, and we become "tahor" clean again. through the blood of Yeshua.
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ __________________

    2 KINGS 4:42-5:19

    tells the story of Naaman the Syrian, who suffered from some type of tza-arat, could have been the worse case, we can ask him in Heaven what he had, and he will certainly tell us. But he was healed, BUT he had to OBEY and BELIEVE. if it was only just bathing in the Jordan river 7 times, and he was healed, sometimes, healing comes just as easy as just BELIEVING and OBEYING the promises of God.
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ___________________

    MATT 8:1-4

    tells a similar story, of a leper who was healed by YESHUA, He ASKED, and put forth his hand, (faith) and YESHUA responded with love and forgiveness. Yet Yeshua told him to go back and show himself to the priest and to offer a sacrifice for his healing, showing that Yeshua had respect for the written Torah and commandments, after all, HE wrote them through Moshe. Yes, healing is still for today, YET not in all cases, in some cases, GOD brings his children home to heaven through diseases, although many diseases can be avoided, and some get sick because of disobedience. (eating what we shouldn't eat) which bring us back to Leviticus 11.

    HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OF YOU, (HAG SAMEACH BA ACHAT NISAN HA ZEH)

    happiness and joy on this first day of Nisan) (April 9th, of Gregorian Calendar)
    when we look back at Exodus, and read chap 12: verse 2, we read "This month shall be your beginning of months, it shall be the first month of the year to you" so where does January 1st fit in? IT DOESN'T

    Shabbat shalom; Rabbi Ben Avraham

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    The English poet Norman Nicholson wrote a dramatic Monologue titled Naaman. He was an excellent poet. That Biblical text is one of my favorite parts. I found it fascinating since childhood.

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    LEV 14:1-15:33; (Metzora) Seeing YESHUA in the healing of leprosy


    Preview: LEV 14:1-15:33 "Seeing YESHUA in the healing of leprosy" April 16th, 2016
    Nisan 8, 5776

    PARASHA: METZORA (infected one)

    LEVITICUS 14:1 - 15:33...............2 KINGS 7:3-20...............ROM 6:8-23

    We continue to study the case of "leprosy" (skin diseases) in people, and in the same manner, mold and mildew in clothing, and house mold. All are considered "metzora" (infected ones, things)

    Some believe that "leprosy" comes as a result of different kinds of sin, etc, slander, gossip, unjust verbal attacks on others, such as the case for Miriam, when she criticized Moshe for marrying an Ethiopian woman, she (the Cu****e woman) was black, and G-d turned Miriam "white" (with leprosy) maybe Adonai was making a statement, that He did not care about skin color, nor races, many today can learn from that, maybe racism would stop if leprosy was attached to racist people, Moshe prayed for Miriam's healing, "Oh LORD heal her" (the shortest prayer in the bible) and the LORD did just that (after 7 days)

    Parasha "Metzora" talks about when a person was "healed" of a skin disease, what the person had to do, we can see Messiah Yeshua in many ways here. the priest had to go outside the camp to see the person, examine the person to see if indeed the leprosy was gone. We can see a separation of "tahor" (clean) and "tamei" (unclean) nothing "inside the camp" could be "tamei" it shows us a "Holy, Righteous God" who can not and will not tolerate sin in his presence, only through Messiah Yeshua can we be made "tahor" (clean) and re-enter HIS camp.

    Two birds were used, cedar wood, scarlet, hyssop, and running water. The clean birds reminds us of the dove, and pigeons, which were used in sacrifice by the poor, Yeshua's parents brought two turtle-doves as a sacrifice. One bird was killed in an earthen ware vessel over running water. We see the mixing of "water and blood" symbolizing when Yeshua was crucified, "Blood and water" came out of his side, the running water = "Yeshua the Living Water" the earthen-ware vessel (a pot) reminds us of the humbleness of our Messiah, who was of the earth, God become man, the second "Adam" (Blood + Spirit+ earth = Man)

    The living bird would be dipped into the pot with the water and blood, together with the cedar wood, scarlet, and hyssop, and the priest would sprinkle (it) 7 times over the person healed of leprosy, we say IT because probably IT was the combination of all 4 things, (I am sure the living bird was struggling to get away, but held tight by the priest together with the wood, scarlet and hyssop). We see the living bird as a reminder that we have "life" through the blood of the "dead" bird, in our case, we have "life" through the blood of "Yeshua" , the cedar wood reminds us of the cross of Calvary, the scarlet reminds us of the blood, and the hyssop, reminds us of Passover, when the Israelites used hyssop to put blood on the doorposts of their houses, again, "Life" through the "blood'

    So the "now healed" person was sprinkled with the combination of "blood an water" as we were healed of our "sickness of sin and death" through the "blood" of Yeshua which came out his side together with water. Then the person would wash himself and wash his clothes, as he was now "clean". On the 8th day, (the number "8" symbolizing "new life") he would take three perfect lambs, fine flour mixed with oil, and give these to the priest who offered these before YHVH, we see much symbolism here, "three lambs" (the Father, the Son, and the Spirit) "3" symbolizing "resurrection and divine completeness" the person was a living "dead" but now received "life" anew.

