Genesis to Deuteronomy, a weekly study

[JacobBenAvraham]

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.
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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

[JacobBenAvraham]

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.
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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

[JacobBenAvraham]

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
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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)
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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

[EmptySeraph]

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...

[JacobBenAvraham]

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.
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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.
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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

[ennison]

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.

[JacobBenAvraham]

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.
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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.
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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

[JacobBenAvraham]

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.
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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.
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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

[JacobBenAvraham]

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.

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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)
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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

[JacobBenAvraham]

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)
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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)
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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

[ennison]

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.

[JacobBenAvraham]

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.

[JacobBenAvraham]

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)

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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.

[JacobBenAvraham]

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,
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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.
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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

[Whifflingpin]

"...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"?

[JacobBenAvraham]

They ARE the Original owners, deeded to Abraham and to his descendants

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: "b'chukotai" (in my statutes) May 27th 2016.....Iyyar 19th, 5776

LEV 26:3-27:34.................JER 16:19-17:14...............2 COR 6:14-18

What are "statutes" one may ask? they are rulings and conditions related to the law, in this, related to HaShem's mitzvoth. We find that verse 3 is very interesting, and it starts with an "IF" which means "conditional"

"IF you walk in my statutes, and keep my commandments, and perform them...THEN...."

There are three interesting words here; "Walk" "Keep" and "perform" one might say that they are all the same. But why would God mention them like that if they mean the same thing? It is a difficult question to answer, since they all seem to be saying the same thing. Statues are the details of the commandments, we must, "walk" "Keep" and "perform".

We might be reminded of three things which we all go through in the learning process; "knowledge" "understanding" and "wisdom" ; "Y'diy'ah" (knowledge) "Havanah" (understanding) "Chochmah" (wisdom). When we study God's Word, especially his mitzvoth, we gain "knowledge" but some say that with "knowledge" and no more, well, that and 10 cents will get you a cup of coffee, (when was coffee 10 cents? maybe in the 1950s) BUT...if we add "understanding to the knowledge we gain, then that is more, We can read a lot, BUT do we UNDERSTAND what we read? I could read a manual on heart surgery, but I probably would not understand what I read, unless a doctor explains it to me, in more basic terms, if after that, I understand, then....I would have advanced from "knowledge to understanding". Perhaps knowledge and understanding, when it comes to the commandments, would mean that we are "Keeping" in mind what HaShem is teaching us through the Torah. However, if we "put into action" what we have learned, first by knowledge, then proceeded by "understanding" then, we are achieving what God has had in mind for us, that is "performance"

One can "walk" YHVH's statutes in our minds and hearts, "Keeping" them in mind, and then, "Performing" them, so, what we learn we must put into action. We can see that in every job in this world. A doctor learns from books, lectures, thus gaining knowledge and understanding, then he "practices" what he has learned as an intern, and when he has perfected his "performance" he gets his license to practice medicine,

There is a lot to learn in God's Word, He has given us his commandments in order to live a "Kadosh" lifestyle before HIM and before our fellow man (and woman) he has not given us these to make our lives miserable, but to clarify what is holy and un holy, clean vs unclean, especially since we live in a fallen world dominated by sin. The curse of sin has been conquered and vanquished by Yeshua HaMashiach on Calvary's cross, our "Yeshuah" (Salvation) has been secured in HIM, We have gained "righteousness" through HIM, now, we must live a "righteous" lifestyle. (doing what is correct and Kadosh) being "Tsaddikim"

Chapter 26 deals with "conditions" "IF...THEN" "IF YOU DON'T.....THEN" All blessings, relationships, contracts, etc are all "conditional" even salvation is conditional, IF we repent of our sins, and turn from our sinful ways, and accept Yeshua/Jesus as our LORD and Savior, THEN we will be saved, salvation will be ours for all eternity. It is not an automatic thing, Yeshua died for our sins, and it is a free gift, only IF we accept it, by repentance (Teshuvah) If salvation were something automatic, being granted to every single soul on earth at the time of death, then "heaven" would soon become a "hell" with all the Adolf Hitlers, Stalins, etc up there doing there "thing"

the blessings given to Israel were earthly blessings, speaking of their crops, rain, etc, on the condition that they might OBEY his commandments... BUT IF YOU DO NOT OBEY ME...vs 14 then come the curses, is it any different today? I would say not. To stay out of jail, obey the "commandments" of the law of the land. If you want your home to be the state prison, then DISOBEY the laws of the land.

Chap 27 deals with "vowing" and "dedicating" things to Adonai. Back then, it came with a small cost. If a person "vowed" or promised, dedicated something or someone to the service of Adonai, the person had to pay a small price in silver, Today, we see almost the same thing, We can dedicate ourselves to teaching HIS Word, but we have to PAY a bit of silver during our tenure in a Yeshiva or Bible college to get ourselves ready. One time I sent 30 Bibles through Malawi Bible society, to people in small town in that African country, but I had to purchase those bibles through the Bible society, the bibles were "dedicated" to those people, but it still "cost" me some money. So we can see the relationship between money, and dedicating, vowing, etc. Rav Shaul (Paul) paid a "price" to be a "Nazarite" for a time, he got a hair-cut and had to pay a fee.

and this is the end of the book of Leviticus.

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YIRIMYAHU 16:19-17:14

"Oh YHVH, my strength and my fortress" the prophet speaks through the Ruach HaKodesh. "The Gentiles will come to you" and is this not true? the whole world has come to YESHUA and HIS WORD for salvation. The prophet outlines blesses and curses, if Israel chooses to follow Adonai, yet Israel rejected the commandments of God, thus the prophet writes "the sin of Y'hudah is written with a pen of iron, and with a point of a diamond, engraved on their hearts" So all of the people were made "conscious" of their sin....Yet He will "cause them to know My hand and my might, and they shall know that my name is YHVH", in 17:7 "Blessed is the man who trusts in YHVH" So, we can trust in YESHUA and receive his blessings...............or reject.............and receive curses, this is a similar message to the Torah message in Leviticus.

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2 COR 6:14-18

"Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers" we interpret this more in marriage relationships, which makes sense, both husband and wife should be born again believers

if not, many times, trouble will come forth. But this can also refer to very close friendships, the closer people become, the more our "intimacies" will surface, and the un-believer will see that we are "of Yeshua" and not "of the world" there will be friction,

"Come out from among THEM and be separate (Kadosh, Holy) " which is the calling of ALL PEOPLE, to leave "Egypt" and cross over to "Eretz C'naan" leave the world of sin, and the slavery to sin, and come to YESHUA and be part of HIS PEOPLE. But it doesn't mean we can't relate to lost people, sure, but there is a limit, we should not engage in unrighteous activities which are sinful that they might invite us to do..

.....and you shall be my sons and daughters....So, we are "kol B'nei Elohim" (all children of God) those who have accepted Yeshua as Mashiach and LORD. Baruch HaShem

rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

The beginning of the IDF (Israel Defense Forces) NUMBERS 1:1-4:20

PARASHA "B'MIDBAR" (in the wilderness)...........4/June/2016.........27/Iyyar/5776

NUMBERS 1:1-4:20...................HOSEA 2:1-22.....................1 COR 12:12-20

We start our study in the book of Numbers, in the Hebrew, "B'Midbar" (in the wilderness) The English title "Numbers" is because the first part of the book deals with "numbering" the people for certain jobs, task, duties, and it all took place in the "wilderness" or some say "desert"

One might think that this book of the Torah is boring, since it just lists names, yet it has much significance. We serve our God, Adonai-Elohim-Yeshuah, because of who He is. He is a God of "order" He is very organized in all that He does. Everything and everyone in its place, in his or her place. A specific job for everyone. There are no lone rangers in God's Army.

He numbers the tribes to form the ancient IDF (Israeli Defense Forces). Yet these troops did not carry Uzis, and dress in olive green uniforms, they dressed in loose fitting tunics and carried swords, knives, spears, sling-shots, and bows and arrows. Just like the armies of the world, they must have practiced daily with these weapons. One might think, where did they get them? Remember the armies of Egypt that went down-under in the Red Sea? well, dead bodies float, and so do their weapons, so, the Israelites got the weapons from the Egyptians. I am sure that in time, the Israelites learned how to make their own weapons using iron, copper, smelting furnaces, etc.

We can look at most of the armies of today's countries, and see similarities. We have the fighting forces, soldiers that train in combat arms, (infantry, artillery, mechanized unit, special forces, etc.) When I was in the Army for 11 years, I served in the office administration division (clerk typist) chaplain assistant (at that time, serving under the catholic chaplain) , food service, and finally, medical nursing unit, different jobs, different times, but always, "with a task to do"

Not everyone is the "Rambo" type, but there is a job for everyone in today's Armed Forces, no matter what country you live in. I have had the honor to serve as volunteer with the modern IDF, and as volunteer chaplain in the Armed Forces of El Salvador.

In numbering the tribes of Israel for serve in the Army, the starting age was 20 years old, in the USA, the age is 18.

However, YHVH made a distinction with the tribe of Levi, they were the "Chaplains and chaplain assistants" of ancient times. Their whole charge was to care for the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) they were of "non-combatant" status. That is the norm for today's army chaplains, they don't carry weapons, their weapon is the Word of God. The Levites had certain tasks, different family members were charged with covering and carrying the furniture of the Tabernacle, and setting it up again once at a different camp site. Everything had order, we serve a God of order.

All believers are part of God's Army of believers, our war is against HaSatan and his demons, we have the AAF (Angelic Allied Forces) on our side, we just have to know how to call upon them for help and assistance. By prayer and supplication, using the powerful name of "Yeshua" They will come to assist every believer that calls upon them.

The enemy, HaSatan, hates us all, and wants nothing more than to destroy us or ruin our testimony, destroy our families, point an accusing finger at us and say to God "Hey, and he's your son?" or "She's your daughter?" "well hey look God, do you see what your son/daughter just did?" BUT....all of our sins have been covered and atoned for, past, present, and future. Yes, we can imagine God shaking his head sometimes, and saying "oi vey, did you have to do that son/daughter?" Yet there is forgiveness, if we only repent and ask for it.

We also see that Levite ministry began at 30 years old. That was when Yeshua/Jesus began his earthly ministry, at 30 years old, in keeping with the Torah. Today, there is not set age for beginning ministry, only one has to be prepared, have a good knowledge of God's Word, and have a calling to perform a certain task, be in preaching, teaching, being a pastor or rabbi. Most have studied in a Bible college or Yeshiva, yet some have not. Dr. B.R. Laken, known as the "Prince of preachers" only had a sixth grade education, but became a circuit preacher, visiting different churches in the 1930s, riding a mule! But what ever your calling is, tend to it! you're part of HaShem's Army, don't "Sham" (Army word for "being lazy") Don't be a "shamster" The harvest is ripe, and workers are needed!
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HOSEA 2:1-22

Hosea had a hard calling, He was instructed by God to marry a prostitute, and yes, she WOULD be unfaithful. Can you imagine us receiving a call like that? either to marry an unfaithful man or woman, knowing who that person was and what he or she would do? Well, Hosea did, and he STILL loved her (Gomer). She was sold into slavery, yet Hosea bought her back...and still loved her.

This is an illustration of how Israel departed from the ways of HaShem, going after strange gods, committing "adultery" against Adonai-Elohim, Yes, God would punish/chastise his people, YET, he would bring them back to himself, a remnant would be saved, many would perish, yet some would be saved, survive captivity, exile, etc. and turn back to Elohim. Yeshua HaMashiach is the WAY BACK, He is the WAY the TRUTH, and the LIFE, (Ha Derech) (Ha Emet) and (Ha Chaiyim)

If you have gone astray, it is not too late, there is a way back, HE IS!
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1 CORINTHIANS 12:12-20

"There are many members, yet one body" is the message in this part of Rav Shaul's message to the Kehilah of Corinth. Corinth was a very pagan city in Greece. (I was there back in 99) the believers were very carnal, yet Paul still loved them and reached out to them with these letters. There is ONE BODY of believers, even though there are many languages, customs, skin colors, denominational names, yet we are all ONE in MESSIAH YESHUA, whether we call him by his Hebrew name "Yeshua" or English/Spanish "Jesus" or Arabic "Yisa" or Chinese "Yasu" HE knows his NAME in ALL LANGAUGES, after all, he made the languages back in Babel. And as believers in one body, we all have different jobs, and ALL working together, make the body a 'WELL OILED MACHINE" through the Spiritual gifts and abilities. Do you know yours? if not, find out! investigate! YESHUA HA MASHIACH needs YOU, for HIS ARMY.

This might be the last Parasha for a while, for a few months, we are going out of country for the summer, I may not be able to access a PC whenever I want to, yet if I can, I will continue to send out the Parashiot weekly as time permits.

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA NASSO ELEVATE

Numbers 4 21 to 7 89.................Judges 13 2 to 25.......Acts 21 17 to 26

You know, I don´t know how to figure out the keys to the punctuation on PCs in Central America, they seem to be all out of order, out of place, the star symbol is really another, and the dollar sign is another, and you know, I am not going to try and find out, I am just going to write this parasha,

This parasha is similar to last weeks, the Levite families are separated (Kadoshed) to serve in the Tabernacle, from 30 years old to 50. As we learned last week, Yeshua started his ministry at 30 years old. We, as high priests of HaShem, we have ALL been KADOSHED or SEPARATED unto the service of our Messiah Yeshua, and it doesn´t matter what family name we bear, all that matters is that we are BORN AGAIN in HIS family. Each of us has been kadoshed to do certain things in the Family of God, in our ¨KEHILOT (congregation). The spiritual gifts give us jobs to do and we should do them to the best of our abilities, just as the ancient Israelite families carried the objects of the tabernacle, so we should carry our load, what we have been called to do, there is no such thing as retirement in God s family, we serve until the LORD brings us home to glory, and then what ( that s supposed to be a question) then we serve some more, for all eternity

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Judges 13 2 to 25

The rest of the Parasha is about the Nazarite vow, in this type of vow, a person could not go near the barber shop, could not drink wine, nor even grape juice, and not touch anything dead. These were people who in their heart, wanted to serve the LORD for a certain time, dedicate themselves entirely to the LORD, and so, went through the Nazarite ceremony. Are there Nazarites today ? ? great, I found the question mark key, it is the key with the long line on top, yeah, makes sense
well, there might be, the WORD of God does not prohibit taking a Nazarite vow today, I guess we just don´t hear of believers calling themselves Nazarites today, but there might be, Samson, the strong man, was called to be a Nazarite from the womb, he was a judge in Israel, from the tribe of Dan. His job was to free the Israelites from under Phillistine rule, this was before Saul was made king. When Israel sinned and stopped serving the LORD; God would send chastisement, in the form of other conquering nations, such as the Phillistines, when they repented, God sent relief, Samson was chosen, yet HE himself was carnal, and violated his Nazarite vows, and so even he was judged by Righteous Adonai, yet ended his life killing thousands of Phillistines when he brought the Temple of Dagon down. Believers, take heed that we stay faithful to our calling, least Adonai bring the house down on top of US !!!

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ACTS 21 17 To 26

Rav Shaul gets some good news, many Y´hudim are coming to Yeshua, thousands of Messianic Jews are now revealed, they love Yeshua and they love the Torah, who says one can t be orthodox and messianic ? sure, I imagine them all were very Torah observant , yet they recognized Messiah Yeshua as LORD, and realized that good works (mitzvoth) did not bring saving righteousness, that saving righteousness came only through Yeshua. Shaul also, wanted to prove to the Jews that he also was Torah observant, so, He also went through the Nazarite ceremony,

Just a bit of exta info, When a person went through the ceremony, his hair would be cut, then, after that, the person would let his hair grow until the appointed time of his Nazarite service was over, then, his hair was cut again, and his hair would be thrown into the fire and be burned, sort of a consumation of his Nazarite service.

We can serve the LORD without going through a Nazarite ceremony, God doesn t look for outward signs of service, he looks into our hearts.

Shabbat Shalom v´hag sameach Shavuot.


There was a tropical lighting and rain storm tonight in San Salvador, lights went out for a while, and so did the PC , The day was cool, part sunny, a wind blowing through the trees, dogs were calm, lazying around, just like the rabbi,, laying around in the hammock, getting up late, still go on to the patio and put on the tefillim and tallit, and do mornng prayers, always to make sure the patio is washed and swept clean, after all, the dogs patrol the property all night, and the patio is part of their terrain. Tomorrow is Parasha teaching at a retired Army capt. house, He loves the LORD, is in his 70 s, and tomorrow afternoon we go to the Beit HaMidrash (House of Study) and celebrate Shavuot and have Hebrew class. Keep us in prayer,, It is still raining, but the lights are on

Rabbi Ben Avraham
San Salvador, El Salvador

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA BaHa´alatcha

June 18, 2016...............Sivan 12, 5776

NUMBERS 8:1 to 12:16...............ZECH 2:10 to 4:7......1 COR 10:6 to 13

Shabbat shalom to all, today the church had an open air movie so that the people in the streets could sit down and watch, a few came to stay, the movie ¨ WAR ROOM was good, about spiritual warfare. Yesterday I met with Major General Nunez and he will get things going so I can serve two weeks as chaplain with the Armed Forces in July. There was a Military ceremony, for the troops returning from Haiti, Malil, and Lebanon, peace keeping forces supported by the UN. The lizards that chirp like birds are gekos I was told. All houses have them here in El Salvador, they get in somehow, but they eat mosquitos, so they can stay and chirp all they want to.

This weeks Parasha deals with lighting the menorah, anointing the Levites, celebrating Passover and following HaShem. Remember that the menorah was the only light in the Kadosh place, and in the Kadosh Kedoshim, the ¨HOLY OF HOLIES¨¨ it was the Shekinah glory itself, Adonai himself lit up the room, the Menorah reminds us that Yeshua is the Light of the World. He lights up the dark places and when there is light, there is no more darkness, He is the Living Torah, which lights our lives, with his WORD, so that the darkness of ignorance, of Torahlessness, dissappears.

As the Levites were anointed for service, so we also are anointed to serve, we are all considered ¨cohenim Gadolim´ high priests before our living YHVH, we have been all kadoshed in order to service, with our spiritual gifts, we have a life long calling, As the levites had specific jobs to do, so do all believers in ministry, there are jobs, callings, through the Holy Spirit, to serve in ministry

For those who could not celebrate Passover because they were either unclean or away from the congregation could celebrate it a month later on the same date, We serve a wonderful God who understands situations, and makes arrangements for those situations, so we should all remember that, if for some reason we miss the 14th of Nissan, we can celerate Passover the following month, but we remember that Yeshua is our Passover Lamb, who is to be remembered every day of the year.

Following Adonai, when the cloud was lifted, the congregation moved and followed the cloud. That is our calling as well, we are to follow where ever the LORD leads us, He will put people in our tracks that guide us, as well as circumstances, events, etc. We should be sensitive to our calling and following HaShem,
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ZECH 2:10 to 4:7

¨the LORD says; sing and rejoice daughter of Zion because I am coming and will dwell in the midst of you. many nations will join that day and they will be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of you

What a promise, many nations today are coming to Yeshua and are being planted in the olive tree to be part of that tree, and to be called AM ADONAI the people of God, it started out with the 12 tribes of Israel and now God´s family has expanded to include ALL of those who are CALLED, no matter what country you are part of.
...

1 CORINTHIANS 10: 6 to 13

Rav Shaul talks to the Kehilah at Corinth about complaining, among other things, many of us are doing the ´¨Grumble, Grumble, grumble, groan, we always find things to complain about, with the Israelites in the wilderness, they were blessed with mana bread, yet they wanted meat, thoughts going back to Egypt where they had fish, leeks, onions, garlic, (guess you can imagine their breath) yet they forgot that they were slaves, was food more important than their freedom? Adonai gave them meat, yet a plague followed, it gets down to the saying I once heard from Rex Humbard YOU MAY GET WHAT YOU WANT, BUT YOU ARE NOT GOING TO WANT WHAT YOU GET. something to think about,

lets give thanks to God for what He has given us already, it isn´t a sin to ask for more, but we must always settle for HIS PERFECT WILL and thank him in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES, and what we have, for He knows our needs, and will supply us with our needs, and even at times, our wants, all in his riches in glory

Shabbat Shalom.......Rabbi Ben Avraham,
San Salvador, El Salvador
Your Message

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA SHELACH LECHA (Go send) June 25th, 2016

NUMBERS 13; 1 to 15: 36...............JOSHUA 2:1 to 24............HEBREWS 3: 7 to 19

This week s parasha deals with the sending out of the spies to scout out the Promised land. When we read the beginning of chap 13, we see that ADONAI said unto Moshe, "go send"
it wasn t Moshe s idea, it was God s idea, and his command to go visit the Promised land.
The idea wasn t to find faults, but to see the blessing ahead of time

When we read the account. we see that 12 men were sent out and 10 came back with a negative report and only Y Hoshua and Caleb came back with a positive report. Have you ever seen a poster with a school of fish going in one direction and only one fish going in the opposite direction, it is called "going against the flow" a pretty hard thing to do at times, at times it just creates more friction. Caleb and Yehoshua wanted to encourage the people, but the other 10 just saw one giant too many. Negativity is contagious, and unfortunately, the majority won. They turned a blessing into a curse, something good became something bad. Did they not know that YHVH could take care of the giants. I mean, the bigger they are the harder they fall.

We could compare this with the following, suppose you were the owner of a large 5 bedroom house, with 3 bathrooms, a study room, a large garden and a swimming pool. You want to give this to a family that was living in a camp out place, only one bathroom, and when you made your nightly visit to the John, cockroaches would wiggle their antennae to greet you, well you show the house to the family, and they say the following:

"Oi vey, this is going to be one humongous light bill at the end of every month, too much cleaning, and not to mention cutting all the grass, and the expense to clean the pool, imagine the roof leaking, just getting a ladder out of the garage to going up to the roof, just makes me dizzy, and not to mention the taxes, and .........(grumbe, grumble, grumble, groan)

Hey, you wanted to GIVE this place to them, but now, do you still want to (still cant find the question mark on this key board) Maybe not, Adonai says, "OK, don t want it, so, you will all WAIT, yeah, 40 years, in the meanwhile. keep on camping out"

They had their chance,. God would still make good his promise, but they would have to suffer the consequences of taking a negative attitude. Even after seeing the Red Sea open up for them, they still could not see God s hand in all this

We need to find blessings in ALL situations, even when there seem to be "giant" problems, If it is of God, HE will provide for our needs, HE will work out the details.
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JOSHUA 2:1 to 24

Again, we see the spies going into Jerecho, yet they happen upon a prostitute who recognizes just who YHVH is! She recognizes the strength and power of the God of Israel, and she puts her faith to the test. She is rewarded with her life, In the midst of what would be a complete destruction of Jericho, she has and maintains her faith in the promise of tthe two spies. When tough situations come upon us, do we maintain our faith (question)

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HEBREWS 3 : 7 to 19

Rav Shaul writes to the Messianic believers saying :IF, you listen to God s voice, and not harden your hearts...... it is all CONDITIONAL we could all suffer the loss of blessings and rewards, if we treat blessings as curses, We serve a God who is control of s in control of all things, He knows the outcome before it happens, because He looks from the infinite dimensionan not from the finite dimension. We just have to trust Him in all things

Rabbi Ben Avraham........... San Salvador, El Salvador

[JacobBenAvraham]

KORACH

NUMBERS 16: 1 to 18:32.................1 SAM 11: 14 to 12:22................ROM 13: 1 to 7

Just when you think that you have your people under control, just when you think that they learned a lesson from the spies, you get more rebellion, it is human nature to rebel, it is part of the fallen nature of man, his ¨ ENOSH that fights against the spirit

Korach gets up and says, "All of God s people are holy, not only you Moshe" Well, is that true, did Korach say a falsehood? not really, remember that the word KADOSH means "to be separate" Yes, we are HOLY, all believers are HOLY unto YHVH, HOWEVER, Adonai does have specific jobs within the KODESH (the holiness) of the body o believers, some have been called to be church or synagogue/Kehilah leaders, or assistant leaders, music leaders, teachers, rabbis, finance managers, etc,

So it wasn t that Korah was stating an untruth, he was challenging the leadership of Moshe
he was being a rebel, Torah says that "Rebellion is like unto witchcraft" very serious, in the eyes of God, so serious that it became a death sentence to Korach, and unto his family.
We read that the ground opened up and swallowed ALL of Korach´s property, including his family.

Now wait a minute you are saying, why his family? why not only Korah? We must believe that his family was IN AGREEMENT with him, they were accomplices, the a court of law, the thief is guilty, ALSO the driver of the get away car. we might say that his family was DRIVING THE GETAWAY CAR, they were all in agreement with his rebellion, WITH THE ACCEPTION OF a few of his sons, why do we say that? because some of the Tehillim (Psalms) were written by the "Sons of Korach" a few who said "Hey pop, you are WRONG" "We want nothing to do with this" and they set themselves apart from the their family s tents. We know this, they survived to write some of the Psalms .

We must accept the leadership of those above us, we must wait on Elohim for his guidance, perhaps when the time is right, we will be leaders in some capacity or another, by humbleness and not by rebellion.