    the oil and flour remind us of the "anointing of the Ruach Ha Kodesh" and the "Bread of Life" who is Yeshua. The priest would sacrifice the lambs and would take a pit of the blood and also a bit of the oil and anoint the person who was healed with the blood and oil on his right ear, right thumb, and right toe. We see this as a reminder to the person, and to us, that we should always HEAR (Shema) the voice of HaShem (through his Torah) and DO/PERFORM, his mitzvoth (good deeds) and WALK in HIS ways, a righteous, Torah based lifestyle. This would be a message to the person that was healed, to "change his or her lifestyle, OR a worse case of leprosy could overcome that person, perhaps, the "worse case scenario" just like Yeshua said to the woman accused of adultery, "GO and SIN NO MORE"

    It is a message to us as well. One could argue the fact that skin diseases come from our sinful lifestyle, but it is entirely possible. But I do not want to take that chance, fool around with sin and then get a skin rash as a result, kind of scary, and embarrassing, especially if it is on your face or arms and legs, "visible places" (where ALL can see) "Oi vey!"

    A house with mold and mildew was also checked by a priest, the "leprous" stones or bricks would be washed, scraped clean, and then new plaster applied, if the "mold or mildew" returned, then those stones or bricks would have to be removed and replaced, if the "mold and mildew" returned even after that, the whole house would have to be destroyed, and rebuilt. It is said by some Torah commentators that Adonai used leprosy in the house and clothes as warnings, It would start in the house, if the person did not repent, the leprosy would pass from the house to the person's clothing, if the person still did not heed God's warning, the person himself or herself would be struck with leprosy.

    Who knows the mind of Adonai? HE makes himself known by different ways, and warns us by different methods.
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ________________

    2 KINGS 7:3-20

    We read the story about the 4 leprous men who stumbled across the Syrian camp which was abandoned by the Syrian army, Adonai performed a miracle and made the Syrians hear the noise of a mighty army, so they fled. I guess the lepers thought that either the Syrians would kill them, since they were considered "sick and contaminated" or they would have mercy on them, and they would get food, but much to their surprise, they saw an empty camp, and food, water, weapons, clothing, etc. They did not keep the good news to themselves, but returned to tell the king.

    Sometimes, when bad times befall some people, they become selfish and feel sorry for themselves, but it was not so for these guys with leprosy, even though they were "unclean" they went back and let the city know that the "bad times were over" who knows if they themselves received healing from God for their thoughtfulness. We'll find out in heaven some day.
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ___________________

    ROMANS 6:8-23

    Rav Shaul writes about our new life through Messiah, that we should not let sin reign in our mortal bodies, remember that our bodies are still sinful, and that is why our bodies get sick and waste away, but because we are "renewed" in the spirit, we should live "spirit-filled lives" despite the temptations that attract our carnal selves. The last verse is a favorite of many; "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Yeshua HaMashiach" our "Adonai" Death will come to ALL, (physically) but "Spiritually" we will live forever with HIM who "set us free from the curse of sin" plus we will get new bodies as well.

    Shabbat Shalom..................rabbi Ben Avraham

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    A brief look at "Yom Kippur" (day of Atonement) and how it is today LEV 16:1-18:30

    THIS WEEK'S PARASHA: ACHREI MOT" (after the death of)

    LEV 16:1-18:30.....................AMOS 9:7-15.............................HEB 9:11-28

    Hoping that all of you have had a good Passover week, for those of you who celebrate it, and many are hoping to eat regular bread again, Well, tomorrow, you can get out the hamburger and hot dog buns, donuts, etc

    In this Parasha, we see the instructions of what we know as "Yom Kippur" , God spoke to Moshe to tell Aaron that "one can not come in anytime into the Holy place". How fortunate we are today that this is NOT the case, now we can come into the presence of God at ANYTIME, ANYWHERE, and speak with Him through prayer, praising, singing, bringing requests, interceding for other. We can come before him in the morning, put on our tallit and tefillim and read the Psalms, Speak to him when we arise, go to work, come home, thank Him for our meals, for our homes and families, even though we can't see him physically, He still hears us, and will respond to us in HIS PERFECT TIMING

    Not so thousands of years ago, One, and only one, (the High Priest) "Ha Cohen Gadol" could only enter the "Kadosh Kadoshim" (The Holy of Holies) where the "Aron HaKodesh" (The Ark of the Covenant) was, once a year, this was on the 10th day of the 7th month, which usually corresponds to the Gregorian calendar as September, this is and was YOM KIPPUR (the day of coverings).

    The high priest would take a bullock for himself and his family, sacrifice it and take the blood, and coals from the fire on the brazen altar, he would then take incense and place it on the coals in a censor, and bring it with him and go behind the veil where the Ark of the Covenant was. He would shake the censor as to create a cloud of incense around the Ark, remember that incense symbolizes of prayers that go up to YHVH. The rabbis of old taught that this was the time that the High Priest would pronounce the most holy name of God "Yod Hey Vav Hey" (YHVH) whatever the exact and perfect pronunciation was. He would sprinkle 7 times, the blood of the bullock on the mercy seat.

    We look at Aaron, who was at this time, the high priest, as a "Messiah type" (Ha Mashiach) would be the "go-between" between the people and God. This was the job and ministry of the High Priests, to intercede before the people, This is exactly what Yeshua (Jesus) did, when he offered up his life as a ransom for us all. The high priests used bulls' blood, Yeshua used his "Own" blood. The priest would take two goats, and sacrifice one of them, and let the other go into the wilderness, never to return. On one goat, (the scape goat) he would place his hands and saying the following

    "Ah YHVH, they (the Israelites) have committed iniquity, they have transgressed, they have sinned, thy people, the house of Israel, YHVH cover over (Kippur, atone for) I intreat thee, upon their iniquities, their transgressions, and their sins, which they have wickedly committed, transgressed, and sinned before thee, thy people, the house of Israel. As it is written in the Torah, thy servant, saying 'for on that day it shall be covered over for you to make you clean from all your sins before YHVH ye shall be cleaned" (The Temple, its ministry and service, pages 253,254)

    all this time the people would lie prostrated and praising Adonai, and the high priest would face the crowd when he said "Ye shall be cleaned" This same prayer was said when the High Priest sacrificed the bullock for his own sins and for the sins of his family, then he would say "I and my house have committed iniquity...." When We see Yeshua hanging from the cross on Calvary, we hear his words, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" and finally, "It is finished" at this time, the curtains in the temple which existed then, was split down the middle, giving ALL PEOPLE free access to the Throne of Grace, ANYTIME. Back in the days of the tabernacle and temple, the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats could only COVER sins for a year, then the whole process would be repeated again, the difference at Calvary, was that OUR SINS WERE BLOTTED OUT FOR EVER, past, present, and future, the only thing that we would need do would be "repentance and turning from sin" confessing our sins to the Father.

    The goat that was let go into the wilderness symbolized our "sins that were sent away from us"

    the sacrificed goat symbolized our "sins that were paid for on Calvary by Messiah Yeshua" once and for ever. We get the message; "Our sins were dealt with once and for all time on Calvary's cross, never to return to condemn us"

    Chapters 17 deal with eating meat, in those times, if a family wanted to have meat for dinner, the man had to take the animal to one of the officiating priests and he would sacrifice it, and a portion of the animal went to the priest for his family, and the rest would be taken home for the family to enjoy. I am sure this did not happen every day, as herds and cattle were precious commodities, and one calf would probably last a week or so depending on the size of the family. Today, we can eat meat, (in accordance to Lev 11) freely, and thank the LORD for it, roast it making sure it has no blood.

    Chapter 18 deals with relationships, intimate relationships, between men and women, when we read this chapter, well, I would say it needs no explanation, common sense plays in. Sex should be between a husband and wife, and that is that. God reminds his people NOT to copy the perverse ways of the Egyptians and Canaanites, since they had perverse sexual practices, etc.. homosexuality, lesbianism, bestiality, (sex with animals) and so today, we are to avoid these practices. Homosexuality, lesbianism is ARE NOT alternate life styles, they are EVIL AND SINNFUL life styles, a slap in the face of God. However, as believers, we are to love homosexuals and pray for them, and not reject them as individuals, but to reject the sin, as God has already stated in His Word.
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________

    AMOS 9:7-15

    Adonai speaks through his prophet Amos to his people. The People have done evil and will reap what they have sown, many will die by the sword, and many will be scattered among the nations, That is where many of us come into being, Many of us have Jewish heritage from the nations, our ancestors thousands of years ago and were "sifted as corn in a sieve" and ended up in Spain, North Africa and the middle east (Sephardim) and others to Germany, and East Europe, Russia, Ukraine, etc (Ashkenazim) both Jewish cultures having different customs and lifestyles, way of dressing, speech, etc, yet all recognizing the ONE GOD (Echad) YHVH, and many are recognizing Yeshua as Messiah

    But Messiah will gather again his people and will bring them back into the land of Israel, which has been happening now for many years, and will continue.
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ____________

    HEBREWS 9:11-28

    This message to the Messianic Jews, both in Israel and in other nations, explains Yeshua who is HIGH PRIEST, entered into the Holy Place (in Heaven) and placed his own blood in it, redeeming us once and for all from the curse of sin. Yeshua HaMashiach is the "mediator" of a better covenant, a "new" covenant, NOT based on animal blood, but based on his own blood. "Yeshua was once offered to bear the sins of many" vs 28, why does it say "many" and not "all?" because not ALL of mankind will accept the sacrifice of Yeshua, many will reject him, die in their sins, and perish for all eternity, without hope, but MANY will accept this free gift of Salvation (Yeshuah) if you have not already, will you do that now? if you haven't already, what are you waiting for?

    Shabbat Shalom....................rabbi Ben Avraham

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    "Be Ye Holy for I AM Holy" what does this mean? LEV 19:1-20:27

    SHABBAT SHALOM: PARASHA "Kedoshim" (Holy ones)

    LEV 19:1-20:27...................EZEKIEL 20:2-20...............1 PETER 1:13-16

    We start this study with Adonai saying unto Moshe and to the rest of the people

    "YE SHALL BE HOLY FOR I, YHVH YOUR GOD AM HOLY" This is not just a good idea, it is a command. When we look at the original Hebrew, we see something interesting;

    ALEICHEM KAD_SHIM TEH'YOU KI KADOSH ANI (be ye holy for I AM holy) in the original Hebrew, the "O" in "KADOSH" is there, yet in the word "KADOSHIM" it is missing, the letter "O" is not there, although, it IS there, but in part. For those who are not familiar with the Hebrew letters, the letter "O" looks like an upside down golf club, with the golf ball sitting on top, in the original Hebrew, only the "golf ball" is there, the "golf club" (vav) is not.