__________________________________________________
1 SAMUEL 11:14 to 12;22

We see also that the people of Israel now want a king, just like the other nations, they are not satisfied with having YHVH as their king, they want a human king, with the same fallen sin nature as they have. kind of like trading a Mercedes Benz for a broken down vehicle that is on its last tire. Shmu el objects, yet he relents, God says Give them what they want, they have not rejected you but ME! They got what they wanted, they got a sour lemon,

We know the story of Melech Shaul, he started out good, but ended up bad, I think we can count on one hand the number of good and righteous kings in Israel. What is the lesson here? if we are appointed to be some kind of leader, let us finish the race on good standards, and follow Torah ways, follow the LIVING TORAH who is YESHUA.

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ROMANS 13: 1 to 7

Let us submit ourselves to the authority which is over us, says Rav Shaul to the Kehilah which is in Rome, those above us have been appointed by God, you might ask, even the bad ones? the ones that make bad decisions ? Well, it is by the will of Adonai that they are there, it might not be the perfect will of God, but his permissive will, we are still bound to obedience UNLESS it violates scripture, we must pray for those over us that they make good decisions that are decisions based of Godly standards.

Shalom Alecheim.....................Rabbi Ben Avraham, in hot, sunny El Salvador

[ennison]

I disagree about Saul.

[ennison]

I also disagree with many other things you say but I think your contributions here are very good indeed.

[JacobBenAvraham]

,Hello and shalom to all

I am back from ministering to the Armed Forces in El Salvador, it was a blessing, and I hope that many of the soldiers and the Air Force members, cadets, officers, etc were blessed. I shared the message from God s Word, traveled to many places in this country, got to wear my army uniform once again, once a soldier, always a soldier.

PARASHA PINCHAS:

NUMBERS 25:10 - 29:40................1 KINGS 18:46 - 19:21........................JOHN 2: 13´-22

In this study, we see the zeal of Pinchas, when the leaders of Israel were dismayed at the whole nation going after the gods of Moab. Some seem to think that Balaam told Balak that since he could not curse Israel, that they could bring a curse upon themselves, by going after the gods of Moab, according to Jewish midrash

However, YHVH brought down punishment upon his people, and rightly so, and Pinchas decided to do something about it, in the sight of all the leaders, we read that a guy named Zimri brought a Moabite woman named Cozbi into his tent, and we all know what went on in side the tent, Pinchas rushed inside with a spear and Shishkabobed them both with one thrust of the spear, pinned them BOTH to the ground, so ended the curse, and PInchas was rewarded with a part of the priesthood.

Now, does this mean one should go out and shoot all the prostitutes, drug dealers, etc? and expect to be rewarded by God ? We all know the answer, we live under a democracy and not under a Theocracy, Israel was a THEOCRATIC society, God made the rules, here we live under the rules of man. Yet we should pray for prostitutes, law breakers, etc, that they might repent and come to accept Yeshua as Messiah and LORD, and thus be saved.

Later in the Parasha, we see the ordinaces of the daily offerings, and we see how Yeshua is reflected in them. 2 lambs, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, with fine flour and olive oil, and libation offering of wine. 2 lambs, the number 2 reminds of the letter BEIT in Hebrew, it means HOUSE, we are part of GOD s HOUSE, his family, ¨Anachnu Kol Beit Adonai¨ we are all part of Adonai s house, his family, it takes 2 parties to make a covenant
YHVH is the giver and covenant maker, WE are on the receiving end. The covenant was made on Calvary´s tree, By God himself as YESHUA who is the LAMB of God, we could also say ONE lamb for Israel and ONE for the nations that come to YESHUA by faith,
The flour reminds us of YESHUA the BREAD OF LIFE, and the oil, the RUACH HA KODESH
(Holy Spirit) and the wine, HIS BLOOD, perfect picture, back then, performed twice daily

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

1 KINGS 18¨ 46 to 19:21

Elijah is God s man, his prophet, we are reminded of his zeal when he killed the false prophets of Baal, but we also see his human side, he ran for his life when Jezabel threatened to have him killed as well. The angels comforted him and made him some fig cakes, he later went to Mt Horeb, all the way to the land of Midian (Saudi Arabia) and rested in a cave, YHVH assured him that he was not the only one to have kept the faith, there were 7000 Israelites that had not bent the knee to Baal, yet, he needed the rest, we all need to rest, we are all human and get tired out, discouraged, etc....God will speak to us like a ¨CALM BREEZE a comforting voice, yet we need to know how to hear his soft voice, He spoke to Moshe in thunder and lightening, yet he spoke to Eliyahu through a soft small voice, it was what he needed to hear at that time, rest up, you still have a long trip ahead of you, so we all do, work, minister, rest, that is the way of life.

¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨ ¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨¨

JOHN 2: 13 to 22

We hear Yeshua s words, DESTROY THIS TEMPLE AND I WILL REBUILD IT IN THREE DAYS. yet not the temple that was standing at that time, His own body, and it was so, in three days, he was raised from the dead. Thus giving us also assurance, that we also, we be raised when we die, our physical bodies will undergo a change, from corruptible to incorruptible, our sinless bodies will be part of our sinless souls and spirit, His death brought us life, eternal life, Baruch HaShem


Rabbi Ben Avraham, San Salvador, El Salvador

[JacobBenAvraham]

Thanks for your comment and honesty, it is an honor to contribute, we can all agree to disagree, like many rabbis that discuss Torah together, many disagree with each other but still enjoy the debates and fellowship. I haven t heard from Cabret in a long time, kind of miss his comments, Still love him and pray for him.

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA MATOT (Tribes)

NUMBERS 30 1 to 32 verse 42.........JEREMIAH 1 to 2......................PHIL 3 verses 12 to 16

these chapters are about VOWS, VENGANCE, and sharing the LOOT. We read that when one makes a vow, a promise to Adonai, then one should keep it, the LORD takes serious our promises, I believe that is the reason why scripture advises us NOT to make vows, many vows are made rashly, and on the spur of the moment. Many say LORD, IF YOU GET ME OUT OF THIS MESS, I WILL SERVE YOU yet when the problem is solved, the person forgets all about the promise, Here we see though that when a woman makes a vow, it is only valid if the father or husband approves it, , unfortunately, in the days of old, women, it seemed, did not have all the rights that men had.

VENGANCE, was taken against the land of Midian, and we learn that Balaam recieved his just reward, a sword in the belly, we learn that this evil prophet told king Balak that since he couldn t curse Israel, that they could bring a curse upon their own selves, by following the priestesses of Baal and participating in their whoredoms, we learn that Israel departed from the ways of Adonai but punishment and death followed, now it is payback time.God does not play around, God takes seriously his worship, webelong to him and to HIM only. there are no other gods.

SHARING THE LOOT after the war against Midian, come the rewards, all the gold, silver, and the good stuff , including the widows and orphans, went home with the Israelites, cattle included
HOWEVER, a portion was given to the Levites, reminding us that all that we receive, does not belong to us, there is a certain portion that belongs to YHVH, yet ALL GOOD THINGS COME FROM ABOVE, sometimes, we even get what belonged to the heathen, but in all things, we must remember that ADONAI is the source of all

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JEREMIAH 1 to 2

We are reminded that YHVH knows us, even before our birth, He has ordained us ALL in different callings, ministries, as Jeremiah was called, in due time, so we must be ready to answer OUR calling, in the perfect timing of YHVH

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PHILLIPIANS 3 12 to 16

Rav Shaul writes about RUNNING THE RACE, and REACHING THE GOAL, even though he was not PERFECT in all things, and neither are we, WE MUST CONTINUE TO RUN THE RACE, working in our ministry, jobs, and whatever the LORD has called us to do, there is no such thing as RETIREMENT from ministry, we minister until YHVH calls us home, let Paul be our example, let Yeshua be our example.


rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA MASEI (Journeys of)

NUMBERS 33:1 through 36:13..........JER 2:4 through 3:4..........JAMES 4:1 through 12

The themes of this parasha study are ¨the journeys of the Israelites through the wilderness and the cities of refuge in the case of an accidental taking of a life.

We see when we read the chapters that Moshe lists the places where YHVH lead the Israelites, starting from Egypt, through the Red Sea, and into the Land of Madian, up and around the different camping sites, up until they are ready to enter the Promised land, Canaan, crossing over the Jordan River. But all of these have importance to our lives as believers,

The journey of our lives lead us all OUT of our EGYPT. Egypt symbolized our OLD LOST LIFE, the life we lead when we were lost sinners, whether our lives were lead by drugs, alcohol, illegal dealings, or maybe non of that, simply, we didn t know the LORD period,
we had a dissinterest in the Bible and spiritual things, Ask me about the Bible when I was 15 years old, I would have walked away, or tell you about Adam and Eve and about Noah, and leave it at that, or ¨can we change the subject please¨ I would have answered. or......
....¨This is getting booooorrring¨ I might have said, My mom gave me a bible when I was 14 or 15, ¨thanks¨ I said, and I never opened it. But the LORD sends a Moshe to initially lead us out of Egypt, it might be a pastor or rabbi, a friend, for me it was Carl Capra, who sat in front of me in Chemistry class in High School, he invited me to his house for a Bible study, so, out of curiosity I went, found the bible my mom gave me, later on, It was ¨Mom and Pop Woolston, who lead me to a church in Petersburg, Virginia, that was where I was born again in 1973, when I was in the Army, their ministry was to the soldiers at Fort Lee. So for me, Moshe came in the form of Carl Capra and Mr. and Mrs, Woolston, and Evangelist Joe Boyd. They lead me out of Egypt, like we have all been lead out of Egypt. but all of our Egypt stories are different. back then, there were very few Messianic congregations, if any at all
so the next best thing was a baptist church.

Next comes the crossing, we cross over to a new life, leaving Egypt and Egypt s demons behind, our journeys begin, the LORD leads us to different places and events in our new lives, going through tests and trials, just like the Israelites did, HE is refining us in the Refiners Fire, we may go through the ups and downs, but we are on our way to Canaan,
Israel s was a 40 year journey, it would have been shorter if Israel had not lost faith because of the negative thinking spies. Some of us will have longer journeys through our new Yeshua lives, others a lot shorter, YHVH has our time clocks, when our mission on earth is finished, we will be brought home to glory. As Canaan was the final place for Israel, and today, it is a modern land thriving with blessings, places to go and with an Army to support (IDF) our final place is the New Jerusalem, our place in glory, in the world to come, and it will come down to rest on a renewed planet earth, how cool is that! and we will live there like for ever like! how cool. but first, we have to go through our journeys, from here to there and from there to who knows where, only HaShem knows. just trust HIM

CITIES OF REFUGE, were for those who accidently killed someone, because that person s relative would be out looking for revenge. like today, we could be driving and someone steps infront of our car, no time to stop, But some of us could indeed ¨kill¨someone, not on purpose, but without spilling blood. Believers can ¨kill¨other believers or non believers with harsh words, critisicm, judgments, spreading lies, gossip, it might take a life'time to build a positive reputation, or a friendship, but only moments to ¨kill¨it. Some believers instead of facing the victim and repenting and making shalom, they retreat to a ¨city of refuge¨ usually within their own selves, avoiding the other person, It is easy to run and retreat, but harder to face the music, how mature are we as believers? are we going to run to a city of refuge? or try to revive the person who we accidently killed?

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JEREMIAH 2; 4 through 3;4

The prophet certainly has a right to reprove Israel, What did God do against Israel that the Israelites have left worshiping and serving YHVH? and they even say that they are clean.
The LORD pleads with them through his prophet Yirimyahu, yet they will pay the price of rebellion, Israel will be led away into captivity by the Babylonians.

If we are receiving blessing through YHVH today, let us remain faithful to HIM who has blessed us so, least those blessings be taken away and exchanged for curses, let us follow the Torah, the Living Torah, abide by HIS precepts and mitzvoth, If the Father loves us so, let us show HIM our love and obedience.

__________________________________________________ ____________________________

JAMES 4: 1 through 12

James (Ya akov) the half brother of Yeshua writes to BELIEVERS, and he tells them NOT to be lovers and conformers to the world, or things of the world. Yes, the world has things to offer, but do they benefit believers? We fight against the flesh, the old nature, and that old nature is in league with the world. James says DON T PASS JUDGMENT ON YOUR SPIRITUAL BROTHER, do not MURMER against him or her, that is one sure way we could ¨kill¨ allow the WORD to judge our brother, not ourselves. Yes, it is our job to point out through God s WORD, things that perhaps our brother or sister in Messiah is failing to observe or transgress against, but not to JUDGE and, or condemn.

shabbat shalom, rabbi Ben Avraham in San Salvador (mission here almost complete

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA DEVARIM (Deuteronomy)

DEUT 1 1 through 3 verse 22.........ISA 1 verse 1 through 27..........1 TIM 3 1 through 7

Well, almost time to come on home. We start the last book of the original Torah, DEVARIM (words) We can imagine Moshe as a grandparent, sitting his grand kids and his sons, daughters on a large rug, and he reviews with them their life´s experiences, journeys, adventures, failures, etc, They listen to him, will they learn from their mistakes? seems not, what with the future adventures ahead, Elohim will chastise them for their sins, rebellion, yet will still love them.

Their adventures are numbered, the naming of judges or assistants to Moshe, the mission of the 12 spies, YHVHs punishment , failure at Horma, the years in the desert,
Israel s defeat of Sehon and Og, division of the promised land, Moshe s request to cross over.

We will see how these adventures can correspond to our own adventures in our lives as believers. Jethro counseled Moshe to name judges to help him judge and govern the people. As leaders, we also need the help of others around us to help us with our tasks on this side of eternity, there are no Lone Rangers in ministry, we can not do it alone, is it any wonder why Yeshua sent out his talmidim by 2s.

We are also tested in our faith, had the 10 other spies come back with a positive report, ¨Let s get em boys¨ the Israelites would have entered the promised land 40 years earlier, 40 is the number of testing, of trials, sometimes, when we fall down in our faith, and don t trust the LORD, we have to pay the price, sometimes it is an unequal marriage, wrong job, bad friends,

Then again, YHVH will lead us to conquerer giants, giants come as big obstacles, big problems, and when we trust HaShem, those giants will fall, just like Sehon and Og, BUT we have to follow the LORD and trust HIM. One thing about giants, the bigger they are , the harder they fall, but when we show a lack of faith, the bigger the giants, the harder WE will FALL.

But GOD also puts limits and barriers in our lives. YHVH did not allow Israel to occupy the land of Moab nor Edom, those lands were promised to the descendants of Lot and Esau, and they are part of the lineage of Abraham. We must learn in our spiritual walk, our DERECH EMUNAH that YHVH at times says NO, or puts roadblocks here and there, some times, we will find out why on this side of eternity, and....sometimes...we will find out the reasons on the other side of eternity.

This was especially hard for Moshe to swallow, he asked the LORD to let him cross over to the other side of the Jordan, GOD said ENOUGH, DO NOT SPEAK TO ME ANY MORE CONCERNING THAT ISSUE. in other words NO MOE, YOU NOT GO. however, we have to remember that 1500 years later, Moshe was allowed to enter, at the Mt of Transfiguration, where he represented the Torah and Eliyahu, the Haf Torah, and Yeshua, the Brit HaDasha

Moshe was allowed to see the promised land from afar, from on top of Mt Pisgah, one wonders if Moshe was allowed to see a gimpse of the future Israel, with the high rises, the modern IDF, the jet planes, etc... we can only wonder.

We can also hope for a bright future when we serve the LORD, sometimes YHVH allows us to see into the future, perhaps a new business venture, new ministry commitments, we just have to live each day, one day at a time, and if the LORD PERMITS.....things will fall in place

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ISAIAH 1 1 through 27

This prophet had a rough job. Letting the people of Israel know that they are really in the wrong. When did YHVH ask sacrifices of them? or offerings? fat of lambs? Well, back in Exodus and Leviticus, he did, sacrifices are part of the 613 commandments. Yet these verses have double meanings. What good are sacrifices, offerings, fat of lambs, keeping the Sabbath, etc IF our hearts, attitudes, actions are FAR FROM ADONAI? well, they are worthless, we are just going through the motions, like rituals. Might as well just not offer up anything, until are hearts and minds are right before YHVH.

The prophet gives Israel a choice, IF YOU WANT, AND HEAR, YOU WILL EAT OF THE GOOD OF THE EARTH, IF YOU CHOOSE TO BE REBELS, YOU WILL BE CONSUMED BY THE SWORD. we have the same choice, to obey or disobey, to follow HaShem, accept Yeshua as our LORD and Messiah, and live by his commandments, OR reject the free gift of salvation, live a rebellious life style, and perish. The choices are still valid.

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1 TIMOTHY 3 1 through 7

What are the requirements of church or synagogue leaders, the word here is BISHOP it comes from the Greek language meaning one who leads

These are high standards, some wonder if the requirement of HAVING ONE WIFE, means HAVING ONE WIFE AT A TIME, because in ancient times, some men had multiple wives, others think it might mean ONE WIFE IN A LIFETIME, disqualifying divorcees. But I have known ministers that are divorced and remarried and are truly men of GOD, so, what ever the exact meaning, we must be careful to present a good testimony before others.

And those minsters who are divorced and remarried, God loves you and these couples can have wonderful ministries, reaching out to others of broken and re made marriages.


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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: V'ET'CHANAN (and I pleaded)

DEUT: 3:23-7:11...............ISA 40:1-26.....................MARK 12:28-34

Well, I am REALLY back this time. Rainy Houston, OK...so what else is new? We jump into this Parasha listening to Moshe telling his people; "I messed up, so now I have to die here on this mountain" (well, not his exact words). He pleaded to YHVH to allow him to go into the promised land, yet God said; "Enough, don't mention it any more, what I say goes" YET Adonai allowed him to see into the Promised land, and even more, he brought him INTO the land 1500 years later. Lifted him out of Paradise and brought him face to face with YESHUA and ELIYAHU. that must have been one great experience.

Moshe tells his people and pleads with them, "don't forsake the LORD, nor his mitzvoth" (commandments) don't turn to the right nor the left, straight ahead, he goes over the 10 Commandments. He acts like a father before his children, the father before dying counsels his children on life. LIFE! the word "IF" is in the middle, so life is all about "if"

"if" is conditional. IF you obey the commandments of HaShem THEN you will be blessed, IF you choose NOT to, THEN, curses await you. And when you think about it, it has never changed.

We come to the most popular prayer in Judaism, "the Shema" Devarim 6:4, "Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu Adonai Echad" LISTEN ISRAEL meaning more than just "to hear" but "to hear, listen, and obey" Adonai is OUR God, we can say that because we are part of HIS people, and He is our Heavenly Father, but only if YESHUA is our MESSIAH and LORD. Adonai ECHAD, He is ONE in UNITY, The Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit, all took part in the creation of the world, all united in ONE TRI-UNITY.

Then we have the "V'ahavtah" (You shall love the LORD thy God....) To love YHVH in this way is supernatural, and can only be accomplished through the Holy Spirit. IF we are led by the SPIRIT, THEN, we will have the full capacity to love our Creator God......and you will have these words on your heart, and will teach them.........We should take serious this commitment, to love our God, and to teach his words to others, when? all the time, to who ever that is willing to listen...where? any place that we might find ourselves with a willing "listener" first to our family, then friends, then our church/synagogue members. How do we love God? through obedience to HIS WORD. Yeshua said "If ye love me, obey my commandments, Yes, he taught the commandments of the Torah, and explained them even more fully, He is the author of ALL that is written in the Torah, through his chosen writers.

"You shall bind them on your hands, they will be between your eyes, and upon your door posts and gates" We see these words represented by what we use every day, the Tefillim and the mezuzah. These are not "magic amulets" but "symbols" which are for us, to be used in our worship. To remind us to keep his commandments, his WORD on our minds,

commandments put into action, through our good works. If the orthodox use them, why shouldn't we, as messianic believers do the same? The mezuzah reminds us that when we enter our homes, "The Presence of God is here inside"

In essence, Moshe is pleading with his children to "love and obey the LORD" (or else)
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ISAIAH 40:1-26

Yeshayahu is echoing the words of "Yochanan the Baptizer" "The voice of him the crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the LORD, make straight in the desert a highway for our God ELOHEINU, YESHUATEINU. The WAY is Yeshua, and his WAY should be our WAY as well, when our lives are without Messiah, our lives reflect a desert, dry, without much life. But when we surrender our lives to Mashiach, then the desert is transformed and life springs forth, we no longer walk crooked paths, but straight paths, why? because we KNOW where we are walking, If HE walks a straight line, so will we (at least we should)
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MARK 12:28-34

These are the famous words of YESHUA spoken to a scribe, When we love God with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength, which represent every portion of the human being, THEN we will love our neighbor, as we love ourselves. And when we look at the 613 commandments of the Torah, they all teach us how to relate to our creator God, and how to relate to our neighbor, as well as ourselves, The 613 commandments cover ALL ASPECTS of AHAVAH (love) toward YHVH and toward our fellow man, So YES, the Torah IS FOR TODAY, all of it! practically and/or symbolically.

Shabbat Shalom...............Rabbi Ben Avraham (back in Houston now)

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: EKEV (as a result)

DEUT 7:12-11:25...............ISAIAH 49:14-51:3.....................ROM 8:31-39

This study starts out with Moshe exhorting his people, "IF" you hearken to these judgments and keep, and do them......" This is a conditional promise.....He will love thee and bless thee, and multiply thee...... We see the blessings from obedience, but on the other hand, curses will follow disobedience. What are "judgments" one asks? There are various meanings in Hebrew, but one is the outcome of our correctly applying the Torah commandments in our interrelationships between our God and our fellow man.

Moshe is speaking to the second generation of Israelites. These people were only children and in their teenage years when they left Egypt, and 40 years have gone by, perhaps some have just a scant memory of all that YHVH did, so Moshe is reminding them, since they are about to enter "Eretz C'anaan" they must not forget, and they must obey and love the LORD, since the evidence of Adonai's caring for them has been witnessed by all. Moshe mentioned all the things that YHVH did to protect them and care for them in the past 40 years.

BUT.....he also reminds them that they were NOT chosen because they are or were a specially righteous people, Oh no, he says they are "stiff necked" but because the other nations were evil, Yet Adonai loved them and still does, "unconditionally", as He loves us all, unconditionally. Even though we do evil, and sin, he still loves us and showed his love on Calvary's cross. Yet as a father loves his children, when we rebel and sin, YHVH will chastise us, and yea, he will suffer, just as Israel suffered and was punished for rebelling
yet His love did not and does not falter. Moshe reminds the people of their rebellion and how they "provoked" the anger of Adonai, "Remember and forget not how thou provokedst the LORD thy God to wrath........(vs 7) That should be a lesson for us all, how the evil are punished and destroyed

10:12 "And now Israel (includes us all) what doeth YHVH they God require of thee, but the fear the LORD thy God, to walk in all his ways, to love Him, to serve him with all thy heart and soul, to keep the commandments of the LORD thy God"

When we see this verse, we see the word "fear" the LORD, it is a "fear" related to respect as one respects a king, a leader, not a fear related to terror, and IF we FEAR the LORD, Then...we will WANT to follow his WAYS. What are His ways? All the mitzvoth that are recorded in the Torah, but most important, the recognition that OUR WAYS are sinful, and that we come to a saving knowledge of Yeshua HaMashiach, so that we are re-united in fellowship with our heavenly Father through YESHUA. Then, we will have the desire to serve HIM and walk in his WAYS, the ways of Torah, the LIVING Torah, who is Yeshua.

10:16 "Circumcise therefore the foreskin of your heart"........Moshe's words reflect the importance of "Spiritual circumcision" vs "physical circumcision". Not that physical circumcision is not important, it is for health sake for males, yet "spiritual circumcision" means a "spiritual conversion" it means being "born again" and rebel no more. Remember that "flesh and blood" can not inherit the Kingdom of God, only the Spirit can,
So we must be "born again" to inherit the Kingdom,
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ISAIAH 49:14-51:3

"But Zion said, the LORD hath forsaken me, and has forgotten me" this thought was in the minds of the Israelites because of all the chastisement , of all the bad things happening because of Israel's rebellion. YET God has promised to protect and preserve his people, and we read that the nations around Israel will receive the remnant.(49:22) The Israelites were dispersed to many countries of the diaspora, to Germany and East Europe (Ashkenazim)
to Spain, North Africa and middle east (Sephardim) and to Africa (Falashim) and of course, later on, do to immigration, to the USA, Mexico, Central and South America. In spite of the persecution and pogroms, Ha Am Y'hudi lives on and will live and be blessed for ever, and the promise of Abraham still is in effect; "I will bless those who bless thee, and curse those who curse thee" The nations that bless Israel, and uphold Israel, will indeed be blessed.
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ROM 8:31-39

"What shall we say then, if God be for us, who can be against us?" We can see this from the time of Noah, Moshe, and throughout history, If Ha Satan is against us, then YHVH stepped in and came to earth as a human, and gave his life for us all, being our sin atonement, He gave us YESHUAH through YESHUA HA BEN, Ben Adonai, Ben David, Ben Adam, even though we go through tribulation, suffering, and even death, our eternal life is secure, what is then our earthly life, just a vapor, a passing thing, we are here today and gone tomorrow, yet FOR EVER with the KING OF KINGS and LORD of Lords.

Shabbat Shalom. rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: Re'eh (See)

DEUT 11:26-16:17...................ISAIAH 54:11-55:5.........1 JOHN 4:1-6

Moshe is in his final days, and he offers Israel either blessings or curses. Blessings if they follow Adonai's mitzvoth, or curses if not. When we look at the world today, we see the exact same situation. God has set down his standards, his commandments, and it is up to us to obey or disobey, either harvest blessings or reap the curses. This is a conditional covenant, ALL covenants are based on conditions. Even our salvation (Yeshuah) is based on a condition, the condition being if we come with a contrite heart and repent of our sins and accept Yeshua as Mashiach, and be "born again".

This Parasha also speaks of "a prescribed place of worship" Moshe warns his people that they can not just worship in any way they want, nor in any place, there is a prescribed manner and way, and place. The place (back then) was the Mishkan (tabernacle) and the way, was by bringing their sacrifices to the Levite priests. "Where the LORD sets his name" was where people could worship. Back then, it was at the tabernacle and later on, the temple...NOW.. he has set HIS name in every believer through the Ruach HaKodesh, (Holy Spirit) Scripture says that where two or more are gathered together in HIS name, that HE would be in the midst. Such a wide difference between now and then.

The local body of believers (Ha Kehilah or Kehilot (plural) ) is where the LORD puts his name also, and this is where we receive our spiritual food every week, on the Sabbath and on Sundays for church goers. We need this getting together for fellowship, praise, and learning Torah, and having lunch together afterwards.

Beware of false gods (12:29) A false god is anything that comes between our relationship with Messiah Yeshua, be it money, work, pleasure, sports, etc, not that those things are evil in themselves, but CAN he a hindrance in our relationship with God, if allowed to dominate our time and our lives, then...they become as gods. Watch out and beware!!

In 12:15 Moshe talks about slaughtering meat and eating it, like the gazelle and deer, both the clean and the unclean alike. Some people get confused and think that Moshe is talking about clean and unclean meats, Yet if we look closely, he is talking about "people" being "clean" and "unclean" an "unclean" person could be someone who just buried a relative, the person had to pick up the corpse and bury it, or a person might have been picking up fire wood and accidently, touched a dead snake, or something similar, that person would be "unclean" until the evening, but that person could still slaughter and BBQ meat.

Chap 14 deals with physical food, Moshe reviews YHVH's kosher menu which was first mentioned in Leviticus 11. Reading the list speaks for itself, some people ask, why only fish with fins and scales can we eat? but I love lobster, crawdads, cat fish nuggets, steamed clams, crabs, and butter fried shrimp. One thing these sea creatures have in common is that they are bottom feeders, they eat the dead and decaying corpses of other marine life, they are "marine cockroaches" so just like you would never think of eating a cockroach, that is what you are eating when you eat those sea creatures. What are "clean birds?" They are the birds that DONT eat blood, the other birds mentioned in this chapter are scavengers, they eat dead and decaying animals, what are examples of clean birds? well, the ones that eat grains, like chickens, geese, ducks, turkeys, etc. (ever hear of a Thanksgiving vulture?)

Mitzvah concerning tithes. Before, the people tithed their first born animals, and the first of their crops, yes, they COULD eat of those together with the Levite priests, yet we today tithe our income, and we usually give ALL of our income tithe to our local church or our local synagogue, because, the local church/synagogue is an organization that needs up-keep, maintenance, bills paid, etc, just like any other organization, but God uses HIS people to do it, with our tithes and offerings.

Three main high Holy Days are mentioned in chapter 16. the PASSOVER, the FEAST OF WEEKS, (Shavuot/Pentecost) and the FEAST OF TABERNACLES (sukkot). Why are these so important? they all point to Messiah Yeshua. In Passover, YESHUA is the Unleavened Bread, the Bread of Life, the sacrifice lamb, who took on our sins with BITTERNESS, In Shavuot, we see the giving of the Torah on Sinai, Yeshua is the Living Torah, the LIVING WORD, also, the coming of the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) who is GOD living in every born again believer, and the FEAST OF TABERNACLES which celebrates GOD coming to live among us through YESHUA HaMASHIACH, In the Millennial Kingdom, we will travel to Yerushalayim during these Festivals.

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ISAIAH 54:11-55:5

The Prophet comforts Israel, even though they are being punished for disobedience, for unbelief, yet in the future, Israel WILL be comforted, during the Millennial kingdom, they will be blessed in ALL ways, treated like royalty, ...and their RIGHTEOUSNESS, their YESHUAH is from ME, says the prophet, Yeshua HaMashiach is their righteousness and their salvation, and HE is OURS as well. Are we not part of the Commonwealth of Israel?
joined to HIS people HIS nation, like the grafted-in Olive branches. Come to the waters and drink, it is free, the Living Water who is Yeshua is free, free to accept, and freely given is his gift of eternal life, to all who believe in HIM.

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I JOHN 4:1-5

Test the spirits, says the apostle Yochanan, How do we know that God speaks through some people/ministers/ or so called "prophets"? What do they believe about Yeshua? Did he come in the flesh, to reveal who God is? did he come as part of Elohim? as Echad? Did he come as "God made flesh" if yes, then the person is of God, if no, then the person is NOT of God, couldn't be any easier understood.

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: SHOFTIM (judges)

DEUT 16:18-21:9......................ISAIAH 51:12-52:12.....................JOHN 11:1-57

This Parasha starts out with; "Appoint judges and officers within all your gates.....they shall judge the people with righteous right-ruling"

And so it was back then, that Moshe appointed judges and officers to help him rule the nation of Israel. We remember back when the Israelites came out of Egypt and arrived at Sinai, that Yitro, Moshe's Father-in-law came up with that same suggestion, that he might appoint elders to help judge the nation. Here Adonai is giving this as a commandment.

A nation can not be ruled by one person, it is a "team effort" to rule a nation, a group of people, or even a church or synagogue.

"Righteous, right-ruling" are the key words DO NOT DISTORT RIGHT-RULING, unfortunately, we have rulers that do exactly that! they bend the rule, corrupt governments

bring disorder to churches and synagogues, teach falsehoods, we have crooked people in government offices, both in state and federal, and they do much harm, yet also we have good and righteous people in those offices, that try to make a difference, those who stand up to God's WORD. We must always pray that those people are elected to those offices as judges, officers, etc..

"RIGHTEOUSNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS THOU SHALL PERSUE" (Tzedek, Tzedek Tirdof)

One might ask why twice the word "righteousness?" any purpose? perhaps to make emphasis, we can also say one must pursue righteous ends through righteous means,

we must do what is right and correct to achieve whatever goal we have in mind. Not like the man who sees a very poor man that needs a car to get to a new job, so the man sees that his neighbor has two cars, so, he steals one of them to give to the poor man, so that the poor man can get to his job and support his family. Well, he might have had a righteous thought in mind, but went about it in a very "unrighteous" way. (he could have asked the neighbor to donate one car, or, give the poor man bus fare)

The Parasha also tells a king to "make a copy of the Torah, to read it and study it, and live by it". A very good commandment, if all leaders were led by God's Word, there would be NO corruption. Yet many leaders are led by the ways of the world and by the flesh, and ignore God's WORD, and reject his LIVING WORD.

We also learn that the Levites were cared for by the rest of the congregation, they received the grain offerings and the animal offerings so that they might live well, since they are serving YHVH. So we must remember YHVH's servants today that live to serve HIM, and live to teach his word. Those that live to teach the WORD should be maintained by God's people. Unfortunately, many pastors, preachers, rabbis, have to have secular jobs as well because the people do not give, especially in third world countries.

18:18 "I shall raise up for them a Prophet like you out of the midst of their brothers and I shall put my words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them ALL that I command Him"

Did Yeshua come from Israel? Yes, did he come from the tribe of Y'hudah? Yes, Did Adonai put HIS words in the mouth of YESHUA? Yes! Did Yeshua speak forth the Words of the Father? Yes, could this verse be speaking about someone else? I would say not.

YHVH spoke his words and Moshe and his other servants wrote them down, and we have the whole written word today to learn from and live by. Baruch HaShem Yeshua-Adonai!

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ISAIAH 51:12-52:12

YHVH speaks through his prophet and says "And I have put my words in your mouth and with the shadow of my hand, I have covered you, to plant the heavens, and lay the foundations of the earth, and to say to Zion, "Atah Ami" (you are my people). But wait a minute, didn't Deut 18:18 say that too? and God is speaking to the prophet Isaiah. But Isaiah was a prophet of God, and God DID put HIS words in HIS mouth as well. BUT..Did Isaiah plant the heavens? and lay the foundations of the earth? Those he did NOT! but he still was God's voice to a wayward Israel, only YESHUA planted the heavens and the foundations of the earth as ELOHIM. Isaiah was part of Am Israel, yet the people BELONG to Adonai-Elohim. 52:6 "Therefore My people shall know MY NAME, for I AM the one who is speaking. Our God has many names, and his most Holy name, Y-H-V-H or some might say Y-H-W-H, and in the future, ALL will know his most HOLY name, KNOW, meaning TO UNDERSTAND the meaning behind it.
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JOHN 11:1-57

We see the beautiful story of Lazarus, in the Hebrew "Elazar" who was sick, died, and given life again by Yeshua. We see in both these names, are two of the most important names of God, YAH and EL, YAH (behold the hand/arm of the LORD) and EL (The powerful God who leads) Yeshua lifted up his voice and we can imagine him extending his hand, pointing to the tomb and commanding, "Elazar, Urah VaTze'ah" (Lazarus, come forth) And so in the future, all those who are dead in HIM will arise and forever, BE with HIM in HaShamayim, in the Heavens and enjoy eternity.

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: KiTeste (when you go out)

DEUT 21:10-25:19................ISAIAH 54:1-10...............MATT 5:27-30

This Parasha starts with..."when you go out to war against your enemies....and you see a beautiful woman among the captives....." well, some commandments were for the Israelite community thousands of years ago, a soldier could take a captive woman for himself, and marry her, with, one could imagine, the end result, the BIG picture, is that the woman would worship YHVH as her ONLY God and LORD, and accept the Torah way of life, through the influence of her husband, but today, we can not expect a soldier to go overseas and bring back a captive woman to make her his wife, kind of dangerous I would say, he might get a female terrorist, a "Talibaness" and end up with a "knife-in-the-back"
not to mention the cultural and religious difference, as well as language.

21:15 "If a man has two wives, one loved and the other unloved......" read through verse 17, It was never Adonai's perfect will for a man to have more than one wife, only if the wife dies, he could marry again. But it was part of the middle east culture to have multiple wives, Jacob, being an example, had many problems, preferring two sons over the others, Yosef and Benjamyn, being the sons of his beloved Rachel, caused family strife, this commandment is teaching us to "treat all of our family as equals, not preferring one son or daughter over another, and especially when giving out inheritance, sharing equally is the best way. if a father has $10,000, and three sons and two daughters, each one gets $2,000 when pop dies, no questions asked.

21:18 "If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son......." (read through verse 21) There has never been recorded in Torah, nor in the Talmud a case of "stoning a rebellious son" yet this was written down as a deterrent , a precaution, to those who "would think" of rebelling against his parents, this commandment kept children in line, (more than we can say for today) when children will rise up a kill their parents. No wonder you never hear of "Israelite gangs" (I don't know about today though, I hope not)

21:22 "If a man has committed a sin deserving of death, and he is put to death, and you hang him on a tree......." (read through verse 23) It does not say "to kill him from the tree" like the Roman crucifixions, this was a cruel death, the death sentences in ancient Israel were carried out either by stoning or by the sword, after the sentence was carried out, the person was hanged on a tree for public display, BUT TAKEN DOWN AND BURIED before sundown. When Messiah Yeshua was crucified, he was TAKEN DOWN AND PLACED IN THE TOMB before sundown, yet he still received our curse and sin penalty while hanging from the cross by the nails, He received our CURSE and we received hisRIGHTEOUSNESS

22:1 "You shall not see your brother's ox or his sheep going astray, and hide yourself from them...." (read through verse 4). These animals were Israel's livelihood back then, if they went astray, YOU were to notify your neighbor and say, "hey, your goat is in my yard, come get it" not take it in and have a "roast goat night" today the world's philosophy is "Finder's keepers, losers weepers" not so with God, and as born again believers, we need to walk in HIS ways, and return lost things (those which can be identified as belonging to so-and-so) to the rightful owners, be it a hammer, saw, cat, dog, Burmese python, wallet with money still intact, etc (just be careful with the python, pick it up with gloves, behind the neck) and say "Hey, come get yo snake dude"

22:5 "A woman shall not wear anything that pertains to a man...." thousands of years ago in Israel, men and women wore similar clothing, being a long, flowing tunic tied with a cloth or leather belt, and a poncho like outer coat which was the tallit. But women's tunics were of finer fabric, maybe linen with feminine designs, while the mens' were of coarser material. Today we have both men and women wearing, say, "blue jeans and slacks" yet even today, women's slacks/pants are still different in design.

22:6-7 "If a bird's nest happens to be before you....." Well, a common case in fact is the "hen-house" situation, no one would think of trying to get a hen's eggs while the hen is on her nest, not happening dude! or you will get "pecked" This is showing concern for the animal, while a hen can have more eggs, if a woman has children, and terrorists break in and kill her kids in front of her eyes, this will create a real emotional and psychological trauma. yet if she is in another county, and someone calls her to say, "Hey, terrorist killed your kids" I am sure that she will still be affected, but not as severe as if seeing them killed in front of her.

22:8-9 When you build a new house.....Common sense, to build a fence on the roof so that no one will fall off, middle east houses had flat roofs, where people could go to in summer evenings and relax, those are still the best kind of houses, If I were to design my own house, mine would have a flat roof with stairs going up to it, and a parapet around it of course. "You shall not sow your vineyard with different kinds of seeds" makes sense, a vineyard is for grapes, not for grapes, wheat, corn , etc, these others would take essential minerals and chemicals from the soil which the grapes would need otherwise.

22:10 "You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together" another mitzvah which makes perfect "horse" sense, the two animals are a "mis-match" one is stronger than the other, they will cause problem one with the other, and work will be affected, they are "un-equally yoked" just like a marriage between a believer and an un-believer. An ox should plow with another ox, a donkey with another donkey, etc... a believer with another believer


22:11 "you shall not wear a garment of mixed sorts....." wool will shrink when washed while linen will not, and the garment will be ruined, same as "being un-equally yoked" If Mr. Wool marries Miss Linen, trouble will ensue.


22:12 "You shall make tassels on the four corners of the clothing with which you cover yourselves" These are the Tzitzits which are worn as an undergarment, or tied on the belt loops, Yes, this is still for today, reminds us of the commandments of Adonai.


But please, a few might comment and say "But we're not under the law anymore" most people in Christendom misunderstand this idea, the word "law" comes from the latin "Legis" which means "something legal, or legalism" but the original word is "Torah" which means "teaching and instruction" (from Adonai in this case) This word has been mistranslated in our bibles, "Are we not all under God's teaching and instruction through His Holy Writ?" I think we would all agree to YES, we are under and follow, (or should follow) his teaching. but change the word and mis-translate it into LAW, everyone suddenly says NO, because the original meaning is lost


Chap 23 deals with those who are excluded from the congregation of Israel, those who were illegitimate children, Ammonites, Moabites, etc, BUT today, we WELCOME into the congregation, into the "Kehilah" those who decide to follow Yeshua and who are born-again, and the only real, true members of God's family are those who are BORN AGAIN, not that a lost person can not come into the congregation, yes, they can visit, yet to be a member, a member of "Kehilah Elohim" the congregation of Elohim, HIS called out congregation, church, assembly, one must be BORN AGAIN, trusting YESHUA/JESUS as Savior and LORD.
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ISAIAH 54:1-10


" For a mere moment I have forsaken you, But with great mercies, I will gather you..."
YHVH comforts Israel like a father comforts his children, yes, children will be chastised, and will endure punishment, in Israel's case, thrown out of the land, and cast into nations
BUT...they will be gathered...and they have been gathered, the nation of ISRAEL is real and is the place of the ingathering. As disobedient children, we will be chastened by the LORD
and it will seem at times that we have been forsaken. Yeshua cried out "Eli Eli, Lamah Sabachtani?" My God, why have you forsaken me?" it was because of our sin that the Father turned away from the Son, yet, not for ever, BUT,. a few hours later, after the sin debt was paid, Fellowship was rejoined, and the temple curtain ripped in two, making way for ALL of us to go unto YHVH through the Blood of Yeshua.


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MATTHEW 5:27-30


Yeshua is not changing the Torah commandment on adultery, he is explaining it to the fullest. Sin is entertained in the mind, and through the body, it is fulfilled, so while it is still in the mind, rebuke it in Yeshua's name, or if you can, avoid the situation,


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

[JacobBenAvraham]

DEUTERONOMY 22:1 (A last minute thought)

Wanted to add this last thought to Parasha "Ki Tetse". People lose things all the time, sometimes, the lost items are recovered by the person who lost them, at other times, someone else finds a lost item, and if the person is following Torah, the person will return the item to the person who lost it,

It is one thing to lose a material thing, be it a valuable item or a sentimental item, but many people will lose something more valuable than a material thing, Some people will lose their faith. Perhaps when tragedy strikes, death comes to a loved one, etc, some will say, "I can not worship a God that does __________!!! (fill in the blank) some will lose their faith little by little, because of the cares of the world, the distractions, they will stop going to church or synagogue, stop reading their bibles, develop a disinterest in spiritual things,
developing an "I could care less" attitude.

If we know someone like that, we must step in and try to help that person "find" their faith again, we should try to "return to that person, their lost faith" perhaps just through listening to that person's story, being a friend, even sharing scripture if the person will allow it, maybe sharing verses in scripture with a different light, perhaps, allowing the person to understand more deeply.

Who knows, the person might return to their faith with even more virtue, but we have to try, lost faith can be found again, because it is inside of a person, not on the street somewhere

Rabbi Ben AVraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA "KI TAVO" (when you come in)

DEUT 26:1-29:9.....................ISAIAH 60:1-22.......................JOHN 113:1-15:27

In this Parasha study, we see that Moshe is "again" reminding Israel to be "faithful" in "obedience" to the commandments. He does not tire in telling the people all the "pros" and "against" , the "positive side" and the "negative side" of "obedience and disobedience"

We can also relate this to a father who dearly loves his children, and warns them of disobedience, and the results of such, but also reminds them of the rewards that come with obedience. Now, who wouldn't want blessings instead of curses. We could say that only someone insane would say "I would rather have the curses instead of blessings"
or "I would prefer drought instead of rain" or "I would rather run from my enemies"
But the way Israel acted after the death of Moshe, shows exactly that! through influence of ungodly nations, Israel turned away from Elohim, from following HIS commandments.

We can also imagine a husband who marries a wife and loves her, and shows her the right way to walk, and how that they can have a wonderful life together, "stay with me" he tells her, "don't go after other men, they will just bring you down and ruin our relationship" the bride says "Yes, I will love only you" yet no sooner are they married, that the wife does exactly the opposite, the husband has no choice but to punish the wife, yet he still loves her, and wants her to come back to him. So God is with ALL his people, both native born Israelites, Israel that lives in other nations, those who have joined the commonwealth of Israel, through a "born again" relationship with "Yeshua" which is the goal of "ALL" of Israel (or should be) the wish that the Father bestows upon ALL "B'ei Adam" (children of Adam)

Moshe reminds his people about the tithes. This is very important, ALL things belong to YHVH, HE is owner of ALL. He made the world and everything in it, He allows US to use HIS things, and all HE wants back is 10%. Not much. Here Moshe mentions tithes of the agricultural increase, since that and cattle were the income in those days for Israel. We on the other hand, work and receive money, but also, doesn't our TIME belong to him? Does HE not give us TALENT through the Spiritual gifts? as well as material things? So, should our time and talent also be tithed to YHVH? I would say yes.

On "Har Gerizim" and on "Har Ebal" were announced the blessings and curses, so that when the people looked upon those mountains, they would be reminded of them, Kind of like when a child looks at a fishing rod and reel, he might be reminded that "Pop takes me fishing when I am good, and do my chores" but also, hanging next to the rod and reel, hangs a thick leather belt, which reminds the child that "Pop will give me a good whippin if I misbehave and neglect my chores"

"Cursed is the one who makes the blind to wander off the road"( 27:18)

Yes, it would be cruel to misguide a blind person, but worse if the person is spiritually blind and we do nothing to correct the errors and lead them in the Yeshua's way, in the way of Torah. So many erroneous doctrines floating around, making those who want to see straight, see crooked, get off the path, we need to set them on the right path again, not by force, but by love.

Even though YHVH has sent his people out of the land, into other nations, the people are returning to the land, the land is being blessed, Adonai has NOT forgotten HIS people, just as a father can not forget his son, The curses happened just as the LORD said they would, but Israel is still Israel, he promised they would be like the "dust of the earth" and like the "stars of heaven" The dust is TRAMPLED UPON, like the Jewish people have been, throughout the ages, yet dust CAN NOT BE DESTROYED, neither can "HaAm Yehudi"
The stars shine, just like the "Living Torah" was given to Israel as a gift to them and to the nations, to point the way to Elohim, the living Torah is spelled Y-E-S-H-U-A (the out-
stretched arm of the LORD that received the nail, the all consuming fire that was seen by all) the SALVATION of YHVH.

But......it is always "IF" ye obey the voice of the LORD thy God.......THEN...blessings will follow, and "IF" you chose NOT to obey.......THEN...curses will follow, it is still this way, still conditional. "IF" you chose to repent and accept Yeshua/Jesus as LORD and Savior, THEN you will be saved, "IF" you chose to ignore and reject the free gift of Salvation (Yeshuah) from God, THEN....condemnation for all eternity will follow, strong words, but the truth.
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ISAIAH 60:1-22

The Ruach HaKodesh speaks through Yeshayahu saying "Arise, Shine, for our LIGHT has come" ...,.... "darkness shall cover the earth".........".The Gentiles will come to your LIGHT"
Great symbolism here. the LIGHT is YESHUA! even though spiritual darkness covers the earth, making people insensitive to the Torah of YHVH, many having an "I don't care about God nor religion" attitude, still many are receiving Yeshua and being "born again" the original meaning of the word "Gentile" (Goy) was "heathen, idol worshipping nations" now many who before worshiped idols, many who were part of pagan cults and religions, are turning to "Ha Or Elohim v'Or HaOlam" (the Light of God and the Light of the World.
The Gematria for OR (light) is 207, 2 (covenant) 0 (eternity) since a "zero" has no beginning nor end, 7 (perfection) the eternal covenant of perfection. Added horizontally 2+0+7 = 9
9 is reminds us of EMET,(441) 4+4+1=9 which is TRUTH, describes who Yeshua is.
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JOHN 13:1-15:27

"Ani ha derecho, ha emet, v'ha Chai" (I AM the Way, the Truth, and the Life) three of the many titles of Yeshua, who also said "I AM the LIGHT of the world" IF we follow the LIGHT we will stay on the path, which is the WAY, and know the TRUTH which gives us eternal LIFE. but always the conditional "IF" . We ALL have a choice, what will YOU choose? better yet, WHO will you choose?

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: "NITSAVIM" (you are standing)

DEUT: 29:10-30:20...............ISAIAH 61:10-63:9...................JOHN 16:1-17:26

This Parasha always precedes Yom Teruah (Rosh HaShannah) which this year begins this Sunday evening. We read that Moshe is announcing to the people that "Elohim is about to make a covenant relationship with them, and make them HIS PEOPLE, HIS NATION, HIS CHOSEN ONES. yet he still warns them about the curses, and turning away from HIS Way, from the ways of His Torah.

He addresses ALL who are there, all members of "Kehilah Yisrael" (The community of Israel) from the big shots, big boss guys, all the way to the simplest "blue collar workers" this is for ALL, no matter how important you are, ALL are included, even the Egyptians that followed the Israelites out of Egypt, they are now part of this great community that is about to bear the name of AM YISRAEL. the name "Yisrael" comes from the word "Yetzer" which means "Straight to" in this case "straight to EL" (God).

(29:14) "I make this covenant and this oath , not with you alone, but with him who stands here today and with him who is NOT here with us today". These are very interesting words, we know who was there way back then, but who wasn't there way back then? who is Moshe talking about? Have any idea of the WHO? Give up? well.... I T ' S YOU!!!!, or rather it is US! all of us who are alive and reading this Parasha on line today. Where were we all back then? We were bodiless souls, up there in heaven awaiting bodies. Maybe packed away in a "soul box" awaiting HaShem's perfect timing for our coming to earth to dwell in human bodies. My soul was sent into this body back in 1953, and my body continued to develop inside mom until I came out into this world in February, 1954. So, Moshe was talking about me, as well as all of you.