    Adonai uses the word " Kad_shim" when he refers to US, yet he uses the full word "Kadosh" when he refers to himself. The difference is a "full VAV" (complete "O") and the "lacking, or partial VAV" (only the top part of the vav "O") is seen. this top part is called the "dagesh" and it is shared with the letter "sheen" (W) If we were to say this on a singular basis, we can say that GOD is KADOSH, yet I am only KAD_SH.

    The sages and ancient rabbis say that this is because we can never be completely HOLY, (set apart) since we are LACKING a complete sinless nature, we are born sinners, with a carnal sin nature, explaining the lacking of the letter "O", yet YHVH is completely HOLY, 100% no sin nature, so therefore, NOTHING is lacking in HIM, so therefore, the "vav" is written completely.

    Being holy does not mean being SINLESS, since with our sin nature, it is impossible, we are always lacking stuff, like; self control, managing our tongues, temper, attitude, etc, we see our patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moshe, and others, David, Paul, Peter, they were considered "holy" unto God, yet Abraham was a liar (lied to Pharaoh) so was Isaac, did the same thing, Jacob had family issues, Moshe murdered, David sent word to murder Bathsheba's husband, Uriah, and committed adultery, Peter and Paul both had problems with anger, yet they were all "holy" set apart unto God's word, like ALL OF US ARE, so, if we say that we are "holy" we are speaking the truth, yet we have a loooooooong way to go

    beyond the grave, we will be 'complete" and get the "vav" put into our holiness, so, for the time being we are only "HLY" we must be content with that.

    The rest of this chapter, are a list of a variety of commandments, not so related one to another, we can look at a few:

    verses 5-7. deal with eating sacrificial meats. Back then, you would bring an animal to the sanctuary, and offer it to the LORD, and the priest would get a portion and the rest you would bring home to your family, already BBQ roasted on the grill (sort of ), since there were no refrigerators back then, it was best to eat it all at one sitting, and on the second day, also, but NOT on the third, Perhaps the LORD saw too much risk of bacteria on the meat, and this was a health precaution. Could this also tie in with Yeshua's resurrection on the third day? something to think about.

    verses 9-10, deal with leaving some crops for the poor and the those passing by, makes sense. They could go on your land and help themselves with the crops on the edge of your land, try that today and you might get shot, or get chased by a pit-bull.

    verse 11 is a reminder of the Ten Commandments, gives a precise meaning of "profaning" (Chilull) in Hebrew, the name of GOD, which is "swearing falsely" o promising to do something, taking an oath, using God's name "I swear to God that I'll........." and not do it, that is profaning God's name.

    verse 14 "You shall not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blind" we think of that and say, "why would anyone do that?" maybe they would just to be mean, however, we may have already did those things. When we talk in negative forms about someone and they are not there to hear, it is like "cursing the deaf" and when we are negative witnesses to others who are new believers in the LORD, we are "putting stumbling blocks before them" as they are new in the faith, there are many aspects that they can not SEE

    "You shall not hate your neighbor in your heart" we should NEVER harbor hate towards anyone, however, if our neighbor is at fault in something, we do have the duty to REBUKE our neighbor, to show him or her their fault, and correct the person, in a kind way that is

    "You shall not let your livestock breed with another kind. "You shall not sow your field with mixed seed" nor mix fabric, like Linen and wool together"

    Today, we see mixed breeds everywhere, not so in Bible days, seems like "pure breed" animals were stronger and heartier. Sowing a field with mixed seed would extract too many chemicals and elements from the soil, thus depleting the soil of nutrients , Making clothing with mixed linen (or cotton) with wool would cause the garment to ruin when washed, wool shrinks, and cotton doesn't, it would "pull-apart" yet today, we see most of our clothing is of mixed fabric, We really have gotten away from Bible basics

    If we look at this in a spiritual sense, we could say that Adonai does not approve mixed, spiritual-faith unions, a believer with an unbeliever, un equally yoked, there is no common spiritual ground.

    verse 23: "when you come into the land.......(read on) " talks about planting and harvesting fruit trees, for the first three years, you couldn't eat the fruit, it would drop off the tree and rot on the ground, the fourth year, it was considered "holy" separated and brought to the tabernacle for the priests, and in the fifth year, you could eat it, Why? the three years in which the fruit fell to the ground "re-fertilized" the ground, gave back to the ground the nutrients that the growing tree extracted when the fruit rotten and return to the soil. Makes perfect agronomic sense, any fruit orchard farmer and agricultural engineer would see this. Yet, is this practiced today? who knows, I hope so.

    verse 28: "you shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor TATOO any marks on you, I AM YHVH! yet "tattoos" are the "in thing" today with many people, how far have we come from God's truth, when ever God says "I AM THE LORD" he is making a statement! serious stuff

    verse 30: "you shall keep my Sabbaths and reverence my sanctuary, I AM THE LORD!