Chap 30 deals with "Returning to God". Which is the topic and theme of Yom Teruah, the verb "to return" in Hebrew is "Shuv" and from that word comes "Teshuvah" which in English is "repentance" so when we "repent of our sins" we are "returning" to God, while we are in the stage of innocence, which is when we are babies, we are considered blameless in the eyes of God, but as we get older, the sin nature becomes active and we rebel, and we need to come to a point when we realize that "we are lost" and we are "rebels" and that we need to "return" to YHVH, through accepting the one time sacrifice of Yeshua Ha Mashiach (Jesus Christ) and be "born again" it is then that we enter into and become part of the great "commonwealth of Israel" But even still, the sin nature is still there, and it will rear up its ugly head, and we need to "Shuv" ourselves back to God, Yom Teruah is a time of reflecting on our spiritual life and where we have gone astray in our relationship with God, in keeping or not keeping his Mitzvoth, (commandments)

We will receive blessing upon returning to God, yet if we keep away from "turning back" will reap destruction, and endure the curses (some people call it "bad luck") So let's "turn back" do "Teshuvah" and return to "Abba"
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ISAIAH 61:10-63:9

The Prophet Yeshayahu looks toward YESHUA! and says in vs 10; "I will greatly rejoice in YHVH, My soul will be joyful in my God (Eli) For he has clothed me with the garments of YESHUAH. He has covered me with the robe of TZEDAKAH (righteousness)"

In both cases, "Yeshua our Messiah" is our spiritual garment, and we can rejoice that He terminated the curse of sin and death . And we are covered with HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS
so YHVH looks at us all as if we never sinned. We have been made "Tzadikim" (righteous ones) through YESHUA HA MASHIACH (Jesus our Messiah)
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JOHN 16:1-17:26

"The Ruach Ha Kodesh is coming" was the message of Yeshua before he left the earth. NO, the disciples would not be alone, the "Comforter" would come. The good thing about the Holy Spirit is that before the Spirit came on Shavuot (Pentecost) the Spirit of God only rested on a few chosen, like the Prophets, and Yeshua, could only be in one place at a time, yet with the Holy Spirit, HE is with ALL OF US, at the same time, and lives INSIDE OF EVERY BELIEVER,. and so scripture admonishes us not to "grieve" the Holy Spirit, doing things in our bodies that are against Torah. We read and study the Torah, and YHVH speaks to us through the RUACH! We can thank Adonai that He sent the Ruach HaKodesh to be with us, inside us forever.

Shabbat Shalom v'hag Sameach Yom Teruah..............rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: "VaYELECH" (and he went)

DEUT 31:1-30....................... ..ISAIAH 55:6-56:8....................... ..JOHN 20:1-51

Torah: Deut 31:1-30;

We could call this Parasha "Passing the baton" Moshe is in his last days, YHVH has already told him that he is going to die, and so, with that, he needs to prepare the next leader who will lead "Am Yisrael" into the Promised Land, C'anaan. Joshua, whose name in Hebrew is "Yehoshuah" which is a form of "Yeshua" whose name bears the Tetragrammaton (YHVH) HE will lead the people to their promised "Eretz Shalom" .

Moshe starts out with his age, We can say "Happy Birthday Moshe" and hope we have one humongous cake with 120 candles. We can divide Moshe's 120 years in three parts, the first 40 were spent as a youth, and Prince of Egypt, a soldier in Pharaoh's Army, he lived a life of royalty, the next 40 years he lived as a "shepherd of sheep" going through the "school of hard knocks" from riches to, well, maybe not rags, but he was humbled, G-d used him and his experience in Egypt to lead sheep, and to know the desert of Madian, since, he would return. the final 40 years he was a shepherd/leader of a few million human sheep with an attitude. If we take note, his "real" purpose did not start until he was 80 years old! Where will we be at 80? if we last that long. the letter "m" is "MEM" in Hebrew
and has the numeric value of 40! Moshe's name starts with "M" it symbolizes "trials and testings" it also symbolizes "water, the masses, and chaos"

Well, did not Moshe part the "Waters" of the Red Sea? bring "living waters" out of the Rock? which symbolizes Yeshua? did he not lead the "Masses" of Israel? did he not turn a people who lived in "chaos" under Egyptian rule, into a "People of the Torah?" But it was really our living GOD, our "Aveinu Malkeinu" who did all this THROUGH his chosen Prophet, just as He works through YOU AND ME, to carry out his will and his ministry.

It is sad to think of death, I am sure Moshe wanted to keep on living, but he accepted his fate. How do we think of death? it will come to us sooner of later. Romans says, "It is appointed unto man once to die, and after this, the judgment" we, like those before us, are just "visitors" on this planet called "earth" a perfect "house" for man, animals, and plants, that mankind messed up. Some worship "death" others prefer not to think about it, others prepare for it ahead of time, for me, I prefer not to think about it, just live every day to the fullest, and when it comes, it comes. Physical death is just the doorway that opens to the "rest of our life" that which will NEVER end, for the believer, it will be a blessing, for those who are lost, it will be the "eternal curse" and no second chances.

Moshe ordered that the Torah be read at the end of every seven years! (31:9) This is to remind the people of God's precious word, so that they will remember, I am sure that this would take several weeks, or even months to read through and discuss. Do we study and review God's Word once every seven years? I hope not, I hope we do it every year, little by little, every week, so we are constantly reminded of his mitzvoth, of the words of Yeshua, that were written down by his talmidim.

Moshe also predicts Israel's rebellion and perdition, a sad note to die under, thank God for the remnant that remained faithful, for those who looked forward to the coming of Yeshua
for those chosen prophets who remained faithful to their calling, let us also remain faithful to our calling, what ever it may be.
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Haf Torah: ISAIAH 55:6-56:8

Yeshayahu Ha Navi writes, through the Ruach Elohim, "Seek YHVH while HE may be found, Call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way. and the unrighteous man his thoughts, let him return to YHVH...."

One may think and wonder, "Is there a time when the LORD can NOT be found?" is there a time when he is NOT near?" While we know that Adonai is always with us, and sees all, knows all, He knows what every human is doing 100% of the time. There might be a time when a lost person pushes the LORD away to such an extent that in time, that person will not WANT to search for HIM, even when common sense tells a person to call upon the LORD, that person will not WANT to do it, Spiritually, his or her heart will be hardened to such an extent, that "searching for God" will not even pass through that person's mind. Even though we know He is as near as prayer, for a hardened soul, being near is too far away.

This verse is perfect for this time of year, for Rosh Ha Shanna, for Yom Kippur, a time of "Teshuvah" from the verb "shuv" (To turn) to turn from our sins and evil ways, make a 180 degree turn around and head for G-d, with a repentant heart, to make amends, to forgive those who we have held a grudge against, As we turn in repentance, HE will turn his face towards us also
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Brit HaDashah: JOHN 20:1-31

Yochanan writes of the "empty tomb" which was proof that the Prophets were right, and death was conquered by life, there were many witnesses, who gave their lives for their testimony, do you think they would have died for a lie? The ROCK who was placed in a tomb of rock, is our ROCK OF AGES. Either we can fall upon him..............or HE will fall upon us!

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: "HaAZINU" (give ear)

DEUT: 32:1-52..........................2 SAM 22:1-51.......................JOHN 20:1-31

Moshe speaks to the people through the Ruach HaKodesh, the ultimate plea, his final words before going the way of all men, physical death.

He asks both "Heaven and earth" to be witnesses to his song, to his speech. We can imagine all the angels in Heaven listening, and those that are present with him, He describes Adonai as The ROCK, (HaTzur) we have come to recognize this word as describing God as the "Rock of Ages" No wonder that YHVH got angry at Moshe when he struck the rock so many years prior, the rock that gave forth water when the people were thirsty, the rock symbolized "Yeshua" who gave forth "living water" Yeshua gave up his life and was crucified ONCE not TWICE, Moshe was told to SPEAK to the Rock, yet he let his anger get the better of him, and struck the Rock, which misrepresented who God was, and still is, the God who came to earth in human form to lay up his life as a ransom for our sins, ONCE and ONCE only. YESHUA is the solid ROCK who gives us eternal life, which is like LIVING WATER.

Moshe calls for repentance, for TESHUVAH, He tells the people that they have abandoned their God, going after other gods, the LORD will punish his people, yet, He will not abandon his people, he will stir them to jealousy, He will reach out to the nations outside of Israel, and those of the surrounding nations, who come to recognize Mashiach will become part of Israel, they will join the great Commonwealth of Israel, and become ONE with Israel, like an olive branch that is grafted into another olive tree, will become ONE with that new tree, so we are ONE with Messiah Yeshua.

Perhaps Moshe is sad, since he knows the future of his people, yet they will continue to be God's chosen, he ends telling the people "set your hearts on all the words which I testify among you today, which you shall command your children to be careful to observe all the words of this Torah"

We should heed this command, to observe all the words of the Torah, to observe, do, put into action, and Love the LORD your God, and trust in HIS YESHUAH! as our righteousness, and our salvation.
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2 SAM 22:1-51

As Moshe sang about the ROCK of his YESHUAH (salvation) David also sings about YHVH being his ROCK , when He delivered him from Saul and his enemies,

"I will call upon YHVH who is worthy to be praised" in times of trouble, who else can we call on? only the ROCK of ISRAEL (HaTzur Yisrael)
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JOHN 20:1-31

The empty tomb! Yeshua, who is the ROCK OF AGES, was buried in a tomb made of rock, with a round Rock door as a covering, yet the ROCK of Ages, moved the rock, which could not keep HIM in, We serve a risen Savior, a redeemer, the Solid ROCK who set us free from the captivity of sin.

Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA SUKKOT:

NUMBERS 29:12-16................ZECH 14:1-21...................JOHN 7:2-39

Adonai speaks to Moshe saying; "On the 15th day of the 7th month, you shall have a holy convocation...............you shall keep a feast to YHVH seven days...........

This is one of the pilgrimage feasts, one of the "Yamim Moedim" these are the special times when all families go up to Yerushalayim to worship Adonai. Passover, Shavuot, and The Feast of Tabernacles.

Sukkot or the "Feast of Tabernacles" symbolizes the "coming to earth by God himself to dwell among mankind. YHVH came to the Mishkan (first tabernacle) which was erected in the desert, per instructions by YHVH to Moshe, and God came down in fire and smoke, and dwelt among the "B'nei Israel" (Children of Israel) during the day, his presence was seen as a cloud, and at night, by a pillar of fire. His awesome presence in the Shekinah, was above the mercy seat in the "Aron Ha Kodesh" (the Ark of the Covenant) which was inside the "Holy of Holies" He was there to live and fellowship with his people.

YHVH "tabernacled" among mankind the second time, 1500 years later, in a small town called "Beit Lechem" (House of Bread) normally known as "Bethlehem" during this time of year. The December 25th date was an invention by Constantine, and it is completely pagan. Yeshua came to heal, the teach the Torah, and to set man free from the bondage of sin. He came as a humble servant, healer, and Torah teacher. Yes, he is king but did not claim his crown, not at the first coming, the claim of Kingship will be at the second coming.

The third time God tabernacled among mankind was at Shavuot (Pentecost) 50 days after Passover, when He came in the form of the Holy Spirit, "Ha Ruach HaKodesh" He reveals himself through his spirit to all of us, and He lives inside us through his Spirit, in all of us who have accepted HIM as LORD and Savior,

The fourth coming will be when He comes in the clouds again and sets up his kingdom on this earth, and will live and reign one thousand years, and we will reign with Him, Then He will claim his kingship and put away sin. This will be a glorious time.

in the Torah, we see the sacrifices related to this time of Sukkot, the sacrifices of a bull, one ram, and seven lambs, with fine flour mixed with oil. The image of Messiah Yeshua is in all of these items, The bull symbolizing the "strength" of almighty "El Shaddai" the power of "Elohim" and the ram that "Took the place of Isaac" Isaac symbolizing us, and the ram, symbolizing Yeshua, and the seven lambs, "7" the perfect number and the lambs the "Lamb of God" which taketh away the sins of the world. The flour the "Bread of Life" and the oil, the "Ruach Ha Kodesh" (the Holy Spirit)

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ZECHARIAH 14:1-21

The prophet is looking at the future, when Messiah Yeshua comes to earth, and ALL nations will "go up" to Yerushalayim every year to celebrate the "Feast of Tabernacles"
after the time of fighting, and peace is restored, and we will rejoice in this millennium,
The chapter starts out on a sad note, war, destruction, but in the end, Salvation, and peace, this will be a great time to be on earth.

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JOHN 7:2-39

Yeshua went up to the Feast of Tabernacles, and he taught in the temple for all to hear, He taught truth, and many believed when they heard. He revealed the purpose of his being there, to reveal the Father's will, on the 8th day, "Hoshanah Raba" when the priests bring up water from the pool of Siloam, he said; "If any one thirsts, let him come to me and drink" He was talking about spiritual water, one of Yeshua's titles is "Mayim Chayim" (Living Water) and he still is the living water, to who ever wishes to drink from the well of Salvation "Beer Yeshuah" the "Well of Yeshua!"

Hag Sameach Sukkot

Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

"Simchat Torah" means "Joy of the Torah" or "Bible Happiness" this happens during the 8th day of Sukkot, normally known as "Shemini Atzeret". It is a time to complete the Torah reading cycle, and to start over again reading from Genesis. This year, "Shemini Atzeret" came on Oct 24th, We should be overjoyed that we have God's Word in our midst, there are some countries where the bible is outlawed, and it used to be in communist countries, those found with bibles were imprisoned, I think we can count it joy because Adonai gave us HIS word through his selected writers, writers from diverse positions in society and diverse professions. He came to earth in person as YESHUA to fulfill the prophets and to explain the Torah, no wonder one of his names is "The Living WORD"
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PARASHA: "B'reisheet" (in the beginning)

GENESIS 1:1-6:8...............ISAIAH 42:5-43:10.................MATTHEW 1:1-2:23

We begin the journey all over again, the Torah is a continuous cycle of study, We end Deuteronomy reading about the power of Elohim, in bringing judgement to Egypt, through Moshe, his servant, and now we see the same power of Elohim, in creation,
The first 7 words are; "B'reisheet Bara Elohim...ET...hashamayim v'et haAretz. (In the beginning, Elohim created the Heavens and the earth" "7" words in the original Hebrew, the perfect number "7" and it we put a stick under the word ET and attach three branches on each side leading to the other words, we form a "Menorah" which is the symbol of Israel. We see in the "beginning", but the beginning of what? one can say, the "beginning of time itself" "time" is for a finite world, from the author of time who lives in the "infinite" dimension. YHVH who is timeless, gave "time" to mankind, we have the coming into being "Space" (the heavens) "time" (in the beginning) and "matter" (the earth) Mankind crosses over into the dimension of eternity when death knocks at the door.
YHVH made a perfect "house" for mankind, "planet earth" the letter "B" in B'reisheet, symbolizes "house" in Hebrew, a perfect house for perfect man, until man chose to disobey YHVH's command NOT to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. (no, it wasn't the woman's fault, it was BOTH their fault, but Adam was Eve's leader, and Adam should have stopped her, but he didn't).
We see a "perfect" world of harmony disintegrate and head toward disorder (the second law of thermodynamics) to such an extent that YHVH decides to destroy the once perfect earth, saving one family of faithful humans, Noah and his family. Genesis mentions that the "B'nei Elohim" (sons of God) came into the "daughters of men" Many believe that these "B'nei Elohim" were the fallen angels, and through procreation in an abnormal form, mutants were born, the word "giants" in Geneses is the word "nephalim" in Hebrew which means "fallen" this could hint to the "fallen angels" Yes, there were tall giant humans as a result of unholy cohabitation (fallen angels in human form with earthly women) archeology has proven this.
Yet YHVH promised a "seed" to the woman, the "seed" that would crush the head of the serpent (Satan) and that "seed" is YESHUA/JESUS. who took upon himself the sins of the world, died a sinner's death, to give us eternal salvation through faith. Have you trusted in Yeshua/Jesus as YOUR LORD and Savior?
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ISAIAH 42:5-43:10
"I YHVH have called You in righteousness and will hold your hand; I will keep you and give you as a covenant to the people, as a LIGHT to the goyim (gentiles) to open blind eyes...."
The prophet is speaking about YESHUA, who is righteous, and is our "covenant" to trust and believe in. He is OR (light) who has shown the way to eternal life through a personal relationship in HIM, the "gentiles" were those who believed in "many gods" those of the nations outside of Israel, and now, many of those nations have rejected their false gods and have come to trust in Yeshua. "Blind eyes have been opened" not only physically, but spiritually, Yeshua healed many blind people, but his WORD opens our eyes to the truth.
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MATTHEW 1:1-2:23
We see in these verses, the genealogy and the birth of Messiah Yeshua, who came to earth around the time of Sukkot (October) who was born with the purpose of teaching, making clear the Torah, the heal the sick, open blind eyes, make the lame walk, and to pay the price of our sin, with HIS death, to give us eternal LIFE, through trusting in HIM as Savior and LORD.

Shabbat Shalom......rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: NOACH

GENESIS: 6:9-11:32................ISAIAH 54:1-55:5......................MATTHEW 3:1-4:25

This Parasha starts out on both good and bad notes. The world is really in turmoil, violence and evil has permeated the world, caused by sin, demonic entities on earth, yet inspite of all this, ONE PERSON and his family remain RIGHTEOUS, and separate themselves from the lost world. "Noach and family". It says that "Noah walked with God"
the word "Halach" is "walk" it is a spiritual/faith walk and not a physical action. In spite of the world corruption, Noach and his family remained true to YHVH, probably through the influence of Enoch, Methuselah, and to those who knew Adam, and learned from his mistake and repentance.

The world will be destroyed by a flood of waters, YHVH tells Noach, yet HE will preserve him and his family in a boat, an "Ark" which will be made to just float on water, no rudder is needed, because the "Yad Elohim" (the hand of G-d) will guide it through the flood waters until it reaches safety. There is so much to teach in this, that only a few paragraphs will not suffice.

But we a correlation between Yeshua and Noach, and the Ark. The ark was a "boat of safety, Noach and his family went "through" the judgement of the world, yet was "saved" the 40 days and 40 nights is significant, the number "40" is the number of "judgement, trials, and testings. Our "ark" of safety is "Yeshua" Moshe was saved as a baby in a small "Ark" made of reeds and made waterproof with pitch, and was set on the Nile and arrived to safety near the palace.

Noach was a "just and righteous" man in HIS generation, he was a "Tzadik" it must have been a scary world, full of evil men, dinosaurs, and giants, yet Noach remained fathful to Elohim. The ark carried the primary animal "kinds" 7 pairs of clean animals and a pair of unclean animals, and enough food to last a year. Yes, there were dinosaurs on the ark, the smaller ones, probably infants, or yearlings.

The flood waters came, but not before YHVH had shut the door. (6:16) He and his family were IN and the lost were OUT, the age of grace had ended, and now judegment would begin. The flood waters destroyed the earth that was originally made, with only 8 survivors. Mr and Mrs. Noach (wife; Naamah, daughter of Enoch) according to rabbinic stories, and sons Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and their wives, and with those people, after the flood, the world was repopulated, yet sin persisted, so, man learned nothing from the flood.
The world received the present languages when the people were divided at the building of "Bavel" after the flood. Interesting to note that the ark came to land on Mt Ararat, during the time of Sukkot, (the 7th month) which means, YHVH tabernacles with us, YHVH did not forget Noach and his family, HE was with them, and he is with us too, through the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit)
(this is really cutting this parasha short, there is much to say and would be so much to write, I ask, when do I finish, so I am trying to hit on some main points,)
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ISAIAH 54:1-55:5

Interesting verses for childless women, "do not dispare" YHVH is your husband. "YHVH Tzeva'ot Shemo" (the LORD of hosts is HIS name) many women think it is disgrace not to have children, yet even now, the LORD comforts them, I will have mercy on you! says YHVH and even the barren, (Sarah, Hannah, Rachel, etc) had children. .We have all been made to be "B'nei Elohim" (children of God) through Yeshua our redeemer.
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MATTHEW 3-4

As Noach went through the water in an ark, Yochanan the Baptist got into the water and baptized those who would come to repentence, here the water symbolizes death and rebirth, while the flood waters symoblized destruction and judgement, the dove, which Noach released brought back an olive leaf, which symbolizes "Shalom" (peace) the dove took off again, flew away and didn't return to Noach. Well, where did it go? Here, it came down when Yeshua was baptised in the Jordan river, again, symbolizing "Yeshua Shalom"
"Yeshua, who came in peace, to teach the Torah, to heal, and to die for our sins, fullfill the will of the Father

Shabbat Shalom....rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: Lech-Lecha (go forth) The call of Abraham

GENESIS 12-1-17:27.......................ISAIAH 40:27-41:16........................MATTHEW 5:1-48

There are many interesting topics in this Parasha study, so, I have selected just a few to go over. Abraham had already left Ur with his father, and were already living in Haran, but YHVH still called him, to continue "Westward". "Go out from your father's house, to a land that I will show you". He was chosen, perhaps Abraham had a searching mind, a willing spirit to know the "true God" of the universe. The sages tell stories of Abram sitting at the feet of Shem, listening to stories of the flood, and the "true God" who destroyed the earth and saved just eight, perhaps we can reason that Abram wanted to know this God personally. we can only assume.

Abraham took the step of faith, answered God's calling, He took his wife Sarai, and his nephew Lot (a mistake) and crossed over the Euphrates River, then went south to Canaan. We call Abraham an IVRIT, a "Hebrew" one who "crosses over" in this sense, the crossing point was the Euphrates River, He left the pagan lifestyle of idolatry behind in UR, decided to trust God and be the "blessing" of future generations. Though he and Sarai were childless, he still trusted in the promises of YHVH.
and he and Sarah became a blessing, He is the father as we all know, of the Hebrew people, later on, becoming known as "B'nei Yisrael" (Children of Israel). Yet he had to take that step of faith, step out in faith, go to a new land that he didn't know and trust YHVH for his needs.

There was a time when we were in the world, and didn't know Yeshua as Messiah, yet we, like Abraham, took a step of faith, which led us to a righteous relationship with our God, through a personal relationship with Yeshua, being "born again" we "crossed over" from the land of "death in sin" to the new land of "Life in Yeshua"

Abraham and Melech-Tzadik: (12:18) Here we find that Abraham has responded to rescue his nephew Lot, who was "Sodom bound"
Interesting, we have learned that Lot took small steps which led to almost disaster. He pitched his tents "toward Sodom" and finally made it "into Sodom" ( I wonder what became of his sheep and flocks, can't keep them inside the city) If we play with sin, we finally get "bit" One can see a rattle snake from afar, then get nearer, and nearer, until it raises its head and "strikes". Yet Abraham rescues his nephew from capture by the kings, we then see "Melech-Tzadik" (Righteous King)

He is "Melech Salem" (King of Salem) which was the ancient name for "Yerushalayim" "Salem" is similar to "Shalom" we see a similitude to "Yeshua" Yeshua came in "Shalom" He is the "Righteous King" He is also our "High Priest" (Cohen HaGadol)
melech-Tzadik also brought out to share with Abraham "Bread and wine". Yeshua is the "Bread of Life" and of course the "wine" symbolizes his blood, Also "bread and wine" symbolize "Pesach" (Passover) . As believers, we recognize Yeshua as our "High Priest" and we remember Mashiach every time we share the "bread and the wine" not only on Pesach, but whenever we celebrate the LORD's supper, He brought us out of the valley of "sin and death" and has renewed our relationship with the Father, bringing us into the "new land" the "Land of the Living"

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ISAIAH 40:27-41:16

Look at 41:8-10 "But you Israel and my servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descents of Abraham My friend...."
He promises to be "With you" and even though the descendants of Abraham are in the farthest regions of the earth, the "ends"of the earth, they are not cast away, "I AM WITH YOU" this is a promise, to those who return to Eretz Zion and to those who are still in other countries, the LORD is WITH YOU. "I will uphold you in my righteous hand" so whether we are Sephardi, Ashkenazim, Falashim, in whatever country you might live in, we are not alone, We are being upheld in HIS mighty HAND.
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MATT 5:1-48

"I have not come to "loosen" the Torah or the prophets, I have come to "fulfill" (Mat 5:17) the word "loosen" is also translated as "destroy" or "Abrogate" The Torah nor the Prophets can not be destroyed, gotten rid of, nor disregarded, they both have a place, and both are valid in their teaching. "Fulfill" comes from the Aramaic "D'mala" being "to bring to realization" also "correctly interpret". Yeshua fulfilled all the Torah prophecies concerning himself, as well as the Prophetic prophecies. If we remember, when He accompanied the couple on the road to Emmaus, He expounded scripture and revealed all that pertained to himself.

Shabbat Shalom.....Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

THIS WEEK'S PARASHA: "VaYERA" (and he appeared)

GEN 18:1-22:24......................2 KINGS 4:1-37..............................MATT 8:1-9:38

the LORD appears to Abraham at his tent, yet it also says that "three" men appeared to him, yet
he addresses them as LORD, (YHVH) how is that? one can only wonder. Could one of them be YHVH incarnate, and the other two angels? could all three be YHVH symbolizing "Elohim?" Av, Ruach HaKodesh, and "HaBen"? pretty much open to discussion, many believe two are the messenger angels, Abraham receives them with open hospitality, they eat, and then they bless

Many times, YHVH blesses us after we bless HIM. How, one asks, can one bless HaShem? the word "Baruch" comes from the word "Berek" which means "Knee" when we bend the knee in praise and worship, we are in fact "Blessing God" we come in prayer asking "this and that" but do we just come and thank HIM for just who He is?

He announces the birth of "Yitzchak" yet Sarah laughs in disbelief, yet "within herself" not even out loud, yet YHVH hears her, "why did Sarah laugh?" "Yeah, but thou didst laugh!" can anything be hidden from the LORD? even inside us, HE KNOWS what is going on, something to think about, even when we think we are alone, we really aren't.

Abraham intercedes for Sodom and Gomorra, yet, there we not even 10 righteous residents of Sodom, had Abraham said "Will you not spare Sodom for only ONE righteous person?" what do you the LORD would have answered? maybe YES? then, Lot and his family might never have left the city. Lot was still considered righteous, yet he was living in a corrupt, unrighteous city of decadent sin, That is a dangerous position to be in, be so comfortable in a place which one does not belong in, or in company of the wrong people, "By the skin of their teeth" the angel dragged them out of there. Yet we read the instructions; "Do not look back!"
Yet, when they were leaving, Lot's wife looked back, and we read the result, she was turned into a "Pillar of salt" but does it really matter what YHVH turned her into? might as well have been a loaf of bread, a brownie, a donut, etc...the fact of the matter was that she DISOBEYED, and LOOKED BACK, this tells us that Sodom was so part of her, she "longed" for the old life, well, "I'll take one last look" and "zap" saltine cracker", perhaps she gazed on the very "essence of YHVH" in destruction mode"

If one goes to the ruins of Sodom today, one can still find buried little Sulphur balls embedded in the ruins, when one lights them, they light up a "bluish flame" imagine that, after all these years. As we read, we read about the birth of "Yitzchak" and later, the separation of "Ishmael" and "Yitzchak" sometimes, there must be a noticeable separation of "the chosen" and the "chosen not" yet at times, the "wheat and tares will grow together" As we know today, the descendants of Ishmael and of Isaac are bitter enemies, although I have met quite a few Arabs that love the Jewish people.

We come to the last part, the final test, "Take your son, the only son you love, and offer him as a sacrifice" as we read, it doesn't say "sacrifice him" it says "OFFER him as a sacrifice" today, we can offer ourselves as "living sacrifices" before YHVH to do his perfect will, and to serve him, many times, doing without luxury, going to minister in places where few people might want to go. Yet Abraham was willing to bring down the knife on his only son, and YHVH saw into his heart, and pronounced the words, "Do not harm the boy, for now I know that you fear the LORD, and since you have not withheld your son, your only son from me"

Yet we see that 2000 years later, YHVH did not withhold HIS only son from the crucifixion stake and gave up HIS only begotten SON so that whoever (that means you) trusted in HIM and accepts his sacrifice for sin, might not perish, but have everlasting life. We see an exchange here, a ram which was caught in the thicket by the horns, took the place of Isaac on the altar, Isaac was taken off, and the ram put on the altar, we can see symbolism here, Calvary is a large rocky place, the altar was made of rock, the cross was made of wood, Abraham laid Isaac on wood which he carried on a donkey, Yeshua rode a "donkey" when He arrived in Yerushalayim. WE symbolize Isaac, who was born in sin, just like everyone else, the RAM symbolizes YESHUA who took OUR place. The fire that Abraham set to burn the sacrificial ram, is the fire of judgment on our sins, which Yeshua took upon himself on that day that he exchanged his righteousness for our unrighteousness.

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2 KINGS 4:1-37

Here, Elisha HaNavi ministers to a Shunamite woman . As some prophets had a public ministry, Elisha had more of a private ministry, ministering to individuals as one-on-one, Yeshua did both, In this case, the woman needed a miracle, yet she "blessed Elisha first" with a meal, that same way that Abraham did with the angles/YHVH, Elisha responds with "multiplying the oil" she was "blessed" after she blessed the prophet, it works that way sometimes, more times than we can imagine,

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MATT 6:1-7:29

He we have the LORD's model prayer, this is not meant to be something we memorize and just repeat it like "written prayers" yet we should meditate on what the words mean;

Aveinu BaShamayim (Our Father who is in Heaven) who has the right to call God "Our Father"? only those who are part of HIS family, which include ALL BELIEVERS

KADOSH SH'MO (Santified be his name) HIS name YHVH (Yod Hey Vav Hey) from
HAVAYAH (to exist) is the most Holy, and contrary to popular belief, the Torah does not prohibit one from using it, on the contrary, it says in many parts "Call upon the NAME of the LORD!" and that is his most Holy Name.

"Your Kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" The "Kingdom of Heaven" is YHVH's activity on earth, his kingdom is already HERE, in the midst of his believers, his church, congregations, bible studies, Torah studies, revivals, etc, His "New Jerusalem" will come one day and land on this earth, that will be sight to see

"Give us this day our daily bread" in other words, "LORD, supply my daily needs, amen"

"Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" We need to forgive those who have wronged us, so that God also might forgive our sins,

"Do not lead us into temptation, deliver us from evil" Temptations will come, it is part of being tested, yet, we will also be provided a WAY OUT, To resist, so, we must ask for strength to resist, in that way, the LORD delivers us from evil.

The Kingdom, power, and glory are HIS forever, and we will be part of it some day.

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: Chayei Sarah (Sarah lives)


GENESIS 23:1-25:18..........................1 KINGS 1:1-31................................MATT 8:1-9:38


The title of the Parasha is “Sarah lives” or “Sarah lived”. Yet Sarah is dead, so, how does she live? She lives on in the memory of Abraham, her legacy lives on, her influence lives on, and this is what the patriarch wants for Isaac.
I remember some of the words of Marine Gunnery sergeant Hartman to his trainees in the movie “Full Metal Jacket” “Most of you will go to Viet Nam, some of you will not return alive, but even dead, you will still live, you will live on in the spirit of the corps.”
So even dead, Sarah continued to live on as a godly wife and mother, no doubt that Abraham wanted to bless Isaac with a similar wife. Torah says that Sarah lived 127 years. It is not often that the Torah records the age of women, but Sarah is the exception. We can see some symbolism in that number. I guess there are several ways we can look at it, one way is to see the Hebrew letters associated with numbers, 100 is Qof (Q) 20 is Kaf (K) and 7 is Zayin (Z) Seven is the number of YHVH, the perfect number. According to some rabbis, “120” years are a “full life”. So Sarah lived a “full life” plus 7 more. Moshe lived a “full life” and maybe would have lived longer had he not “struck the rock” Sarah lived a “Qadosh”life (Holy life, separated to serve God, her husband Abraham and raise her son Isaac. One could say she was “annointed to serve” (Kaf) is a letter the symbolizes “annointing” . Zayin (z) is the letter that symbolizes “weapon” annointing and holiness is a “weapon” one can use against “haSatan” our spiritual enemy can be defeated by the fruit of the Spirit, through the Ruach Ha Kodesh.
127 can also symbolize “echad” (unit of oneness) (1), “covenant blessing” (2) “godliness” (7) Sarah received the blessing of being a godly woman, who joined in the “covenant blessing” of Abraham with YHVH, and together became “Echad Am” (One people) the Hebrew people who later became the Nation of Israel. When we add 1+2+7 we get 10, which is the number of “Torah” (some say “law” personally, I don't like using that word, it is misunderstood) but “Torah” means “instruction” Sarah honored Abraham, and YHVH by submitting to their instruction, she was submissive, in the right way. Yet Sarah had her times of happiness and sorrow, like All marriages go through.
Abraham and Sarah loved each other, and in death, Abraham showed his love towards Sarah by purchasing an overpriced piece of real estate. 400 silver shekels was a lot for a cave on a piece of property in Hebron, but He didn't mind paying for it, (guess it is like buying a hamburger for $25) It had to be “written down, and documented” legally, not just “words”, we see that today, words are nothing, but if it is signed, sealed, written down, you can take it to court!
The true meaning of the word “love” is NOT feelings. What is “Love at first sight?” (Hey, I like your moves, I like your legs, your hair, your eyes, your build, etc).. yet feelings, emotions can lead two people to enter into a covenant of “love”, “love” is the action of “giving” the hebrew word is “Ahavah” it has the verb “hav” which is “to give” and the word “av” is in there, being “Our Heavenly father gives” He proved his love toward us that He GAVE His only Son, Yeshua, as a sacrifice for our sin. When a couple chose to marry, share life togther, provide one for another, in health and in sickness, and not “cop out” on each other, THAT is TRUE LOVE. The words, “I feel I don't love you anymore” are silly, worthless words. Imagine if Sarah had told that to Abram. Or if Abram would have said that to Sarah, “I don't love you any more, cause you can't give me children” and the two separated, where would the Nation of Israel be today? It would be non existent. Yet they kept by each others side in good times and in the bad times, the times of drought, the “Egypt” times, the “Ishmael” times, and the long waited “Isaac” times.
Abraham sent his servant Eleazar to look for a wife for Isaac. (I wish that custom was still here with us, parents getting their children husbands and wives, those were the 'good ol days') (my opinion). He carried 10 camels with gifts, the “bride price” for the “bride to be”. He had to go to Mesopotamia, to Abraham's family, He did NOT want a Canaanite woman for the bride of Isaac, a pagan Canaanite woman would have been an “unequal yoke” that is wisdom for us today, a “born again believer” should only marry another “born again believer” where the two worship and serve the “same God YHVH/Yeshua”
Eleazar observed “Rebecca's actions” Riv'ka watered the thirsty camels, sought not her own comfort, but had a servant's heart. This is what Eleazar was looking for, Abraham would be happy, and so would Isaac. The “engagement jewelry” was a “”nose ring and gold bracelets” today in our society we give an engagement ring.
Yet “Rivka” had to be “willing to go with Eleazar to be Isaac's wife”. We can see this is our relationship with Yeshua. Yeshua/Jesus is the “bridegroom” and we, the “Kehilah” (Congregation of “called out ones”) are the bride. We have to be a “willing bride” to go with our “heavenly bridegroom”.
Just as Eleazar brought gifts to the bride-to-be, Yeshua has given “gifts” to us as HIS Bride; Salvation (Yeshuah) an eternal home/mansion in Heaven, spiritual gifts to do service and minister with. Healthy bodies (for the most part) in which to inhabit, spouses and children, jobs to earn a living, if we think about the list could go on, as to the “Blessings” we have through Yeshua.


1 KINGS 1:1-31


This tells the sad story of a father who failed to discipline his sons, and old king David reaped the whirlwind, Adoniyah (which means YHVH is my master) if it were so, He would have been in subjection to his father David, had the nerve to proclaim himself king, even before David dies. Yet David corrects the situation and names Solomon as future king. This part of the Parasha teaches us to be under authority, willingly, the bridegroom has his bride under His authority and subjection, BUT NOT in a tyrannic way, not like a “dictatorship” but under a “love “ relationship. A wife can be under subjection to the husband, and feel used, like an object, or feel loved and protected, all depends on the husband, if He is under the subjection to the LORD, he will treat his wife with love and respect.


MATT 8:1-9:18


We see here that Yeshua shows love through action, in healing the leper, it is an act of “giving” He gave back health to an unclean man, yet Yeshua also respected and honored the Torah, in telling the man to go to the priest and offer the proper sacrifice for his healing, Yeshua, who is our Messiah, Savior and LORD had ALL RESPECT for the Torah and its commandments.


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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: TOLDOT (generations)

GEN 25:19-28:9.............MAL 1:1-2:7..................MATT 10:1-11:30

This study starts out with the generations of Abraham and Sarah. After years of waiting and praying they finally had Yitzchak. The legacy continues, the promise of YHVH is revealed once more, but not without testing of faith. Yitzchak and Riv'kah also have to wait, about 20 years, yet they prayed and entreated the LORD to have a child. “The prayer of the righteous prevails” the following is from the Talmud (B.Yevamot 64:a)
“Why were our ancestors barren? Because the Holy One (blessed be He) longs to bless the prayers of the righteous”
Since Yitzchak and Riv'ka were righteous, and part of the covenant promise, YHVH (in HIS timing) answered their prayer. Does that mean that ALL prayer is answered? Yes, it is, but not always the way we want Adonai to answer it. The answer comes in three forms; Yes, No, and “later on” The sick are prayed over, and many are healed, others are prayed for, and YHVH takes them home. It doesn't mean to stop praying, or pray once, God likes “continuous prayer” I prayed for 40 years for the LORD to reveal to me my biological family, and finally, about 4 years ago, HE DID! But in HIS timing.
The birth of “B'nei Yitzchak v'Riv'ka” came as a surprise, “twins inside” and the battle ensued. Yet the LORD speaks to Riv'kah saying:
“Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people will be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger”
When we look at this today, we see prophecy revealed plain as day. From “Ya'akov”, we get “Am Yisrael” the (Nation of Israel) and from “Esav” we get the name “Edom” which is almost the same as “Adam” with the exception of the “o” or in Hebrew the letter “vav” (v) If we look at the paleo-Hebrew, one could get the symbolism of “Esau” who was made of “Blood and spirit” was connected (vav) to “chaos” Esav was a “man of the earth, disinterested in spiritual things, he was materialistic, he related more to the “red” earth than the things of God. From “Esav/Edom” we get Haman (the Agagite) and from Haman, the nation of “Rome” was formed.
Rome was stronger, and conquered a good part of the world, and Israel was under the yoke of Rome, YET today, we look at Israel, it has the strongest, and one of the most advanced and modern Military in the world. And it was indeed an honor to serve under the IDF two years ago, and I am looking forward to support the IDF again in the future.
Jacob and Esau, twin brothers but two separate nations, two brothers, yet worlds apart, One spiritual, interested in the things of God, then other, interested in the things of the world. Esau and Jacob represent the world of today. We have the “lost” “unrepented man” and we have the “born again believers” which include ALL who have accepted Yeshua the Messiah as LORD and Savior, doesn't matter if we are a sabbath observing messianic believer, or a Sunday, church going believer, we are ALL part of God's family.
Yet we see that Jacob exhibited “carnal behavior” he wanted things “his way” yet when God sent Jacob to uncle Laban's “school of hard Knocks” he came out different... (but that is in the next parasha). Jacob symbolizes “all believers” both carnal and spirit filled. We ALL have growing and maturing to go through on this side of heaven.
Esau despised his birthright for lentil stew, we can see the same today, many people will prefer a life of sin, money, fast cars, drugs, fame, you name it, and reject the gift of God, “Salvation” (YESHUAH) and then “perish” for all eternity. That's kind of like “exchanging” Eternal life with God for a “temporary life” of comfort and ease, riches, etc. Just doesn't make sense does it?
The time of blessing comes, Isaac is old and blind, and there has been family “division” Esau “Loved” Esau (because of his wild game) yet rebecca “loved” Jacob. Does that mean that Isaac didn't love Jacob and Rebecca didn't love Esau? No, only means that there were “family favorites” which is a big NO NO, if we are to live in peace with our children today, even between “students and teachers” no favorites please!
We see in Chap 27, that Jacob passes for Esau, and Esau gets the shorter end of the stick. Taking advantage of poor Isaac's blindness, yet there is a saying “The chickens come home to roost” and “What goes around, comes around” We will see LATER, what happens, Jacob is the younger, and pretends to be the older. When Jacob gets married, he thinks he's getting the younger daughter, but gets the older daughter. Jacob deceives Isaac in his “darkness” (blindness) and Jacob gets deceived being in the “darkness” (night time, dark tent) and maybe he had too much to drink to know who got in bed with him.
Esau doesn't change, he marries a “hitite” woman and then gets another wife from his uncle Ishamel, all to “get back” (maybe) at Isaac for giving away his birthright, but didn't he already sell it? Hello?

MAL 1:1-2:7

The prophet speaks and writes through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) “Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated”. He you ask, “isn't God love?” isn't God all about love? Why does he “hate poor Esau?” The word “hate” has the same meaning as “reject”. YHVH who is “all knowing” knew even before Esau was born that he would reject HIM, so, YHVH rejected Esau!
Polluted offerings, corrupt priests. No wonder God is fed up with Israel, they have gone “the way of Esau” offering God the “left-overs” and not offering with “pure hearts”. It is like today, if we serve the LORD with less than our best, or only with “half a heart” or just because we feel we “have to” then, we are offering “polluted offerings” We should serve GOD with all we have, with the best we have, or not at all!

MATT 10:1-11:30

Yeshua sends out the twelve talmidim, to teach Torah and to share the word that Yeshua is Mashiach, and has fulfilled all the prophecies of the Torah. First to the “lost sheep of Israel” remember that Israel has been scattered to many different countries, many being absorbed by the nations, yet still remember their identity, but even in Israel, there are those who need to know the truth about Yeshua as Messiah, prophesied by Moshe and the prophets
The work and ministry of sharing/teaching the WORD of God is not a lone undertaking, it is to be shared by many, and ALL who have that calling. Even Yeshua, God in human form, could not be in all places at the same time, so he sent out his followers, to fulfill the “Great Commission” .
Today, we are equipped with the “gifts of the Spirit” to fulfill this great task, and today we have the internet to help spread the “Good News” whereas hundreds of years ago, only papers and books were available to those who took up that task. We are living in exciting times, let's take advantage of modern technology.

Shabbat Shalom...............Rabbi Petersen

[Tammuz]

Yeshua sends out the twelve talmidim, to teach Torah and to share the word that Yeshua is Mashiach, and has fulfilled all the prophecies of the Torah.

Here are some prophecies allegedly fulfilled in the Jesus bio. The first one is, of course, not surprising. Skeptics say that these correspondences could be fakings in order to literarily construct a Messiah figure which historically never existed.

1 Messiah would be born of a woman. Genesis 3:15 Matthew 1:20 Galatians 4:4
2 Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Micah 5:2 Matthew 2:1 Luke 2:4-6
3 Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:22-23 Luke 1:26-31
4 Messiah would come from the line of Abraham. Genesis 12:3 Genesis 22:18 Matthew 1:1 Romans 9:5
5 Messiah would be a descendant of Isaac. Genesis 17:19 Genesis 21:12 Luke 3:34
6 Messiah would be a descendant of Jacob. Numbers 24:17 Matthew 1:2
7 Messiah would come from the tribe of Judah. Genesis 49:10 Luke 3:33 Hebrews 7:14
8 Messiah would be heir to King David's throne. 2 Samuel 7:12-13 Isaiah 9:7 Luke 1:32-33 Romans 1:3
9 Messiah's throne will be anointed and eternal. Psalm 45:6-7 Daniel 2:44 Luke 1:33 Hebrews 1:8-12
10 Messiah would be called Immanuel. Isaiah 7:14 Matthew 1:23
11 Messiah would spend a season in Egypt. Hosea 11:1 Matthew 2:14-15
12 A massacre of children would happen at Messiah's birthplace. Jeremiah 31:15 Matthew 2:16-18
13 A messenger would prepare the way for Messiah Isaiah 40:3-5 Luke 3:3-6
14 Messiah would be rejected by his own people. Psalm 69:8 Isaiah 53:3 John 1:11 John 7:5
15 Messiah would be a prophet. Deuteronomy 18:15 Acts 3:20-22
16 Messiah would be preceded by Elijah. Malachi 4:5-6 Matthew 11:13-14
17 Messiah would be declared the Son of God. Psalm 2:7 Matthew 3:16-17
18 Messiah would be called a Nazarene. Isaiah 11:1 Matthew 2:23
19 Messiah would bring light to Galilee. Isaiah 9:1-2 Matthew 4:13-16
20 Messiah would speak in parables. Psalm 78:2-4 Isaiah 6:9-10 Matthew 13:10-15, 34-35
21 Messiah would be sent to heal the brokenhearted. Isaiah 61:1-2 Luke 4:18-19
22 Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110:4 Hebrews 5:5-6
23 Messiah would be called King. Psalm 2:6 Zechariah 9:9 Matthew 27:37 Mark 11:7-11
24 Messiah would be praised by little children. Psalm 8:2 Matthew 21:16
25 Messiah would be betrayed. Psalm 41:9 Zechariah 11:12-13 Luke 22:47-48 Matthew 26:14-16
26 Messiah's price money would be used to buy a potter's field. Zechariah 11:12-13 Matthew 27:9-10
27 Messiah would be falsely accused. Psalm 35:11 Mark 14:57-58
28 Messiah would be silent before his accusers. Isaiah 53:7 Mark 15:4-5
29 Messiah would be spat upon and struck. Isaiah 50:6 Matthew 26:67
30 Messiah would be hated without cause. Psalm 35:19 Psalm 69:4 John 15:24-25
31 Messiah would be crucified with criminals. Isaiah 53:12 Matthew 27:38 Mark 15:27-28
32 Messiah would be given vinegar to drink. Psalm 69:21 Matthew 27:34 John 19:28-30
33 Messiah's hands and feet would be pierced. Psalm 22:16 Zechariah 12:10 John 20:25-27
34 Messiah would be mocked and ridiculed. Psalm 22:7-8 Luke 23:35
35 Soldiers would gamble for Messiah's garments. Psalm 22:18 Luke 23:34 Matthew 27:35-36
36 Messiah's bones would not be broken. Exodus 12:46 Psalm 34:20 John 19:33-36
37 Messiah would be forsaken by God. Psalm 22:1 Matthew 27:46
38 Messiah would pray for his enemies. Psalm 109:4 Luke 23:34
39 Soldiers would pierce Messiah's side. Zechariah 12:10 John 19:34
40 Messiah would be buried with the rich. Isaiah 53:9 Matthew 27:57-60
41 Messiah would resurrect from the dead. Psalm 16:10, Psalm 49:15, Matthew 28:2-7 Acts 2:22-32
42 Messiah would ascend to heaven. Psalm 24:7-10 Mark 16:19 Luke 24:51
43 Messiah would be seated at God's right hand. Psalm 68:18 Psalm 110:1 Mark 16:19 Matthew 22:44
44 Messiah would be a sacrifice for sin.

[JacobBenAvraham]

Thanks for all the scripture references, those are a blessing for those who will read these posts, blessings to you

r. Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: TOLDOT (generations)

GEN 25:19-28:9.............MAL 1:1-2:7..................MATT 10:1-11:30

This study starts out with the generations of Abraham and Sarah. After years of waiting and praying they finally had Yitzchak. The legacy continues, the promise of YHVH is revealed once more, but not without testing of faith. Yitzchak and Riv'kah also have to wait, about 20 years, yet they prayed and entreated the LORD to have a child. “The prayer of the righteous prevails” the following is from the Talmud (B.Yevamot 64:a)
“Why were our ancestors barren? Because the Holy One (blessed be He) longs to bless the prayers of the righteous”
Since Yitzchak and Riv'ka were righteous, and part of the covenant promise, YHVH (in HIS timing) answered their prayer. Does that mean that ALL prayer is answered? Yes, it is, but not always the way we want Adonai to answer it. The answer comes in three forms; Yes, No, and “later on” The sick are prayed over, and many are healed, others are prayed for, and YHVH takes them home. It doesn't mean to stop praying, or pray once, God likes “continuous prayer” I prayed for 40 years for the LORD to reveal to me my biological family, and finally, about 4 years ago, HE DID! But in HIS timing.
The birth of “B'nei Yitzchak v'Riv'ka” came as a surprise, “twins inside” and the battle ensued. Yet the LORD speaks to Riv'kah saying:
“Two nations are in your womb, two peoples shall be separated from your body; One people will be stronger than the other, and the older shall serve the younger”
When we look at this today, we see prophecy revealed plain as day. From “Ya'akov”, we get “Am Yisrael” the (Nation of Israel) and from “Esav” we get the name “Edom” which is almost the same as “Adam” with the exception of the “o” or in Hebrew the letter “vav” (v) If we look at the paleo-Hebrew, one could get the symbolism of “Esau” who was made of “Blood and spirit” was connected (vav) to “chaos” Esav was a “man of the earth, disinterested in spiritual things, he was materialistic, he related more to the “red” earth than the things of God. From “Esav/Edom” we get Haman (the Agagite) and from Haman, the nation of “Rome” was formed.
Rome was stronger, and conquered a good part of the world, and Israel was under the yoke of Rome, YET today, we look at Israel, it has the strongest, and one of the most advanced and modern Military in the world. And it was indeed an honor to serve under the IDF two years ago, and I am looking forward to support the IDF again in the future.
Jacob and Esau, twin brothers but two separate nations, two brothers, yet worlds apart, One spiritual, interested in the things of God, then other, interested in the things of the world. Esau and Jacob represent the world of today. We have the “lost” “unrepented man” and we have the “born again believers” which include ALL who have accepted Yeshua the Messiah as LORD and Savior, doesn't matter if we are a sabbath observing messianic believer, or a Sunday, church going believer, we are ALL part of God's family.
Yet we see that Jacob exhibited “carnal behavior” he wanted things “his way” yet when God sent Jacob to uncle Laban's “school of hard Knocks” he came out different... (but that is in the next parasha). Jacob symbolizes “all believers” both carnal and spirit filled. We ALL have growing and maturing to go through on this side of heaven.
Esau despised his birthright for lentil stew, we can see the same today, many people will prefer a life of sin, money, fast cars, drugs, fame, you name it, and reject the gift of God, “Salvation” (YESHUAH) and then “perish” for all eternity. That's kind of like “exchanging” Eternal life with God for a “temporary life” of comfort and ease, riches, etc. Just doesn't make sense does it?
The time of blessing comes, Isaac is old and blind, and there has been family “division” Esau “Loved” Esau (because of his wild game) yet rebecca “loved” Jacob. Does that mean that Isaac didn't love Jacob and Rebecca didn't love Esau? No, only means that there were “family favorites” which is a big NO NO, if we are to live in peace with our children today, even between “students and teachers” no favorites please!
We see in Chap 27, that Jacob passes for Esau, and Esau gets the shorter end of the stick. Taking advantage of poor Isaac's blindness, yet there is a saying “The chickens come home to roost” and “What goes around, comes around” We will see LATER, what happens, Jacob is the younger, and pretends to be the older. When Jacob gets married, he thinks he's getting the younger daughter, but gets the older daughter. Jacob deceives Isaac in his “darkness” (blindness) and Jacob gets deceived being in the “darkness” (night time, dark tent) and maybe he had too much to drink to know who got in bed with him.
Esau doesn't change, he marries a “hitite” woman and then gets another wife from his uncle Ishamel, all to “get back” (maybe) at Isaac for giving away his birthright, but didn't he already sell it? Hello?