    (serious statement) I don't think this needs explanation, we should be with our brothers and sisters in the faith on Shabbos, and learning God's Word in HIS house, and treat our synagogue/church with respect and honor ( common sense)

    verse 32: "You shall honor the presence of an old man (also an old woman)' Yeah! I feel better already, I am one of those, if being "old" is past 60. I "feel" young though,

    verses 33 and 34 deal with treating a stranger "fairly and not mistreated" that is talking about "immigrants" The USA opened the doors for almost 100 years at Ellis Island to all immigrants, even to my grandma and grandpa who came in the 1920s, from Athens, Greece, and before that, from Izmir, Turkey, fleeing from the Turkish-Armenian genocide. They were welcomed and came on the good ship "Prince Alexander" but today, many immigrants are being mistreated, separated from loved-ones, and sent back to their countries, how far have we come from obeying God's Torah! are we immune to judgment? I think not.

    __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ______

    EZEKIEL 20:2-20

    We read the rebuke upon Israel by the Prophet Y'cheskel (Ezekiel) and rightly so, God made an oath to Israel, took them out of Egypt, made them HIS people, gave them his TORAH, and we read about their repayment, "rebellion" yet He still gave them a chance, and even today, we are HIS people and he gives us MANY CHANCES to get right with HIM, even as far as coming to earth in flesh and blood as YESHUA to be the sacrifice lamb, and die for our sins, yet people still reject Him, yet many accept him and have become "sons of God" (daughters too)
    __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ _______

    1 PETER 1:13-16

    Kefa writes this letter to the believers and repeats Lev 19, "Be ye holy for I AM holy"

    and admonishes us all NOT to be conformed to our former lusts, the "pull" of the "old man" the "sinful nature" and to be conformed to our "new nature" which every born again believer has. It is a constant battle of the "spirit against the flesh" it goes on in all believers, but one day, the flesh will be buried, and we will take on a "new" body, without corruption, likened unto Messiah Yeshua, Baruch HaShem

    Shabbat Shalom.................Rabbi Ben Avraham

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    HOLINESS and INTEGRITY of priests. LEV 21:1-24:23


    PARASHA "EMOR" (say)

    LEV 21:1-24:23.............................EZEKIEL 44:15-31..........................1 PETER 2:4-10

    In this Parasha, we see also, a variety of themes. We start out with "Kodesh Shel haCohanim" (Holiness of the priests)

    we see the high standard of integrity that is expected of priests, One could say, the same is for today, a high standard is expected of pastors, rabbis, ministers, Sunday school teachers, Torah teachers, etc. But this chapter talks about "priests touching the dead".

    They are only allowed physical contact with the dead if the person is mother, father, and of course a wife, We ask why? well, someone has to bury the dead, and it would usually be the job of the closest kin to the deceased. The dead person would have to be buried right away, in the same day. We can understand this also biologically, a corpse starts to decompose, attract flies, disease, etc, especially in a hot place like the middle east, and the quicker the body goes into the ground, the sooner the body becomes a part of "Adamah" (the dust) again.

    vs 5; "They shall be holy to their God and not profane the name of their God" every time we see the word "holy" connected with people, it is always lacking the "o" or in Hebrew, the letter "vav" we understand from last time that because of our sin nature, we can not be completely "holy" like God, God (Elohim) is "Kadosh" while, (including the priests) we are always "kadsh" (not quite 'Kadosh" yet, but in time, the in world to come, YES) The word also says that they are not to make any "cuttings in their flesh" tattoos fall into the category of "cuttings in the flesh" (not me speaking, it is God's Word)

    We also see a summary of the "moedim" (Feasts of the LORD), in chap 23, we can look at them briefly again.

    1. SHABBAT: to be honored by all believers. A day of rest, of studying the Torah, to worship HaShem, (I know I am going to get feedback on this from the forums) No guys, the Sabbath was NEVER changed to Sunday, Acts just tells us what the talmidim were accustomed to doing on Saturday evenings and perhaps on Sunday mornings, getting together and breaking bread (fellowship meals) and studying the Word, nothing wrong with that, ANY day of the week, not only on Sundays.

    2. PASSOVER AND UNLEAVENED BREAD: the blood on the door posts, the sacrificed lambs symbolize our Messiah's death on Calvary's cross, The unleavened bread and bitter herbs; Yeshua the Bread of Life, and the "bitterness of sin" how we come out of the bondage of sin by accepting the sacrifice of the Lamb who is Yeshua the Bread of Life.

    3. FEAST OF FIRST FRUITS: We are reminded of Messiah Yeshua being the "first fruit from the grave" He resurrected from the dead, we are to give also, our "first fruits" of our living, from our wages, if some are farmers, the first fruit of the crops, that portion given away freely, perhaps to local churches/synagogues in the area. The sacrifices were a lamb, and fine flour mixed with oil, this was to be done along side of the sheaves of wheat, lamb = Yeshua, fine Flour= Yeshua the Bread of Life, oil = Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit)

    4. FEAST OF WEEKS: or "Shavuot" or "Pentecost" known in church circles, in ancient times, 2 loaves of "leavened" bread, (about 4 pounds each loaf) were "waved" before YHVH, along with 7 lambs, which were sacrificed, many ask "why 2?" what is the meaning of the number "2" ? well, there are these possibilities; the "Y'hudim v Goyim" (Jews and Gentiles) the "New Covenant and the Old" "Old life and the New Life" remember that " leaven" was used, so, what does that remind us of?