MAL 1:1-2:7

The prophet speaks and writes through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) “Jacob have I loved, but Esau I have hated”. He you ask, “isn't God love?” isn't God all about love? Why does he “hate poor Esau?” The word “hate” has the same meaning as “reject”. YHVH who is “all knowing” knew even before Esau was born that he would reject HIM, so, YHVH rejected Esau!
Polluted offerings, corrupt priests. No wonder God is fed up with Israel, they have gone “the way of Esau” offering God the “left-overs” and not offering with “pure hearts”. It is like today, if we serve the LORD with less than our best, or only with “half a heart” or just because we feel we “have to” then, we are offering “polluted offerings” We should serve GOD with all we have, with the best we have, or not at all!

MATT 10:1-11:30

Yeshua sends out the twelve talmidim, to teach Torah and to share the word that Yeshua is Mashiach, and has fulfilled all the prophecies of the Torah. First to the “lost sheep of Israel” remember that Israel has been scattered to many different countries, many being absorbed by the nations, yet still remember their identity, but even in Israel, there are those who need to know the truth about Yeshua as Messiah, prophesied by Moshe and the prophets
The work and ministry of sharing/teaching the WORD of God is not a lone undertaking, it is to be shared by many, and ALL who have that calling. Even Yeshua, God in human form, could not be in all places at the same time, so he sent out his followers, to fulfill the “Great Commission” .
Today, we are equipped with the “gifts of the Spirit” to fulfill this great task, and today we have the internet to help spread the “Good News” whereas hundreds of years ago, only papers and books were available to those who took up that task. We are living in exciting times, let's take advantage of modern technology.

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: “VaYetze” (and he went out)

GENESIS 28:10-32:2............... HOSEAS 12:13-14:9...........JOHN 1:51

In this parasha study, we see that Jacob is on his way to Haran to find himself a wife (or two). He is tired after a long day's journey, He stops to rest outside of a city called “Luz” (In Spanish “Light”) and scripture says that he settles down for the night and takes “of the stones” (m'avenei) and puts “one” under his head for a pillow. I am sure that he chose a large, flat one, wrapped his tunic around it, and put his head down. Perhaps the stone was still warm from the heat of the day, and he went to sleep and dreamed.............................
But before we get to the dream, I'd like to note that in all English translations, the number “one” appears which states that he took “one” stone, yet the Hebrew does not give a certain number, the word “m'avenei” is used meaning “of the stones” It could be that he took one “of the stones” or a few “of the stones”. All we know is that he went to sleep and dreamed a strange dream. We all know the story of “Jacob's Ladder” we have read it in Bible story books, and from the Torah itself. Yet I think that the title is misleading, It wasn't “Jacob's Ladder” at all, it was “God's ladder” Jacob was just a witness to seeing it, and the activity that surrounded it.
The Word says that the ladder was grounded on the earth and the top reached Heaven, and angels went up and down the ladder. The it says that YHVH stood beside Jacob and spoke saying; “Ani YHVH. Elohei Avraham, Elohei Yitzchak” (I am the LORD, God of Abraham, God of Isaac). The same promise that was given to Abraham and Isaac is now being repeated to Ya'akov.
The land where he is at right now, will be a possession for him and his seed. The title and deed of the Land of Israel pertains to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. YHVH said it, case closed! The rest of the people who live there are “residents” not owners! YHVH likens the descendants of Jacob to the “dust of the earth” why dust? Dust can not be counted, ever try to count a “speck of dust?” dust will “last for ever” also, lay something out in the desert for 1000 years, a car for example, in 1000 years, the car will be no more, probably not even a trace of it will be left, because the “dust” will have, in a way of speaking, “eaten it”. The dust is also “trodden upon.”
“Am Yisrael” (The people of Israel) will be for ever, as our faith in our “Mashiach m'Yisrael” (Messiah from Israel) is an everlasting faith, which will endure for ever. Israel has also been “trodden on” stepped on, mistreated, taken as worthless by maniac leaders, yet when all is gone and vanished, Israel will be forever. Scripture also says that Israel will be spread abroad to the North, South, East, and West. In other words, “All over the world” and we have seen just that today.
We have Jewish people in all nations of the world, integrated among all the nations, taking the Torah with them, and the belief in ONE GOD (Echad). We have three major Jewish peoples, “Sephardim” from Spain, North Africa and Middle East. “Ashkenazim” from Germany and East Europe, and “Falashim” from Ethiopia and other African countries. The Torah says, “In thy seed will all the families of the earth be blessed
Who is the Seed of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Yeshua! He was of the seed of these patriarcs! And we are all blessed by HIM, whose one time sacrifice for sin saved us all, from eternal separation from YHVH. His name “YESHUAH” is “Salvation” from YAH.
When Jacob awoke from his dream, he stood the “stone” that he placed as a pillow, “upright” and anointed it with oil, calling that place “Beit-El” (House of God). The rabbis of old give meaning to this, some say that the “stones that were together become ONE” some say that Jacob gathered 12 stones, and these 12 stones became ONE, symbolizing the 12 sons of Israel, that became 12 tribes, were “united” as “AM ECHAD
(One People) at Sinai under Moshe after they had left Egypt.
The word “stone” in Hebrew is “AVEN” which is a combination of two word, AV (father) and BEN (Son) Father and Son as ONE (Echad). The anointing of the “Stone” reminds us of the anointing of YESHUA as Messiah, teacher of Torah, healer, and redeemer. He is the SOLID ROCK.
The ladder itself is symbolic. The sages and rabbis of old liken the ladder to “Moshe climbing up to the top of Sinai to receive the Commandments carved in STONE, and later, went up again for 40 days and nights to receive the whole Torah which he later wrote down. He went UP and YHVH came DOWN, We liken this unto “Yeshua the Living WORD, the living TORAH”. Other rabbis imagine the ladder as having 22 steps, each step being a letter of the Alef-Bet, the Hebrew Alpha-bet. Since all letters form words, we look again at Yeshua who is the “living WORD, the living TRUTH. The ladder is the “WAY up, and the WAY down. Yeshua said, “I AM the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE, no one comes the father but by ME”
The word “ladder” in Hebrew is “SULAM” in gematria, it equals the sum of 136. the words “Tzom” (fasting) “kol” (voice) and “Mamon” (money) also sum “136”. So how do these words speak of Yeshua? Yeshua “Fasted” for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert, he “voiced” his prayers to His Father in Heaven, and he taught about money, and “Tzedakah” (deeds of kndness) “it is more blessed to give than receive” he taught that we must put money in its proper perspective, since the “LOVE” of money is the root of all evil, he taught that one should be “content” with the wages received, (when speaking to the roman soldier).
How do these words speak of our relationship with Yeshua? We first come to “Salvation” (Yeshuah) through “Prayer” (voice) of repentance (tefilah/ teshuvah) and there are times when we must “fast” to get prayers answered, and we fast on Yom Kippur. We “give money” through tithes and offerings to our local church/synagogue to keep it going. But who or what is the ladder really? Is there a correct answer? It is in the Brit Hadasha.
__________________________________________________ _____________________________________
HOSEA 12:13-14:9

The prophet condemns Israel for “forsaking the LORD” Israel was led out of Egypt by a prophet (Moshe) and tended to, provided for by YHVH, yet Israel forsake the LORD chasing after false gods, going into idolatry. Now the LORD will punish, and his wrath will fall upon his people. Yet YHVH still loves his people, yet will exact punishment, judgment, like a father will punish and judge a disobedient son or daughter. Can we expect anything less from Adonai? If we abandon our LORD, and live like a lost person, loving the desires of the lost world and the flesh, can we expect anything less than judgment from HIM who set us free from sin?

__________________________________________________ _____________________________________
JOHN 1:51

Then He said; “I assure you; You will see heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending on the 'Son of Man'

Mystery solved, YESHUA is the ladder!!

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: “VaYishlach” (and he sent)

GENESIS: 32:3-36:43....................OBADIYAH 1:1-21..............MATT 13:1-58

** * We see in this week's parasha, that Ya'akov is on his way home to Beth-El, He comes to his “encounter” with his brother Esav. It is a time of tension for him, as we know, he “stole” from him the blessing. Or was it really theft? Remember that Esav “sold” or “traded” his birthright for a “bowl of red lentils” so, was it really theft? Perhaps we can say that Jacob took advantage of his brother's worldliness and carnal nature, some say it was “deceit” but was it really?
** * Jacob and Esau departed enemies, time has passed, Jacob has had much to think about. He feels perhaps guilt and remorse for having taken advantage of his brother. YHVH has blessed him with wives and children, the future “Am Yisrael” He now feels a need for “compensation” for wrong doing. Therefore, to “ease” the angry spirit of Esau, (so Jacob thinks) he sends him gifts of cattle, hoping to “cool him off”
*** But let's think about that, is compensation necessary for wrong doing? The Torah says YES, it is. If I borrow your camera, and I drop it, break it, I will owe you another camera, If you and I have a wrestling match, and I accidentally break your hand, I would have to pay the doctor's bill, etc. This is the true meaning of “An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth”
Just for precautionary measures, he separates his family, “just in case” Esau is still on the warpath. Can we blame Jacob? Esau is coming to meet his brother with 400 armed men! Oi Vey, why with 400 men? Armed too! Could this be an attack? Or friendship rekindled? Jacob is “Schvitzen” (sweating). But now he is about to encounter “GOD” in the flesh
He says “Adonai, help!” hey God, remember your promise? To keep me safe? You aren't going back on your promise are you? YHVH responds with a personal visit that night. The Torah says that during the night
** * “a man wrestled with him until the break of day” Ya'akov didn't know it then, but he was wrestling with “HaMalach YHVH (The Angel of the LORD). How do we wrestle with God today? Ever think of that? Good question!
** * Trying to find HIS perfect will for our lives is one way, dealing with “flesh vs spirit” issues is another way. Trying to get HIM to follow “us”, instead of “us” following HIM is another way. Just seeing where we fit in with his plan for our lives is a wrestling match, yet “Jacob prevails” he says, “Bless me before you go!” YHVH says to him “Your name will no longer be Ya'akov, but Yisrael” Jacob prevailed, he passed the test, and now, he has a new name. If we look at the letters; Y I S R A E L we see YaSheR – EL “Straight with God”. And the name YISRAEL has the names of the patriarchs (Ya'akov, Sarah, Riv'kah, Avraham, Leah).
** * Israel is now surrendered to the will of YVHV. He meets Esau, the meeting is touching, no hard feelings. And Israel renders homage before his brother, a very penitent attitude. They fall upon each others neck and kiss and weep!. The “Midrash” has a funny explanation for that. The “Midrash” (a rabbinical commentary) says that the reason Esau wept was because he tried to bite Israel's neck, yet Israel's neck has turned to iron, and Esau broke his teeth, trying to bite him! Kinda funny, but when we look at the symbolism, we see the idea of Israel being a “stiff-necked people” (I would say iron is stiff, just try to bend it) yet many will try to “bite” or destroy Israel, and Israel will prevail! But not before suffering because of having a “stiff neck”.
** * Israel and his children go to Shechem, where we see that “Dinah is raped” and the brothers take drastic action and retaliate, destroying the city. I would say very “rash” and “violent”action. But why would they want to associate with people who are idol worshipers? Case being, they had no business there in the first place. If you are in the wrong place and at the wrong time, you're bound to get “bit”. However, Jacob (Israel) builds an altar there and called it “El-Elohei-Israel” (God, the God of Israel) He stands firm in his convictions, yet his sons have a lot to learn.
** * There are probably many times when we act rashly, and do not so kosher things, embarrassing our relationship with YHVH. Yes, Israel was very angry with his sons, plus they used “circumcision” as a trick to weaken the men of Shechem, something sacred was used for vengeance. There are quite a few things we can learn NOT to do, by observing the “sons of Jacob”.
** * What we learn from this Torah portion is; from wrong doing, we offer restitution, and from restitution, we get restored fellowship. But at times, we can not offer material restitution for wrong doing, only a sincere “I am very sorry for what I did, please forgive me” and we must leave it at that, now the ball is in the other person's hand, they can either throw it back to us with forgiveness, or “throw it away” with forgiveness. We just have to leave it in God's hands.

OBADIYAH 1:1-21

** * This prophet talks about Esau as “Edom” similar to the name “Adam” yet spelled with a “vav” Edom is condemned, for his attack on Jacob, later on, the Edomites attack the Israelites, (brothers against brothers) Edom will be “brought down from the lofty cliffs” I have been to “Edom” which is in Jordon, the city of “Petra” has many caves in the cliffs, and as tourists go through Petra, the guides tell the visitors that the cliff caves were homes to Edomites, later on they became burial places, and today, they serve as “toilets” for the tourists that have to take care of business, imagine that, how lowly Edom has fallen, from cave homes to “out-houses” We see that the promise of YHVH to Israel prevails, try to destroy, harm, attack Israel, you will be brought down.
** * the prophet goes on to say, “do not gloat over the misfortune of Judah” Even though we know that Israel will go by the wayside, and forsake YHVH, and will receive punishment, Edom has no business being happy for that reason. It is like a brother laughs when his other brother is being punished by dad, That brother has no business to be happy, because HIS turn will come sooner or later. Today, do you know of any Edomites? There are none, yet do you know of any Israelites? Yes, there is a nation in the middle east full of Israelites, it is called “Eretz Israel” I have been there, twice! It is an honor to serve Israel as military support personnel.

MATT 13:1-58

** * Yeshua speaks to the people in parables, He tells of the “sower of the seed” he goes on to tell his Talmidim that the people “hear but do not understand” it is because their hearts are dull, and that they are not looking for the truth. So there are today, many people who will “hear” the gospel but do not “listen” and if they do not “listen” they will not “understand” just like the sower who sowed the seed on the different soils, some did not take root, some grew but were choked out, some grew into maturity, so is the WORD of God, to some people it has no effect, on others, it is only a “pass time” or a “fad” for a while, but for others, it is the “real thing” and “life changing” has it changed your life?

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “VaYeshev” (and he settled)


GENESIS 37:1-1-40:23..................AMOS 2:6-3:8................MATT 14:1-15:39, JOHN 10:22-23


* * *In this study, the focus in on Yosef, who is going to be in the lime-light of God. Things seem to be going from bad to worse for this young teen-ager. But it wasn't all his fault we could say. His father Jacob held him high up on a pedestal, “Papa's favorite”. Always when there is family favoritism among sons and daughters, there is bound to be trouble, especially from the other siblings who are the “less preferred”
* * *Papa Jacob makes him a “coat of many colors” this is like getting a kid a three piece suit make of fine silk, and then sending out to the fields where his brothers are wearing overalls and straw hats. This is going to get jealousy aroused. These brothers are boiling mad, and to make matters worse, Yosef is given dreams by YHVH and he doesn't keep them to himself, he shares them. He shares them not to be haughty, but just to let his family know what is happening, or rather, what is “going to happen” in the future. But I don't think that at that time, Yosef understood the meaning of the dreams.
* * *To make a long story short, he gets out to the fields, the brothers strip him of his coat, rip it, dip it in goat's blood, plan to kill him, Judah talks them out of it, and instead, throw him in an empty well, wait until a group of Ishmaelite traders come by, they sell him to the buyers for 20 pieces of silver , and that is that, they are rid of brother Yosef, “daddy's boy” the dreamer, yet unknowingly, they are playing right into the perfect plan of YHVH, they are “investing” in their own future welfare.
But let's go back to the events. How do these events symbolize, compare with Messiah Yeshua? We do not see any blemish on Yosef, as if he is “perfect and righteous” as Yeshua was/is “Tzadik v'Kadosh” (Righteous and Holy” Yosef is the “victim” of his own people ( his brothers). As Yeshua was given up to the Roman governor, by a group of religious leaders.
* * * The brothers striped Yosef of his coat, the coat was dipped in goat's blood. Yeshua was striped of his clothing, and was beaten, his flesh “ripped” by a Roman whip, until the blood poured out. The “goat's blood” reminds us of “Yom Kippur” where goat's were sacrificed and one was “set free” the blood of the goat reminds us of our sins “covered by the blood” (back then) but now, our sins are “erased” by the blood of “God's chosen LAMB” the “Lamb of God” which taketh away the sins of the world.
* * *Yosef was thrown into a pit, an empty cistern, void of water. Scripture doesn't say, but I imagine that his brothers tied him up with a rope and lowered him into the pit by the rope. A “water well” symbolizes “Life” but when it is empty, it can symbolize “death”. Just try to climb out a deep pit with dirt sides without anything, you can't, might as well be dead. Yosef being lower into the pit can symbolize Yeshua's death, and his descent into “Sheol” yet when the Midianites came by, the brothers pulled him “out” of the pit, it could symbolize Yeshua's “resurrection unto life”. Before the pit, Yosef was part of his immediate family, after the incident of the pit, he is on his way to a “new life”, with trials, testings, troubles, suffering, and finally, rewards! Doesn't that sound like our life today?
* * *Yosef was sold for “20 pieces of silver” by “Y'hudah Ben Ya'akov” (Judah son of Jacob)
* * *Yeshua was sold for “30” pieces of silver by “Y'hudah Ish Kariot” (Judah, a man from the region of Kariot)
* * *Y'hudah Ben Ya'akov was part of Jacob's family, whose name changed to Israel. Y'hudah Ish Kariot was part of Yeshua's family of talmidim (disciples) by “name only” not spiritually. The name “Israel” comes from “Yasher-El” (straight to God) “Yeshua” relationship is “straight to God” . The difference between 30 pieces of silver and 20 pieces of silver is “10” the number of “Torah”. ALL is recorded and written down in the Torah, and Yeshua is the “Living Torah”


AMOS 2:6-3:8*


*****The prophet preaches “judgment on Israel” (because they sell the righteous for silver), and for many more evil deeds, they have turned away from God and are behaving like the heathen, that know not the LORD. Yosef was righteous, and he sold for 20 pieces of silver, Yeshua was / is righteous, and was sold for 30 pieces of silver. Israel has traded a “Torah” (30-20=10) walk for an “unrighteous” walk and lifestyle, trouble is ahead, judgment is coming, and it came, God used Babylon, Greece, Antiochus, Rome, as instruments of judgment, yet Israel prevailed, through YHVH's grace, goodness, righteousness, and through a “few gallant men” who fought the fight of freedom.



MATT 14:1-15:39 and JOHN 10:22-23



* * *“Yeshua blesses the crowd” we see that Yeshua went to a place alone, perhaps to morn the death of his cousin, Yochanan the Baptist, yet the crowd found him, he had compassion and healed the sick, he fed them when he multiplied the 5 loaves and 2 fish. Interesting enough, when we add 5 and 2 we get “7” the perfect number , the number of Holiness, we have the “Bread (loaves) of Life” and he who makes “fishers of men” (fish). Also, the symbol of the “fish” was used in early messianic believers.
* * *In John, we see that Yeshua attends the Feast of Hanukkah, the “dedication” and takes this opportunity to tell the Jews, “I AM the Messiah....yet you do not believe” the choice to believe, is always OURS. Shabbat Shalom



* * *Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

]A STUDY ON HANUKKAH, WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?
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* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * December 25th, 2016,* First Day of Hanukkah


* * *“And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication (Hanukkah), and it was winter, and Yeshua (Jesus) walked in the temple in Solomon's porch” (John 10:22,23)* the chapter goes on to say that the Jews gathered around him, asking him to tell them plainly if he was the Messiah.*
* * *Hanukkah was an important festival, important enough for our Messiah to be at the temple and answer questions.* The meaning of the word “Hanukkah” means “dedication”.* In order to understand this better, we need to go back and read 2 Chronicles 7:8-10.* King Solomon finished building the first temple, and he celebrated with the people in having a big sacrifice, sacrificing thousands of bulls and sheep, he invited the people and they shared in the festivity.* He celebrated for 8 days, during the time of Sukkot, (Feast of Tabernacles) on the 8th day, “Hoshanna Raba” he blessed the people and sent them home.* A lot happened after that time, the priests and much of the people took their eyes off the LORD, and went into idolatry.
* * *Years later, the Prophet Malachi prophesied that YHVH would punish the people, and the end result would be that the temple would be desecrated, the “seed” of Israel would be “contaminated”.* You can read this in Malachi 1:6; 2:1,2,8,9.* The Prophet Daniel was more precise.* He had visions of what would happen in the future.*
* * *The visions of Daniel in chapter 8 had to do with “two” end time periods.* One, the end time before the first coming of Messiah Yeshua, and the second, the end time before the second coming of Messiah, which is still in the future.* In Chapter 8:5 the prophet sees a “he goat” (Greece) and a “ram” (Persia).* This is when Alexander the Great went forth to conquer many nations, he traveled very fast (touched not the ground).* This happened around 330 B.C. He went from West (Greece) towards the East (nations East of Greece) these nations included Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Israel (Judea).*
* * *The prophet mentions the “horn that was broken” (Alexander's death) and from that, 4 other horns came out (four generals took over).* (Daniel 8:8).* “Ptolemy” took control of Egypt, that is why we see the dynasty of “Ptolemy pharaohs” Queen Cleopatra was a “Ptolemy”.* Seleucid took control over Syria.* From Seleucid, came the “little horn that waxed great”.* This was the rise of Antiochus (Daniel 8:9).* First there was Antiochus III, and afterward, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes).* It was Antiochus Epiphanes who wrecked Havoc in Judea, was a tyrant, a murderer who was satanically controlled.* He proclaimed himself “Zeus incarnate” thus the title “Epiphanes” An epiphany is a carnal likeness of a god.* But what happened to Judea before the rise of Antiochus?
* * *Alexander had introduced “Hellenism” to the conquered world.* Judea could either accept the new Greek ways or reject them.* Most Israelites rejected them, they stayed Torah observant and worshiped YHVH.* Some accepted the new Greek ways, new Greek style clothing, music, philosophy, gymnastics, drama, language, etc...
Under Alexander, and even under the first Antiochus (III) Judeans had a choice, either accept or reject, it didn't really matter, but when Antiochus III died and his son Antiochus IV came to power, all changed.*
* * *Everyone had to convert to Hellenism, accept Antiochus as supreme ruler and “god” manifested in human form, or die.* No longer could they study Torah, the scrolls were destroyed, circumcision of males was a capital offense, when Israelite women married, a Greek soldier would be the first to physically “lay” with the new wife.
So life was “hell” for all of Israel that did not convert or accept Hellenism, and accept Antiochus as “Zeus incarnate”.*
* * *On the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, 167 B.C, Antiochus invades the temple in Jerusalem and desecrates it.* He sets up a statue of Zeus and to celebrate, he sacrifices pigs on the sacred altar in the temple, he then takes all the temple furniture made of gold and silver, including the Menorah, and takes them to Syria.* The temple is now bare, and desecrated, and now dedicated to Zeus and pagan sacrifices.* (Daniel 8:11-12).
* * *The next thing that Antiochus did was to replace the Judean “Onias” the high priest and put his own brother “Jason” as priest instead of Onias.* Jason started promoting “Zeus worship, and pig sacrifices” throughout Judea.* He went to the city of Modin, where the priest Mattathias lived with his five sons; John, Jonathan, Judah, Simon, and Eleazar.* This is where the resistance started.
* * *Jason had sent an officer to offer Mattathias riches and honor, if only he would set the example and offer pig sacrifices to Zeus.* The officer was not prepared for the reaction of Mattathias.* With a loud voice he responded;
* * *“Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him and fall away every one from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments, yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.* God forbid that we should forsake the Torah and the ordinances.* We will not harken to the king's words to go from our religion, either on the right hand or the left!” (1st Book of* Maccabees)
* * * After hearing these words, another priest standing nearby offered to sacrifice, in exchange for gold and silver.* When the priest tried to go forward, Mattathias took a sword and slew him there, and also slew the officer in charge.* Now, Mattathias and his sons were wanted criminals in the eyes of Antiochus. Mattathias and his sons had to flee the city and they went into the hills of Judea to hide.*
* * *Other faithful Judeans heard what Mattathias had done, and went out to be with him and his sons, thus, forming a small army.* Yet what did they have, but perhaps wooden spears, a few knives, pitchforks, and not many swords.* Judeans from all classes in society went to join him and his sons.* There out in the wilderness, they prepared for battle.* They would strike out against Antiochus and his trained Greek-Syrian forces.* They would fight with guerrilla-warfare tactics.* They knew the terrain, the Greeks didn't.
* * *This reminds us of the revolutionary war in the United States, when the 13 colonies were under British rule. George Washington (America's Mattathias and Judah the Maccabee) took untrained colonists and fought against the well trained British troops, they fought long and hard, but finally gained independence from Great Britain.
* * *Antiochus now knew that Mattathias and his small army were serious.* Mattathias was old and he died during this war.* He left his eldest son, Judah, to take command.* His sur-name “Maccabee” comes from the Hebrew/Aramaic word “Makabah” which means “Hammer” so his whole name in Hebrew* “Y'hudah Makavi” is telling us “My God YAH is my hammer”.* With the strength and blessings of God, Y'hudah and his army went forth to fight against Antiochus and his armies.* Antiochus sent out four generals;* Appolonius, Georgias, Seron, and Nikanor.* The strength of these armies was probably 100,000 or more.* Yet Judah fought them all, (guerrilla style strike and run, strike and hide, ambush, etc...) As these armies were vanquished, Judah and his armies captured their swords, spears, shields, etc.. and now they were well equipped.*
* * *Needless to say, Judah pushed forward and finally drove the Greek-Syrians out of Judea.* He and his army re-took Jerusalem.* The temple was in a shambles, the altar desecrated with swine blood and guts, the Temple emptied of its treasures.* Judah and his men got to work, they tore down the pagan altar and built an altar to YHVH.* He went and “brought in new vessels, the candlestick (Menorah) the table of Shewbread, and the altar of incense,* which were made of gold”* (Josephus, the complete works, pg 393) they went to work and made the temple like new again, re-lit the menorah, and made a “feast of dedication” for 8 days, just like in the days of Solomon, when he dedicated the first temple for eight days.* Judah offered sacrifices on the newly built brazen altar just like Solomon did.* This also happened on the same day , 25th of Kislev, 164 B.C. three years after it had been desecrated.
* * *Today, we still celebrate this time of year.* Many people have a special 9 branch menorah called a “Hannukiah”. This is used especially for this time.* The middle branch is called the “Shamash” (the helper) from this middle branch which holds and candle or oil with a wick, the other candles are lit each night for 8 nights.* As Messianic Jewish believers, we see the symbolism in the middle branch as “Yeshua” who is the “Light of the World” and we are the “little lights” we get our light from Messiah Yeshua.* He even said, “Ye are the light of the world.*
* * *We can see 9 aspects of the faith in each of the 9 branches of the special Hanukkah menorah; “Teshuvah” (repentence) “Tzedakah” (charity and giving) “Mitzvot” (good works) “Emunah” (faith) “Yeshua” (Salvation)
“Mishpochah” (family) “Ahavah” (love) “HaTorah” (God's Word) “Israel” (the Holy Land) are all inter-related
and we can also add “Chen” (faith) because by “faith” we are saved, not of works least any man should boast.*
* * *Many also “spin the dreidel” which is a four sided top, with the letters* N, G, H, S, (but in Hebrew) which symbolize, “Nez, Gadol, Haya, Sham,” (A great miracle happened there).* What was the miracle? That a small army of about 10,000 men fought against a superior army of 100,000 or more, yet not through the might of swords and spears, but through the might and power of YHVH, they won and achieved victory.
* * *These 4 letters when added up in gematria, = 358, the word “Mashiach” (Messiah) also adds up to the sum of 358.* Mashiach gave the victory.* He also gives us the victory in our lives against sin.* We can think of “Dedication” at this time of year to re-dedicate our lives to Messiah Yeshua, to serve him, and keep on serving him, and to be “lights” in dark places.* Our work and service in Messiah Yeshua ends on earth when we are called home, and even in heaven, we will continue to serve, and see His LIGHT forever

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: “Miketz” (at the end of)* "Joseph, a type of "Messiah"


GENESIS 41:1-44:17.........................1 KINGS 3:15-4:1....................MATT 16:1-17:27


…..When we look into this parasha study, we see Yosef, who was, in a way of speaking, in the “pit” He was cast into the prison for something he did not do, yet he continued to trust YHVH for his needs. This reminds us of Melech David's words “You will not leave my soul in sheol” This was a time of testing for Yosef. It was out of his hands.
…..He came to Egypt as a slave, got a good position in Potifar's house, went from a common slave to comfort of a house, from house to the prison, and from prison to fame and fortune. All in YHVH's perfect timing and planning. We might ask ourselves, if Yosef could have managed an escape from the house of Potifar, or even from prison, he probably would have headed straight back to his home in Canaan. No one would have been in Egypt to interpret Pharaoh's dreams, and thus, save the world from starvation.
…..Yet we see that Yosef did submit himself to the perfect will of HaShem, and he was finally taken out of prison via the “cup bearer” (Oh yes, now I realize my shortcomings, there IS a guy in prison that can interpret your dreams your majesty...) Yet Yosef gives all glory to God, “God will give the interpretation” which is a positive witness to YHVH. Pharaoh probably saw the shortcomings and weakness of the Egyptian priests who were “supposed” to get their wisdom from Egyptian gods, yet this foreign “Hebrew” gets his wisdom to interpret dreams from an “invisible” God.
…...Another thing we see is that Yosef not only gives the interpretation, but also the “solution”. For what good is an interpretation of a dream that speaks “calamity” if there is no solution to the problem? It is kind of like saying; “Hey king, your country is doomed, 7 years of famine, starvation, death...well OK.... nice meeting you Mr. King..” yet Yosef is faithful and brings a solution, through YHVH's wisdom and perhaps the experience he already had in agriculture and livestock when he was in Canaan as a teen.
…..Now, he is elevated to “assistant in command” to Pharaoh, and goes from “rags to riches” He is now in position to sort of “run the country” and we see that in time, Yosef's brothers come in search of food, of course they do not recognize him, in Egyptian clothing, some 20 years later, no beard, etc. The brothers have to be tested to see if they are really sorry for what they did to Yosef, Yosef needs to see “true repentance” . Yosef is now in the position as “judge” yet when he tested them, using Benjamin, he sees true repentance through Y'hudah, now that he sees this, he reveals his true self, “Ani Yosef!!” (I AM Yosef) He is no longer in the position of “judge” but “family”
…..When we were lost sinners, Yeshua was in the position as our “judge” As many who will continue to reject the free gift of salvation, they will be “judged” guilty by Messiah Yeshua at the Great White Throne Judgment, yet once we come to Yeshua and accept Him as our Savior and LORD, then, we come “Family” members, and
we will be treated as “family”. “Y'hudah” symbolizes “Israel” who, in the future, will recognize “HE who was pierced” and those in Israel will say, “Blessed is He who comes in the Name of YHVH” as Yosef then “Talked” with his brothers, so YHVH desires to “talk” with us, through prayer and fellowship. As Yosef invited ALL his family to Egypt, so ALL who come to recognize Yeshua as Mashiach, are invited to join the “Heavenly family”
…..Yosef is a “Messiah type” who saved the local world from physical famine, Yeshua saves the world from “spiritual famine” to all those who come to HIM and accept him as Savior and LORD!


1 KINGS 3:15-4:1


…..In this scripture portion, we see Solomon lifting up “burnt-offerings” and “peace-offerings” after also having “dreams” In his dream YHVH asked him what he wished for, “For wisdom, an understanding heart to judge this people” and YHVH thus granted him what he wished for.
…..This should be a guide for us when we wish for things. I think the best wish would be knowledge of the Torah and wisdom to put into action what we learn from God's Holy Writ. As we see. God gave Solomon that and more.
…..”Burnt-offerings” symbolize our sinful nature, and the “peace-offerings” speak of our happiness and joy because of our salvation experience. Today these offerings are “offered up” in “prayer and thanksgiving” the prayers of confession of sin are always heard, and so are the prayers of praise and thanksgiving, because we know we have been forgiven.


MATT 16: 1-17:27


…..The “leaven” of the Pharisees is non the less “unbelief” as Yeshua said, This reminds us when He was visiting the temple during this same time of Hanukkah, and the Jews came around him and said; “tell us plainly if you are the Messiah or not!” yet He rebukes them saying “I have already told you and you do not believe!” He had already given signs through his miracles of healing, raising of the dead, how much more proof did they need? What does “leaven” do in bread? It “puffs up the bread” and that is what pride does, it “puffs up” and person, and sometimes, stubborn pride brings on unbelief.
…..Kefa exhibits his faith when he said; “You are Messiah, the Living God” Faith is “believing what we can not see” yet Kefa sees Yeshua and sees the miracles, and so he believes, yet Yeshua says later on after the resurrection, “You have believed because you see, blessed are those who do not see yet BELIEVE!


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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “VaYIGASH” (and he drew near) ...making it right again when we offend a loved one

GENESIS 44:18-47:27........................EZEKIEL 37:15-28.......................MATT 18:1-19:30

…..In this Parasha, we read that “he (Y'hudah) drew near” to Yosef , and shows himself as truly repentant for his past actions against Yosef, for selling him for the price of a common slave. And we see the reaction of Yosef once he hears Y'hudah, he then reveals himself as his TRUE self, their BROTHER. Before , Yosef stood in front of his brothers as “judge” now he stands before them with “open arms” as “Family” “Savior” “Provider” Mashiach. But it took a repentant and contrite heart to bring about the “revelation”.
…..Before we come to Yeshua as a repentant sinner, He is our JUDGE, and as a Holy God, and Judge, he has the right to judge us guilty as lost sinners, yet all this changes when we come and accept him as Savior and LORD, THEN, our position changes, we become members of “Mishpocha Adonai” (Family of God) and Yeshua is our mediator to our Heavenly Father. Yeshua is no longer our “judge” but our Savior, Redeemer, Messiah, (Yeshuah, Goel, Mashiach)
…..We see something similar. Pharaoh (who some believe bore the name “Senoset”) was ruler of Egypt, and Yosef was his “right-hand man” or Viceroy” Prime Minister, if you could call him that. Yosef had to get Pharaoh's permission for his family to go down to Egypt, and of course, permission was granted. For us to get right-standing before our Holy God, we go through Yeshua, who is GOD, in the flesh, as Yosef was “Pharaoh” in a sense, when Pharaoh could not leave the palace. Yosef spoke in “Name of” Pharaoh, as Yeshua represents the Father who is in Heaven.
…..We see the words of Yosef in 45:3 “Ani Yosef!” powerful words, what do they simbolize in the ancient Hebrew letters, “Ani” (I) “Alef” (strong leader, God) “Nun” (who gives life) “Yod” (does mighty works) and the name “Yosef” : “Yod” (who does works) “Vav” (connects) “Samech” (to lean on, to support, to uphold) “Pey” (mouth, to speak) so, the name “YOSEF” in certain words can mean “He who does might works, speaks to (us) (to his brothers) and connects them to him through support.
…..He spoke words of comfort to his brothers, promising them “support” throughout the years of famine, they could “lean on him” and thus have that “connection” so we see that “Yosef” (I know, every one is used to spelling it “Joseph” (the regular English spelling) but the Hebrew does not have a “J” so “Yosef” is the correct and original spelling. “Yosef” is related to our “Messiah Yeshua” in that “Both have spoken words of comfort to us, through His WORD, and we are connected to him through his blood and being “born again” and we can “Lean on Him” who has set captives free. Yosef, who once was a captive slave, went down to Egypt, sold for 20 pieces of silver, (the price of a slave back then) and became the “Savior” of many lives through the distribution of food in that time of famine.
…..Yeshua, who went “down to Egypt” as a baby. Came “up out of Egypt” and was sold for “30 pieces of silver” (the price of a slave then in his times) and became the “Savior” of the world, and saved the world of “Spiritual death and spiritual famine”
…..We see in Chapter 47 that “Jacob” (who is ISRAEL now) goes down to Egypt, with his family of 70 (includes children, grandkids, servants, etc) “Israel” and “Yosef” meet. Yosef's legal name is “Yosef Ben Israel” or “Ben Jacob” the name ISRAEL comes from “Yasher El” (straight to GOD) Yosef is happy to see “Abba” again and goes “straight to God” as we believers should be happy to go “straight to God” through Yeshua.
…..This is the beginning of Israel's “sojourn” in the land of Egypt, interesting fact, “Yosef” in a way “Enslaved the Egyptians” by taking from them their land, cattle, money, in exchange for food. Later on, the “worm turned” and the Egyptians, under the power of a different Pharaoh (who some think was “Ahmose”) enslaved ISRAEL, until the time of Moshe.
…..Israel is still enslaved to tradition, religiosity, blind eyes that refuse to recognize Messiah Yeshua, as the promised “Mashiach” that the Torah speaks of. Yet many are coming to Mashiach, but there are still many more that need “Yeshuah” (Salvation)

EZEKIEL 37:15-28

Here , “ Yeches'kel Ha Navi” (Ezekiel the Prophet) sees the joining of Judah and the children of Israel, and Yosef , with his son Efrain” and they are joined together as ONE (Echad) “One in Unity” Once they were separated, Yosef and his sons in Egypt, and Israel, Judah, and his brothers, in Canaan, but NOW, together as ONE FAMILY. As we are also ONE (echad) in Messiah Yeshua's love. We are “Kehilah Echad” (One congregation united in Yeshua) even though there are thousands of “Kehilot” all over the world, our relationship in Yeshua makes us ONE.

MATT 18:1-19:30

Yeshua says that “unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the Kingdom of Heaven”. A child is “innocent” and has an eager mind to learn. When we are “born again” we start anew, like “little children” and slowly “grow into maturity” yes, we will stumble and fall, get into trouble, and get “spanked” by the Father, but HE will still love us as HIS CHILDREN.

Shabbat Shalom...Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “VaYechi” (and he lived)

GEN 47:28-50:26......................1 KINGS 2:1-12......................MATT 20:1-21:46

…..In this we see Jacob (Israel) in his last days, he prepares to “go the way of all men” (As king David put it), Jacob is getting ready to die. He prepares himself, and makes sure that his sons and grandsons are blessed and they know what is ahead of them. A father's blessing to his children is very important.
…..We see that he lives 17 years in Egypt, and strangely enough, Yosef comes to Egypt at age 17! When we add up the two “17s” we get “34”, then adding 3+4 = 7, we are back to the number “7” which is God's number, Both Jacob and Joseph were in God's perfect will and HE fulfilled HIS perfect purpose through those men. Jacob lives 147 years. Those numbers and significant also. Jacob has “12” sons all together, the “founding fathers” of what and who are the Israelis, Israelites, Jewish people today. When we add up the numbers 1 +4+7 in the number 147, we get 1+4+7= “12”. To write the number 147 using Hebrew letters we would use a “Qof” (Q or K) “mem” (M) and a “Zayin” (z) Qof = 100, Mem = 40, Zayin = 7, how do these numbers tell us about Jacob/Israel?
…..Jacob/Israel was set side “Qadosh” for YHVH's special purpose, to bring forth a “multitude of people “mem” and this people, the Jewish people would have to “fight” (Zayin) for survival, “zayin = weapon” ,”mem” = “multitude, water, or chaos”
…..Before he dies, Jacob blesses his 12 children and his 2 grandkids, and tells them about their futures, some are bleak, not so nice (one reaps what one sows). Each name of “b'nei Israel” (children of Israel) has a symbolic meaning, what does these names mean to us as “born again believers in Yeshua HaMashiach?” well, let's see;
…..RUEBEN (Re'eh) “to see” , SIMEON (Sh'ma) “to hear”, LEVI (lev=heart) “united, joined together” Y'HUDAH (contains the most sacred name of God, YHVH) “praise” ,DAN “judge” , NAPHTALI “wrestling” GAD “a troop comes”, ASHER “blessed” , ISSACHAR “wages”, ZEBULUN “dwelling with husband”, YOSEF “YHVH will add a son” , BENJAMIN “son of the right hand” MANASSEH “forget my toil and my father's house” (pray 4 Zion, the significance of the twelve tribes of Israel).
…..What do we see when we apply these meanings to our lives as “born again believers?” We can all SEE the changed lives, the miracles that have been done in believers' lives, and we HEAR of the faith of others who have been challenged by oppressive governments, we HEAR God's Word through SEEING the words in the Torah, and take them into our HEART, so that the words of Torah are JOINED TOGETHER to our lives, so that we may PRAISE the name of YHVH. We must all look at our lives and JUDGE ourselves in light of the scriptures, are we living the way YHVH wants us to live? We must judge ourselves, least we be judged, yet we will ALL incur JUDGEMENT at the “Judgment seat of Messiah. Everyday is a kind of “WRESTLING” match between our old nature and our renewed nature, the sinful flesh against our new “born again” selves.
…..We are Adonai's TROOPS, we are at war against HaSatan, and his unholy fallen angels, it is spiritual warfare, and our weapons are the WORD of God, His Holy Spirit and HIS holy angels, and our prayers, We have been BLESSED with a new relationship with our creator and redeemer, and we will receive WAGES for our good works, (mitzvoth) in form of rewards in heaven, as “gold, silver, precious stones”
…..Our future hope is one day, to DWELL WITH OUR HUSBAND, who is Messiah Yeshua, who loves us as his “bride”. Every time a lost person is “born again” a SON IS ADDED, to God's redeemed family of believers. We are sons of Adonai's RIGHT HAND, who is Messiah Yeshua, who stretched out his HANDS to received the nails. We can forget our TOILS, rest from them on the Sabbath, Every Sabbath day is our time to rest from our TOILS, and to be in OUR FATHER'S HOUSE. Some day, we will have our permanent “Sabbath rest”.
…..We must not forget that one of the blessings of Judah is the coming forth of SHILOH, who is Yeshua, who will have the ruler's scepter, who will be “king over all the earth” to him will gather ALL nations.

1 KINGS 2:1-12

…..King David is on his death bed and calls his son Solomon, and tells him “what it is to be a MAN!” so here's the truth to all “macho guys out there who just THINK they know what it is to be a real man. Melech David tells the truth through the Holy Spirit who guides his words;
…..”Keep charge of YHVH thy God, Walk in HIS ways, Keep HIS commandments as they are written in the Torah, SO THAT, you may prosper in ALL you do. So there you have it, what it is to be a man, (or a woman) of God, Trust in Yeshua as LORD and Savior, Depend of HIS righteousness through his blood and sacrifice on the cross of Calvary, which will lead us to a right relation with HIM and with his written word, to put into practice as our way of life. But always remember that salvation is through FAITH, and by FAITH only, and never depending on works! (mitzvoth) the “works” are an “aftermath” of our faith experience.

MATT 22:1-23:39

Yeshua tells the story of a man who pays the same wage to various workers who went to work for him at different times during the day. The guy who worked 10 hours, gets, let's say, $100.00 and the guy who just worked 2 hours, also gets $100.00. The guy who worked 10 hours gets upset, “Hey, that's not fair!” but why should he worry, if the man wants to be generous, that's on him, right? Which proves that YHVH shows mercy on whom he pleases, no matter where he or she is, and blesses in abundance with some, and not so much abundance with others, The thing to remember is that HE supplies our NEEDS, one way or another, whether or not we work a lot to get blessed, the blessings will ALWAYS come from ABOVE.

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Shemot” (Names)


EXODUS 1:1-6:1.......................ISAIAH 27:6-28:13...................MATT 22:1-23:39


…..We enter into a new era, Jacob/Israel and Joseph are now in the past, yet their legacy continues, in “Am Yisrael” (The People of Israel).

…..”70 souls” entered Mitzraim (Egypt) and then, hundreds of years later, we have a few million. There is a list in the beginning of Exodus of the “b'nei Israel” (the sons of Israel) and they had their children, and their children had children, etc.. They remained in the area of “Goshen” along the Nile Delta, farming, raising cattle, probably a few became merchants, they adapted to the life in Egypt, got used to seeing Egyptian dieties, probably understood spoken Egyptian. Who knows if many became “Egyptianized” did they bow down to the dieties? Let's hope not.

…..How much did they retain about Adonai? El Shaddai? We don't know, but I am sure that the story of Joseph and how he brought his family to Egypt from Canaan was passed down from family to family. The story of the famine, and how Yosef preserved life in midst of the famine. So “b'nei Israel” multiplied, and the land was filled with the “b'nei Israel”, and now the Egyptians start to get nervous. In verse 8, problems start;

…..”And there arose a new king over Egypt who knew not Joseph” there are a few ideas of who it might have been. Some believer it might have been “Pharoah Ahmose” the title “Pharoah” is not the name, it is only a title which means “ruler”. It might have been “Ahmose” or even “Rameses II”. A little on Egyptian words and etemology, the Egyptian word “meses” or “mose” means “born of” so the name “Moshe” or “Moses” is similar to “meses” (born of) or (Taken from). There were many “Rameses” it means “Born of the god RA” “Ahmose” probably (born of “Ah”) “Thutmose” (born of the god Thut) and so on.. So many pharoahs took on those names.

…..The pharoah of verse 8 is paranoid and thinks that the Israelites will join, perhaps with the Hittites, to over throw Egypt. It is said that “Senuset” the pharaoh that gave rise to power to Joseph was a foreign king, a “semite” known as a“Hyksos king”, perhaps that was why he felt some kinship with Joseph. Now the slavery starts and the Hebrews (Egyptian word is “Hapiru”) are made slaves, and the good times are over.

…..Yet Elohim hears the crys of his people, and has selected the tribe of Levi, through a couple; Amran and Yochebed, to bring into the world, “Moshe” who would be a sort of “Mashiach” (like Yosef) to lead Israel OUT of Egypt, in God's appointed time. YHVH has a time for ALL THINGS, we can not rush God's clock, it ticks slowly for us, yet it ticks out second by second and includes us all in the plan of things.

…..the throne of Egyptian probably changes, and the pharaohs continue to be paranoid, One develops a plan to “curb” the birth rate by killing the baby boys, according to the historian 'Ted Stewart' in his book “solving the Exodus Mystery” the pharoah who ordered the death of the male infants was “Sesostris III” we see that Moshe is adopted by the daughter of this pharaoh. At the time when Moshe grows up and is in the palace, being raised as a “prince of Egypt” and at the time, “retaining (inside) his Hebrew identity”. We remember that his kills an Egyptian in defending one of his own, the Pharaoh that sought his death was “Amenemhet III” . When Moshe fled and spent 40 years in Madian, upon returning, he faced the Pharaoh “Amenemhet IV” who was the Pharaoh of the Exodus, who pursued the Israelites through the Red Sea, (and didn't quite make it, receiving a very fatal water baptism). (T. Stewart, Solving the Exodus Mystery, www.biblediscoveries.com)

…..This Parasha has so much that I wish to concentrate on the “Calling of Moshe” in chapter three of Shemot

God calls to Moshe while he is taking care of Yitro's sheep near Mt. Sinai. A note to mention is that God prepares his servants before hand, before sending them out on the mission fields, “Midian and the flocks of sheep” were the training grounds and subjects of his training, before leading out “Human sheep” to the land of Midian that “he now knew and was familiar with”

…..God calls him saying; “Anochi Elohei Aviyha” ( I am the God of your father) so the name “Elohei” is used, then he uses a more personal name in verse 14; “Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh” if you can really call it a name, it is translated as I AM that or who I AM, which is really not a name at all. So, what is God trying to convey to Moshe? In a way, he is saying, “Is a proper name so important Moe? Just understand that I EXIST! I have existed in the past, the present, and will exist in the future” from the word “Ehye” is a form of “Haya” or “Havayah” meaning “to exist” or “the essence of being” from this we get the most sacred name of God: YHVH

HaVaYaH (re-arrange the letters a we get YHVH) modern translators put in vowels to get YeHoVaH and have changed the Y to J to become JEHOVAH, but that is not the original name, there exists no “J” in Hebrew.

…..The other name used in chapter 3 is “Elohim” “Elohim” said to Moshe....Ehyeh asher Ehyeh...” “Elohim” is the “all power God of Creation, the Tri-une God (im) who we know, as Messianic believers, as being EL (father) BEN-YESHUA, (Yeshua the Son) RUACH-HaKODESH (The Holy Spirit) .

…..Elohim has revealed himself to us in human form through YESHUA, and as Moshe lead his people out of the slavery of physical bondage, YESHUA lead us out of the bondage of spiritual slavery of sin, leading us to a new life, in a personal relationship with HIM, as the Israelites entered into a renewed relationship with Elohei starting at Sinai, our relationship starts at Calvary. We are now joined to “His chosen people” through adoption, both native born in Israel, and those who are from the diaspora, we are all ONE (ECHAD) in Messiah Yeshua Ben David, Ben Adam, Ben YHVH.

ISAIAH 27:6-28:13

…..”In the days to come, shall Jacob take root, Israel shall blossom and bud....” We see a fulfilling of this prophecy in that once taken from Egypt, and united and solidified as a “People” a “Nation”, this people/nation has grown and has spread out throughout the world

…..Though many nations have tried to “snuff out” Am Yisrael, they, in turn (those nations) have suffered punishment and defeat in trying to do just that. Can a mouse “snuff-out” an elephant? Israel, upon being scattered throughout the nations, brought the belief in “ONE GOD” when the nations believed in “Multi-gods”

…..Through the Tribe of Y'Hudah, came forth YHVH in the flesh, “Yeshua” who is “Yeshuah” (Salvation) to all those who believe on him who died to set men free from sin.

MATT 22:1-23:39

…..Yeshua tells a parable about the “Kingdom of Heaven” being likened to a “marriage/wedding feast, and the king invites many to come, but they refuse, and even kill the servants, then he sends an army to destroy those who rejected him and killed his servants, and sent others to invite others to come, and many came, and the feast was given. Both good and bad came,

…..When we look at this in plain light, Yeshua is now preparing a “wedding feast” to those who have accepted his “invitation”. Many accept, even those who walk in evil ways, want to change their lives, so they come to the wedding feast, yet also, many reject. The offer still stands, Yeshua died on the cross to offer mankind “salvation” (Yeshuah) through his blood and full atonement of sins. Yet many still make fun of that and refuse the free gift of salvation, to prefer the ways of the world.

…..Those who refuse, and die in their sins, will suffer eternal punishment in the Lake of fire, While the offer was made, they refused, while others accepted. What will you do with the free gift of Salvation? Accept or reject?