    5. FEAST OF TRUMPETS, DAY OF ATONEMENT, FEAST OF TABERNACLES

    The "days of Awe" when we are to contemplate on our relationship with God though Yeshua, are we found lacking? if so, it is time for "Teshuvah" to "getting back to God"

    Back then, our sins were only "covered" for one year, now, they have been "atoned" for once and forever, by Yeshua's blood.

    Chap 24. The Menorah is mentioned, the lamps are to be kept "burning continually" reminds us of "Yeshua" who is our "eternal light" and since we are HIS eternal lights, we will be "lights" for all eternity also. (I was going to write, "burn" eternally, but some might get the wrong idea, and think of the "other place" (yikes!, no AC down there)
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ ______________

    EZEKIEL 44:15-31

    The Prophet speaks of the future priests that will be in charge of the Temple in Jerusalem, the priesthood of Zadok, those who were faithful to Adonai. One of the jobs of the priests will be to teach the people, as it says in verse 23

    "And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy, and cause them to discern between unclean and clean" they shall also "keep my TORAH, and my MOEDIM, and hallow my SHABBATS"

    These things are what every PASTOR, RABBI, TORAH TEACHER, SUNDAY SCHOOL TEACHER, YOUTH MINISTER, PRIEST, BISHOP, or whatever title the churches today bestow, teach to their congregations. If they are not doing those things, they are not doing their jobs, however, many think that these are "Jewish things" well, they are "Bible things" and "God things" (all go together)
    ____________________________________________ ____________________________________________ _______________

    1 PETER 2:4-10

    "Behold, I lay in Zion a Chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he who believes on HIM will by no means be put to shame" (focal verse) the "chief Cornerstone" is HIM, Yeshua, who is the "AVEN" (word for "Stone") a combination of two words AV (father) and BEN (son) we get "Aben" or "Aven" We can either "rest and trust on the STONE" or the "STONE will crush us" we are either "for the STONE" or "Against the STONE" there are no "in betweens"

    Shabbat Shalom..........Rabbi Ben Avraham

  11. #11
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    Jacob, the people I grew up among would say exactly as you about the treatment of old Bibles and I remember as a young man clearing out a home and being given the task of burying tattered Bibles. I now find that rather odd. To me it now seems idolatrous. The notion of consecrated paper seems to be a shibboleth of little value for they are but things.

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    Registered User JacobBenAvraham's Avatar
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    Yes, to some it may seem that way, but it is mere tradition, since there are no commandments to that effect, but it is still honorable I would think, once that object has seen it's usage, if it is Holy, set apart for the things of God, it would seem correct to bury it after it has seen it's usage.

  13. #13
    Registered User JacobBenAvraham's Avatar
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    A continuation of "Emor" (Say)

    T[B]This is a continuation of the last post, since "Emor" talks about the "moedim" (The High Holy days) it would seem fit to look at one in specific, "Passover" which is the most popular, and the most meaningful (at least to many people) so a verse by verse commentary follows

    May, 14th 2016 (also, on this date in 1948, Israel was recognized as a Nation by the UN)

    __________________________________________________ _____________________________________

    MESSIAH YESHUA IN THE PASSOVER
    From EXODUS 12:1-13

    Vs 2; “THIS MONTH SHALL BE THE BEGINNING OF MONTHS, IT SHALL BE THE THE FIRST MONTH OF THE YEAR TO YOU”

    So where does January 1st fit in? It doesn't!. This was an invention of man, to change the calendar that God had already given us. God operates on a lunar calendar, and the Gregorian calendar uses the sun. But if we are going to understand the events and dates that events occur in the Bible, we need to be familiar with the lunar calendar. The month of “Nisan” which usually starts in April, is the “New Year” for us. This year, 2016, “New Year's day” was on April 9th.

    Vss 3-5; ON THE TENTH OF THIS MONTH, EVERY MAN SHALL TAKE FOR HIMSELF A LAMB......................YOUR LAMB WILL BE WITHOUT BLEMISH...FROM THE SHEEP OR FROM THE GOATS.

    Something tremendous is about to happen, a joyous occasion, an event of “Thanksgiving” sort of speaking. In the USA we are accustomed to celebrate “Thanksgiving” in November, with turkeys, and we invite all family and relatives over to eat. In Egypt, the Israelites were slaves, and were about to be freed. This “Thanksgiving” occasion called for “lambs” perfect lambs without illness, or deformities, One of the names of “Yeshua” our Messiah is the “Lamb of God” who was also, and still is “without blemish” what happened on the 10th day of the month of Nisan two thousand years ago? Yeshua entered Jerusalem on a donkey, to be known as Messiah, to heal the sick, and teach the Torah, to be known by the people, everyone greeted him with palm branches and shouted “Hosanna to the Son of David” and five days later shouted “Crucify him” (well, not all shouted that) many wept and many understood Daniel's prophecy that the “Messiah would be “cut off” (crucified) in Daniel chapter 8. This date is commonly known as “Palm Sunday” in the christian communities. “Palm Sunday” was on the 17th of April this year.

    Vss 6-7; YOU SHALL KEEP IT UNTIL THE FOURTEENTH DAY OF THE SAME MONTH, THEN THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY OF THE CONGREGATION OF ISRAEL SHALL KILL IT AT TWILIGHT. AND THEY SHALL TAKE SOME OF THE BLOOD AND PUT IT ON THE TWO DOORPOSTS AND ON THE LINTEL OF THE HOUSES WHERE THEY EAT IT”

    A day begins at “twilight” when the sun goes down, it is the start of a new day. So, five days after the lamb was in the houses, being inspected to see if it had any blemishes, it was slaughtered at “twilight” and the blood was placed on the two side beams of the houses, and on the top beam.
    When we see Yeshua in this, we see him in Jerusalem, comes in on the tenth of Nisan, then on the 14th day of Nisan, five days later (ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, and fourteen) he is crucified on the cross of Calvary, for our sins, once and for all time, The blood on the doorposts and lintel form a “cross” we can imagine the head of Yeshua at the top, wet with the blood from his head where the crown of thorns was, and the two side posts where his hands were nailed, and the blood ran down to the base of the cross.

    Vs 8; AND THEY SHALL EAT THE FLESH ON THAT NIGHT, ROASTED WITH FIRE, AND WITH UNLEAVENED BREAD AND WITH BITTER HERBS, THEY SHALL EAT IT”

    We often see this done in parks, on BBQ pits, families bring hamburgers, hot dogs, fajitas, sausage, etc and roast them over an open fire, well in Goshen, the lambs were roasted over open fires on spits, we look at the symbolism of “fire” and we are reminded of “heat, light, destruction, purification, zeal, and judgment. Yeshua was “roasted” on Calvary's cross in the fire of judgment, being judged for all of our sins, past, present, and future. Yeshua is also known by the name “The Bread of Life” who was born in the “House of Bread” (Beit-Lechem) or in English “Bethlehem” it is only fitting that the “Bread of Life” would be born in the “House of Bread” Unleavened bread symbolizes “without sin” leaven symbolizes “sin” as “leaven or yeast” puffs up the dough, and so we get bread made with flour and yeast, sin often makes us “swell or puff up with false pride” . The “bitter herbs” remind us of the slavery that the Israelites went through in Egypt for 400 years. We are reminded of the “slavery to sin” being bound to Ha Satan. We don't know exactly what kind of bitter herbs were used back then, but today, we use horse radish. The bitterness of sin is passed when we come to Yeshua and accept Him as LORD and Savior.

    Vss 11-13: …...”YOU SHALL EAT IT IN HASTE, IT IS THE LORD'S PASSOVER, FOR I WILL PASS THROUGH THE LAND OF EGYPT ON THAT NIGHT AND WILL STRIKE ALL THE FIRST BORN OF EGYPT, BOTH MAN AND BEAST, AND AGAINST ALL THE GODS OF EGYPT, I WILL EXECUTE JUDGMENT, I AM YHVH. NOW THE BLOOD WILL BE A SIGN FOR YOU ON THE HOUSES WHERE YOU ARE, AND WHEN I SEE THE BLOOD, I WILL “PASS OVER” YOU, AND THE PLAGUE SHALL NOT BE ON YOU TO DESTROY YOU WHEN I STRIKE THE LAND OF EGYPT”

    This is the night when the Egyptians get paid back for all their abuse and cruelty. In one night, Egypt was ruined. And a few days later, Egypt's army found itself on the bottom of the Red Sea. Egypt never quite recovered from the blow. Adonai-Elohim was saying to Pharaoh “I AM the LORD God, and YOU are not ME!” nor were the gods, any kind of gods, if anything, demonic entities. Each plague was against one of the many gods. “darkness” came against “Ra” the sun god. The death of the cattle came against “Apis” a god with the head of a bull. The Nile turned to blood, against the Nile goddess, and so forth. But the “Blood Standard” would “save” all who found themselves behind the closed doors of the houses where the blood was. Even the Egyptians
    Many who “woke up and smelled the coffee” sort of speaking, who realized they were on the losing side, if they put blood on their doors, they would also be saved. This shows that we serve a just God who is not racist. He accepts ALL people of ALL NATIONS, and RACES. Who would trust in the shed blood of Messiah Yeshua (Jesus the Christ) that is why we see a “mixed multitude” that left Egypt together with the Israelites, it consisted of Egyptians and Nubians (people from Ethiopia and Sudan) who were living in Egypt at that time. The LORD would PASS OVER those houses where the blood of the lambs was placed. Today when we trust in the one-time sacrifice of Yeshua (Jesus) who shed his blood on Calvary's cross, we are saved from eternal destruction, eternal death, and separation from our creator. Just as the blood standard was in effect back then, it is still in effect NOW, and always will be.

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    Registered User JacobBenAvraham's Avatar
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    What is the "Sabbatical year" all about? LEV 25:1-26:2

    PARASHA: "B'Har" (On the mountain).............. May 21st, 2016........13th of Iyar, 5776

    LEV 25:1-26:2..............................JEREMIAH 32:6-27....................LUKE 4:16-21

    In this Parasha, we read and learn about "HaShana Shabat" and "HaShana Yovel"
    (The sabbatical Year) and (The Year of Jubilee)

    The Word teaches us that the land is to be used/farmed for 6 years and on the 7th year, the land is to lie fallow, the land is to rest. And we ask God "why this?" When we think about it, especially in an agricultural sense, it DOES make MUCH sense. Crops take out of the soil minerals and nutrients that help them grow, same way a baby inside the mother's womb, takes nutrients from the mother, for that reason, the mother must eat healthy food, and take vitamins, to re-nourish her body. The land is the same, it must "take its Sabbath rest" to replenish itself with minerals and nutrients. The vineyards still produced grapes but the grapes would ripen and fall to the ground, to create compost, and fertilizer.

    thousands of years ago, before the existence of modern fertilizers, the land was just left alone, (perhaps the cattle dumped their do-do, in the fields) and God took care of the rest.

    The crops in the 6th year, were enough to feed the owner of the field during the 7th year of rest, (God made sure of that). If we obey his commandments, He will take care of us.

    The year of "Yovel" (Jubliee) was every 50 years. Today we buy and sell properties and we have the sense of "permanent ownership" but it was not like that thousands of years ago. One could buy or "purchase on contract of lease for 49 years" so you could own a house and property for 49 years, on the 50th year, the property would revert back to the original owner. Of course, the owner could write out another deed to lease it for another 49 years, but that was up to the owner.

    If property was sold at the beginning of the 49 years, the price could be "full" if the property was sold at year 20 of the 49 years, the price would be considerably less. If a person "sold himself or herself" as a slave "for ever" per necessity, the "for ever" would be "49" years, on year 50, the slave would no longer be a slave, but a freeman or woman

    if a relative had the money, that relative could buy back his or her kinsman, being a "kinsman redeemer"

    there were exceptions, if a person bought a house inside a walled city, the house would belong to the new owner permanently, but if the house or field was outside of the city, per say, in the suburbs, the property would revert back to the original owner on year 50.

    We look at this and we can apply a spiritual lesson to it. ALL things belong to the LORD.

    We are just used to calling "things" "ours". This is MY CAR, this is MY HOUSE, this is MY WIFE/HUSBAND, these are MY ITEMS OF JEWELRY, but in reality, ALL belongs to HIM who reigns on high, the KING of kings and LORD of lords. All things on earth are just on LOAN to us, until YHVH calls for them once again. The native Americans could not understand the white settlers who came and "Claimed land as theirs" "America's Native Son" asked "how can a man own land? can he own a rock, the water, the sky? The American Indians had the right idea, they cared for the land and shared it, yet they were slaughtered and displaced by unrighteous sinners.

    When we lose a loved one, either a wife, a husband, a son or daughter, we can either, "wail and be depressed for years on end" or "thank the LORD for the years we had with them, and thus accept the return of their souls to the Creator of all". People think they own houses, cars, etc, but God changes all things when he allows hurricanes, earthquakes, landslides, etc to reclaim "those things" and people very quickly learn the truth about "true ownership"

    Lastly, Yeshua is our "kinsman redeemer" who redeemed us from "the curse of sin" he BOUGHT us with his own blood, and "set us free" we do not have to wait 7 years, or 50 years, He set us free 2000 years, and your freedom can be accepted NOW, If you have never placed your faith in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ) you can do it NOW,
    __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ______

    JEREMIAH 32:6-27

    Yirimyahu ha Navi (Jeremiah the prophet) received instructions from YHVH to purchase some land, yet the country was about to be invaded by the Babylonians, so why is God asking him to make a purchase? because he would RETURN to the land later on in the future. Right now, many are returning to "Eretz Elohim" (The land of God) the land that was given to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as an inheritance FOREVER. Perhaps Am Y'Hudim (the Jewish people) have been displaced, scattered to other nations, (part of God's plan to teach the nations of the "One God Adonai-Elohim-Yeshua. who is "Echad" (one). Many are return to claim their portion of the inheritance.
    __________________________________________________ __________________________________________________ ______

    LUKE 4:16-21

    This portion tells of Yeshua when he entered his synagogue one Sabbath in Nazareth, his home town, and he was called to read the "Haf Torah" (the prophets) He read from Isaiah 61:1 and part of verse 2;

    "The Spirit of the LORD God is upon me, because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek, bind up the broken hearted, proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound, to proclaim the acceptable year of YHVH" ....However... he did NOT read......and the DAY OF VENGANCE of our God.

    He was revealed why he came, the "first coming" He came to preach and teach the Torah, after all, he wrote it all (through the prophets), and through the teaching of the WORD, people are healed spiritually, broken hearts are healed, those who are captives in the bondage of sin, will be released................However........the DAY OF VENGANCE...is all about the SECOND COMING. when Yeshua will return to earth riding on a horse, and we with Him, (so if you don't know how to ride a flying horse, better learn now) and he will put and end to the Anti-Messiah, and set up his Millennial kingdom, and we will take part in it, Baruch HaShem!

    Shabbat Shalom...............Rabbi Ben Avraham

  15. #15
    rat in a strange garret Whifflingpin's Avatar
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    "...so you could own a house and property for 49 years, on the 50th year, the property would revert back to the original owner."
    That arrangement does not negate the idea of permanent ownership, since the "original owner" retains his ownership for ever, at least nominally. The state of Israel has now existed for over 50 years - do they have any plans to renegotiate the lease with the land's original owners, or must they too be classed amongst the "unrighteous sinners"?
    Voices mysterious far and near,
    Sound of the wind and sound of the sea,
    Are calling and whispering in my ear,
    Whifflingpin! Why stayest thou here?

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