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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “VaEra” (and I appeared)

EXODUS 6:2-9:35......................EZEKIEL 28:25-29:21...................MATT 24:1-51

…..YHVH speaks to Moshe saying that when he appeared to Abraham, he revealed himself as “El Shadai” which means “God Almighty” or “God all-powerful, yet he did not reveal himself as he did to Moshe, with Moshe he revealed himself with the more personal name; YHVH (Yod Hey Vav Hey) These letters stem from the word; “HaVaYaH” which means “To exist” (we just re-arrange the letters) one could say that the name YHVH means “the God who exists from time past, present, and future) “Haya=the past” “Hoveh=the present “Yiyah”=future” As one can see, these words are a mixture of the letters YHVH.
…..YHVH plans to take his people out of Egypt and return them to Canaan, the promised land, and at the same time, “judge the Egyptians” using a series of judgments leading up to the slaughter of the “Passover lambs” a very important “Moed” which we know so well. This year, Passover starts April 10th. We can look forward to this time as we do every year.
…..The judgments are directed against the false deities of Egypt and against Pharaoh himself. Egypt is pretty well destroyed and left in ruin afterward, and never did regain the power and military might it once boasted of.
…..From verses 6 to 9, YHVH makes 8 “I will” promises to his people and I want to look at the these promises in light of how they affect us as believers in Messiah Yeshua today;

1. I WILL bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
2. I WILL rescue you from their bondage.
3. I WILL will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
4. I WILL take you as my people.
5. I WILL be your God.
6. I WILL make myself known to you as your GOD who brings you out from under the burdens of Egypt.
7. I WILL bring you to the land I promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
8. I WILL give it to you as an inheritance.

…..Before being “born again”, accepting Yeshua/Jesus as our LORD and Savior, Messiah, we are under the burden and bondage of “HaSatan” the deceiver, father of Lies, and we do “his bidding” whether we know it or not, maybe a lot of us were not involved in crime, drugs, murder, etc, but we were hell bound and just did not give God a second thought, If Yeshua/YHVH is not our Father, LORD, redeemer, than, we are of our father, “the devil”, there is no other choice, we are either on one side of the fence or on the other side, there is no “in between” fences. We are under the bondage of sin, and under its burden until we are redeemed.
…..Yet Yeshua DID rescue us from the bondage and burden of sin with “HIS OUTSTRETCHED ARMS” He stretched out his arms and hands to receive the nails of Calvary. He allowed the Roman soldiers to nail him to that rugged cross that Passover day, so as to pay the price of sin for us all. That day, he “judged” sin and death with his blood.
…..From the moment we accept HIM as LORD and Savior, we are taken by him as HIS PEOPLE, we join the great Commonwealth of Israel, being grafted in to the Olive Tree. We are now HIS PEOPLE and part of HIS FAMILY of redeemed. He is OUR GOD, and he made himself known to us through his WORD. His WORD, has been taught to us through his faithful ministers, preachers, rabbis, teachers, etc.
…..We are now living in different lands, in the USA and in other countries, yet someday, we will go to live in HIS glorious city “The New Jerusalem” which is now in the heavenlies, yet will one day come to rest on earth. This is our inheritance as believers in Messiah Yeshua, Eternal life in his glorious kingdom. We can rest assured that we all have a glorious future to look forward to.

EZEKIEL 28:25-29:21

.....The prophet speaks through the Holy Spirit and affirms that even though Israel has been scattered throughout the countries of the world, they will be returned to their land in the future, it is already happening, Israel was recognized as a nation in 1948, and since then, the people have been returning.
…..One positive thing to dwell upon, the Jewish people made known to the nations of the ONE GOD, Adonai-Elohim-YHVH” and through the migration of the Jewish peoples to different parts of the world, we now have the Ashkenazim, Sefardim, Falashim, people groups which make up most to the Jewish peoples today. These people groups have introduced many varieties of foods, customs, and ways of worship in today's Judaism, many are also Messianic believers.
…..Bad news for Egypt, just as the Israelites were scattered among the nations, the Egyptians will also be scattered among the nations for 40 years, Egypt will be desolate and people-less, for this period of time, this will probably happen during the millennium. The Egyptian people will come back after that time, but Egypt will never be a prosperous country. Since the fall of Egypt after the time of Passover, Egypt was conquered by the Babylonians, the Greeks, and Romans. Even today, there are Egyptians living in many countries in the world, but Egypt has never been left completely without people and animals, at least not yet.
…..Yet a good note to ponder on, Egypt opened its doors to receive young Yeshua with Mary, and Joseph when they were fleeing from Herod. There are quite a few believers in Egypt today, making up the “Coptic Church”
My wife and I visited Egypt in 1999 and it is indeed an interesting (yet poor) country. The food is fantastic!

MATT 24:1-51

…..Yeshua tells his talmidim about the “end times” and we all know and have read this chapter, of “wars and rumors of wars, famines, pestilences, earthquakes, etc. As we look around today, we can be certain that we are living in these “end times” for sure, yet the end is not yet...we still have a ways to go. We have heard of many “false-Messiahs” leaders claiming to be “Jesus” yet we know better than believing on them. When Yeshua returns, the “Whole World” will see him returning, what will modern satellite cameras, etc.
…..The gospel will be preached to the whole world, which is happening now, we need to be ready for his return, those of us that are alive, we will be gathered together as well as those who have gone on before us and who are now in heaven, we will be ONE FAMILY and share life together in the Millennial Kingdom of Yeshua
and for all eternity.

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “BO” (enter)

EXODUS 10:1-13:16....................JEREMIAH 46:13-28.................MATT 25:1-46

…..The plagues against the Egyptian gods continue, it is our “Creator God YHVH” against Pharaoh and his false deities. Guess who is winning, yes, you know it. This is an important parasha because in chapter 12 we have the Passover instituted.
…..”This month shall be your beginning of months for you, it shall be the first month of the year for you”
This can't be any more clearer in my observation, it isn't January 1st, it is the first of Nissan, and since the lunar calendar changes from year to year, our “New Year's Day” (the real one) comes on March 27th (New Year's Eve).
…..”On the tenth of this month, everyone shall take a lamb....a lamb for each household”......
This lamb was to be a young, healthy lamb, and it would be kept for 5 days, on the 14th day, it would be slaughtered, and as we know, the blood would be placed on the two side posts of the door of the house entrance and along the top frame. As the story goes on, the death angel would come and see the blood and thus “pass-over” that house that had the blood on the doorposts.
…..If you imagine that, the blood on the door posts...forms sort of a “cross” you can imagine Yeshua with his arms and hands extended, each one touch one of the “door posts” and his head against the “top part” where the blood from his head would be (where the Roman soldiers pushed in the crown of thorns) and where the nails were hammered (in the wrists) between the two small bones that form the arm (remember that not one bone was broken), so it had to between the bones, through the muscle.
…..The lamb or goat was to be eaten roasted, with bitter herbs and unleavened bread. The other elements were added later, and were present when Yeshua celebrated the Pesach Supper with his talmidim. The roasted lamb or goat symbolizes “Yeshua being “roasted” in the “fires of judgment for our sins. He took upon himself ALL of our sins, past, present, and future. They were all “nailed” to the cross and judged by the Father. The “bitter herbs” symbolize the bitterness of slavery, the slavery to sin, and having a master “HaSatan” as our taskmaster. The unleavened bread symbolizes “Yeshua The Bread of Life” bread without leaven can be considered “perfect, sinless bread, therefore calling Yeshua who is without sin, “The Bread of Life”, and when we eat the “bread without leaven” (Matzah) we are symbolizing “taking into us Yeshua” and when we eat only unleavened bread for 7 days afterwards, we are being conscience of “sin in our lives” (avoiding it) being reminded by the matzah.
…..At the first Passover, wine wasn't mentioned nor does it mention “Charoseth” (sweet mixture of nuts, apples, honey, cinnamon, etc). They may have had wine, or water, or another drink, but no one knows for sure, nor do we know what kind of “bitter herbs” were used, today we use horseradish. Back then, it had to be something common in Egypt.
…..The death angel visited the houses where no blood was found, so probably all the houses of the Egyptians lacked the blood, but perhaps there were a few houses that had members that paid attention to Moshe, and they might have gone to the Israelites and put blood on their doors.
…..We are talking about a “substitution sacrifice” the “lambs and goats” were substituted for the Israelites' first-born. And any Egyptian household that also placed the blood on their doors (those who believed). We can see in scripture where a “substitute” was used. When Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, God provided a “ram” as a substitute for Isaac, On Yom Kippur, two goats are used as “substitutes” for all of the people of Israel, and finally, “Yeshua Ha Mashiach” (Jesus the Messiah/Christ) was “OUR” substitute on the cross, HE exchanged his “Righteousness for our sinfulness” instead of us being punished for our sins, Yeshua accepted the punishment in our place. All that remains for us is to accept his “one time only” sacrifice and receive and accept HIM as our LORD and SAVIOR, and thus being “born again” according to John 3:3. Have you done this? If you were to die today, are you sure that Yeshua is your LORD and Savior? Will HE let you into his Kingdom? Only you can answer that question.

ANCIENT EGYPTIAN WORDS/VOCABULARY (just for the fun of knowing them)

“Aw Ibek” = May your heart rejoice, “Em Hotep” = shalom, peace, “Kemet” = Egypt
“Qed” = architect (masculine) “Qedet” = architect (feminine) “baket” = female servant
“Em heset net Ra” = be in favor with (the god) Ra, “Em heset net Yah” = be in favor with Yah (YHVH)
“Retehtey” = baker “Retehtet” = baker (female) , “Neter” = god “Sen” = brother, “Sat” = sister
“Dua netjer en ek” = thank you.

Moshe spoke all of these fluently. Try some of them on your neighbor, “Em Hotep” (good bumper sticker?) ya never know what will fly these days. (kinda like the pet rock?)

JER 46:13-28

…..600 years later, after the fall of Egypt at Passover, disaster strikes against, this time, YHVH uses Nebuchadnezzar , king of Babylon as instrument of destruction against Egypt, seems like Egypt was not humbled after the Passover experience. You would think that the pharaohs that rose to power after the time of Passover would have realized the author of Egypt's destruction, but seems like they did not, a hard heart is hard to break at times.
…..There are people today that have hardened hearts, that still resist the will of YHVH, to become sons of God, servants of Yeshua, talmidim, at times, God will humble us through accidents, illnesses, etc.. don't wait for that to happen, HUMBLE THY SELF IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD! He loves you and wants you as his own!

MAT 25:1-46

…..”The Ten Talents” A “talent” was a “weight” of money thousands of years ago. It was a lot, one could have a “talent” of gold, or silver, or copper, brass, bronze, etc.. And like money today, it could be invested, or wisely spent,
…..We also use the word “talent” as something that we have, like an “ability” to do good. As believers, we all have “talents” or “abilities” given to us through the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit), with which to serve our LORD and Savior on earth. But, like the evil servant in the parable, who did nothing with his talent, only buried it, there are believers today who are doing the same. Many have more than one talent, or “spiritual gift” and they are not using it (or them). They are going to waste, or are squandering them in “things of the world.
…..Can you sing? Yes, are you singing for God? Can you write? Are you writing for God? Can you teach? Are you teaching God's word to others? Can you play an instrument? Are you playing for the LORD? Think about the talents you have. How are you using them?

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “B'shalach” (when he let go)


EXODUS 13:17-17:16......................JUDGES 4:4-5:31......................MATT 26:1-75


…..We are coming down to the “show down” where Pharaoh gets his just desserts, and gets what he deserves for defying the God of Israel, going back on his word to “let Israel go”, you can not persue Israel without getting hurt, and Pharaoh and his army got to drink bitter waters, went off the “deep end” received a very fatal “water baptism”.
…..We might wonder how many Israelites left Egypt, probably about 2 million, plus those Egyptians that “saw the light” plus the sheep and cattle, it was a huge people group that headed eastward across the Sinai peninsula
and then headed south after reaching “Migdol” (an Egyptian army base, where weapons were stored).
…..We are told...”and it was told the King of Egypt that the people were fled”...14:5. What? Didn't he already know that? Of course he did, he let them go! It was probably a team of scouts that were sent out to track down the Israelites to see where they were going, and they gave their report back to Pharaoh. Now this took place a few days later, now Pharaoh is sorry he let them go. What? Didn't he remember the plagues? Some people never learn, they love misery. Now Pharaoh musters together his entire army! Another mistake, never send out your entire armed forces, always leave behind reserve units. But Pharaoh was not a wise general. This probably took another few days, thus giving Israel about a week's head start, it would take quite a few days for about 2 million people to cross the Sinai peninsula.
…..The name “Elohim” and “YHVH” are both used in this Parasha, “Elohim” is used in the beginning of this parasha, in Chap 13:17 meaning the “Strong, powerful God” yet the name YHVH later on, shows the personal name, (coming from “Havayah” meaning “to exist”) shows the personal relationship as “Adonai” which we also say when reading YHVH, anytime the word LORD is used in scripture, it is the name YHVH.
…..YHVH takes them across the Sinai peninsula to thus entice the Egyptians, to utterly finish destroying them thus ends the powerful rule of Egypt, Egypt never recovered from that defeat, it formed another army years later, but it never had the power it once had with Rameses, Thutmose, Narner, and other pharaohs of the past dynasties.
…..When the Israelites get to the beach, they get ready to cross, in Hebrew it is known as “Yam Suf” in English, it is known as “Nuweba Beach” it is a tourist resort today in Egypt's Sinai peninsula. We see that YHVH goes behind the Israelites to protect them, in the form of darkness to the Egyptians, yet light to the Israelites. To us as believers, Yeshua is our light, for us to follow, but to Satan, Yeshua is the conquering king, without the light of Yeshua, without the light of the Torah, we live in darkness, spiritual darkness.
…..Now YHVH tells Moshe to “lift up your rod and your hand” and cause the sea to part, and it did, divide in two, we read that Israel crossed on “dry land” what with a strong wind to dry up the sea bottom, today this area is known as the “Gulf of Aqaba” they crossed a small stretch of sea bottom, about 10 miles across, to get to the land of Midian, now known as Saudi Arabia, if you go to Google earth, and look up “Nuweba Beach” you can see the area that the Israelites crossed over at.
…..Then, YHVH gives the order to Moshe to raise his hand over the water again, and the waters closed up again and drowned the Egyptian army, the army was half-way across, We see something in the words, “hand” (Yad) and “rod” (Matah) that make us think. The “rod” is a symbol of authority, of rulership. The “hand” is a symbol of “power and strength” the Torah speaks of YHVH reveling his “Holy Arm” the “arm is connected to the hand” the ancient Hebrew symbol of the “Yod” is the extended “arm and hand” so we can see the message here, “Moshe” is the authority as he shows his leadership by raising his rod, and his hand opens and closes the sea, thus demonstrating his strength and power, but of course, it is not HIS, it is GOD's leadership and strength, being revealed THROUGH Moshe.
…..When the people follow Moshe, it is as if they are following GOD, trusting in his leadership and strength. When we receive Yeshua as Messiah, we trust in HIM as our leader and our strength, and we follow HIM through his WORD, yet many hope that Yeshua will follow THEM! (not going to happen) .
…..Today, you can see on YouTube what is left of the Egyptian chariots at the bottom of the Gulf of Aqaba, they are coral formations that look like mushrooms, probably the axle and wheels of the chariots, look up, “The real Exodus Crossing”
…..When we look at all this from a moral and spiritual insight (derash) We have been rescued from HaSatan, by our Leader, who is strong, whose “hand” struck the death blow to Satan, whose “hands” bore the nails of Calvary's cross, and who leads us to a new life, we have been “kadoshed” (set apart) to follow HIM for all of our days, (Should we choose to) of course it is a choice, but the “good Shepherd always “looks back” for his lost or misguided sheep, to lead them back to the fold.
…..We see other events that show God's protection and provision for his people, in verses 22-27 we see the “bitter waters made sweet” Moshe threw into the water “a tree” probably cut it down and threw it in, the waters were made sweet, the Torah is also called , “The TREE of LIFE” (Etz Chaim) that changes our bitterness to sweetness, from sorrow to happiness, from lost to saved.
…..In chapter 16, the provision of “Manaa” in the desert “Bread from Heaven” (Lechem b'Shemayim) anther provision from YHVH, It symbolizes “Yeshua the Bread of Life” and in chap 17, “Water from the Rock” this rock is there today in the Saudi Arabian desert very close to Mt. Sinai, it seems to be about 50 feet tall and has a crack down the middle. Go to “google images” and click on “The water rock at Horeb” Moshe was told to “strike the rock” and he did with his staff/rod” and out flowed water so that the congregation and the livestock could drink. This symbolizes “Yeshua the Solid Rock” (Yeshua HaTzur) and Yeshua who is the Living water. (Yeshua Mayim Chayim). It also symbolizes that Yeshua was “struck ONLY ONCE for our sins at Calvary, ONLY ONCE meaning “nailed to the cross and died one time” and when Moshe got mad later on and struck the rock again, he was punished by God and couldn't enter the promised land, since he “misrepresented” who God is,


JUDGES 4:4-5:31


…..In this reading, we read about Devorah and Jael, two women of God who played an important role in Israel's history. We read about many “men of God” but very few “women of God” but they are out there, and today, we have many women who are used mightily by God in ministry. Through Deborah and Jael, Sisera and his army was vanquished, just as Moshe was an example as leader, Deborah was also a leader, and Jael, whose name in Hebrew “Yah-El” means “El (God) is YHVH (Yah) “his Holy Arm revealed”
…..If you are a woman and reading this Parasha, never say “because I am a woman, God can not use me” Yes he can, there are ministries for women, mostly , women ministering to other women, reaching out to those who have been abused in marriages, victims of rape, assault, homeless women, etc. YOU my sister, have a place in ministry. Venture out and discover what it is, just be available.


MATTHEW 26:1-75


…..This chapter deals with Yeshua's final days with his talmidim on earth, His anointing by the generous woman who poured the “nard” perfume on him, the betrayal by “Y'hudah Ish kariot” (Judas, the man from the region of kariot) in every group of disciples, there are always a few who are “fakers” We have the final “Pesach” dinner with his disciples, and Kefa's denial,
…..But there is a lot we can learn from this, Peter denied knowing Yeshua, out of fear, but Judas openly rejected him by identifying him by a kiss on the cheek. Both sins forgivable, the only difference is that Peter confessed and received forgiveness, while Judas felt remorse, but did not cry out for forgiveness, but went out and committed suicide. There is sin that leads to remorse and a “feeling sorry for one self” and sin that leads to remorse, and from remorse to confession, and from confession to forgiveness, and from forgiveness to restored fellowship. How many readers out there have chosen the later? We are all sinners, and have fell short of the glory of God, but confession of sins, and receiving forgiveness is something only you can do, I can not do it for you. Yeshua receives ALL who come to him, no matter how bad or evil you have been, nor what you have done, no sin is beyond forgiveness. Just ask, and turn from your sin, and forgiveness and restoration is yours.


Rabbi Ben Avraham...........shabbat Shalom (reaching the big 6-3) on 2/9/17

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Yitro” (Jethro)

EXODUS 18:1-20:26..................ISAIAH 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6...............MATT 27:1-28:20

…..We see in this parasha, a lot of wisdom on the part of Moshe and Yitro, his father-in-law. First, we learn that Moshe had send his wife and children back to stay with father and grandfather. I believe for safe-keeping, When one sees danger, it is wise to care for one's family, as Moshe did, His wife and children might have been in danger, the Egyptians might have retaliated, might have kidnapped his wife and children, or killed them, so Moshe took precaution, which is a good thing.
…...The second piece of wisdom comes from Yitro, He is a man of experience, so he says; “Moshe, what are you doing to this people?” hey, you are only one man, and a few million of them? Come on dude, get wise-er, this isn't a one-man deal here, no such things as “lone-rangers” in ministry, even the “Lone-Ranger” was not alone, he had “Tonto” Ministry is to be shared with other believers, that is why the Ruach Ha Kodesh has given the Spiritual gifts, to be shared, to minister to others, by many, not just one. The rabbi can not do it alone, neither can the pastor. The rabbi needs his co-workers, and so does the pastor, if not, they are going to run themselves ragged. This is called “pastor/rabbi Burn-out”
…..This is the parasha of the “Ten Mitzvoth” the “Ten Commandments” but before the giving of these, YHVH presents the deal to the people, kind of like when the bride-groom presents himself to the bride, these are beautiful words;
…..”Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings, and brought you unto myself, therefore IF you harken unto my voice and keep my covenant, THEN ye shall be my own treasure from among all peoples; for all the earth is mine, and you shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation”
(19:4-6)
…..It is all conditional, like all contracts, covenants, we see the “IF” and “THEN” He says that He bore Israel on eagles' wings. An eagle will carry her young on her wings to protect them from harm. So did YHVH, He brought Israel through the Sea on dry land, and brought them nigh unto Har Sinai, now, they have to decide, will they accept YHVH as their one and only God? And obey HIS words? It is like asking the bride to accept the groom as her only husband, provider, and loving ruler, (not tyrant) BUT..even though Israel broke the covenant many times, YHVH has remained faithful and we are HIS HOLY PEOPLE, his ELECT, whether we were born and raised in Israel or from the nations, doesn't matter, we are HIS because we have accepted HIS sacrifice in YESHUA our “goel” Redeemer, and we choose the follow his Torah, his LIVING Torah. The HE lays out the first 10 of the 613 commandments, which generalize, one can say “all” of the Torah:
…..”ANOCHI YHVH ELOHEIHA” ( I AM ADONAI YOUR GOD) with the I AM emphasized, one can say “Ani” (I) or Anochi (I really AM) He is saying, I am who I have claimed to be, the God who took you out of Egypt and brought you here, I am ready to be your God, so if that is the case, there can only be ONE God in your life, that is ME, I don't want statues of me, that what the Egyptians did, so, don't do as they did, (It took one day to take Israel out of Egypt, but 40 years to take Egypt out of Israel, if you get the meaning). Don't bow down and worship other gods, that will NOT be accepted.
…..Yet we see today, even though we don't make or bow down to silver, gold, wooden statues that symbolize who God is, or TRY to symbolize who he is, sorry guys, they didn't have cameras back then to take pictures, many bow down and consider more important things like; football, soccer, money, sex, TV, fast cars, work, you name it, if these come before our worship and service to our God YHVH, then those things ARE OUR gods!!
put them in their proper places, least YHVH take them from us by force!!
…..THOU SHALT NOT TAKE THE NAME OF YHVH IN VAIN.... What is being said here? When many take oathes, promises, many times the name of GOD is used; like “I swear to God I'll pay you back next week”
Well, if next week roles around and you pay back what you owe, you will have HONORED the NAME of GOD, yet if you don't, you will have taken the NAME of God in vain! It is better not to make promises and use God's name, we can always say “I'll do my best to pay you back as soon as I am able” and leave it at that. One can take the name of the LORD thy GOD in vain without words, our mere actions and comportment speak of God and who He is, if we behave unlike born-again believers, if we behave like a lost person, using foul language in front of others, getting upset and throwing temper fits, we are TAKING HIS NAME IN VAIN. And using those ugly 4 letter words, And other sorts of ugly language...well.. that is not swearing , that is being just plain vulgar.
…..REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY....The sabbath is and always will be Saturday, it was never changed to Sunday, nothing wrong with going to church on Sunday, to me, it is a “double blessing” to worship Adonai two days straight. Yes, the early believers met on the first day of the week (Sunday) to break bread and have fellowship, this was “Havdalah” this was the close of the Sabbath and the welcome of the new week. This was a “custom” that they did, and we still do, it was not a CHANGE of sabbaths. Yeshua resurrected on the first day of the week, Baruch HaShem!! great! And we also can worship on Sundays at local churches, but it was NEVER a change of sabbaths. We should dedicate the sabbath day to be in the Synagogue or at church, to worship, learn from his word through God's chosen ministers, Sunday school teachers, Torah teachers. Go home and rest, or take the family out to lunch, give the wife a break from the kitchen, or eat lunch at the synagogue (Oneg) leave the material things and worldly things to the next day. Rest means rest! I have read in rabbinical commentaries that when “The World keeps the Sabbath perfectly...THEN..Messiah will return!” well, He still has never returned, does that mean that the world has not kept Shabbos perfectly? Guess so. Shabbat is HaSatan's perfect and favorite time to stir up trouble and tempers, so that we will NOT have a restful shabbat. Be aware of that.
…..HONOR THY FATHER AND THY MOTHER...This really needs no explanation, it is common sense to honor our parents and respect them because of WHO they are, and what they have done for us. My mom and dad used to say to me; “We went without many times to give you the things that you have today” Our parents give us love, raise us, hopefully, to love God, ( I can't speak for all of you readers, since everyone is different) But, if our parents gave us love and taught us about God and Yeshua/Jesus, then, we ought to do the same for our kids. Honoring father and mother does not mean sticking them in a rest home when they are old and going off and forgetting about them, doesn't work like that. Were your parents rotten to you? Did they mistreat you? Well, love them any way! It is what Yeshua taught.
…..THOU SHALT NOT MURDER, THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT ADULTERY, THOU SHALT NOT STEAL.....ever wonder why those three commandments are together? If one commits adultery, sleeps with another man's wife or husband, one is “murdering” a marital relationship, and “stealing” what does not belong to you, being another person's spouse. Yeshua explains it even better, He said if you only “think” of sleeping, having sex with another person's wife or husband, that person has already committed adultery in his or her mind, it gets pretty intense if you look at it that way. “Murder” does NOT include going to war and fighting for your nation, you are DEFENDING your family and homeland. “Stealing?” that can be a two or three page explanation, If you come back late from lunch, you are “stealing” time from your employer, if you do not do your very best, then you are “stealing” from your employer, your own ability and usefulness. Can a man rob God? Malachi says, “Yes” God speaking through his prophet, “You have ROBBED me of your tithes and offerings” One can rob from God when we do not utilize our spiritual gifts, or waste them on worldly things.
…..DO NOT BEAR FALSE WITNESS....this is another lengthy subject, but with simple words, always tell the truth, and do not hide the truth from others. To know that some thieves are planning to rob your neighbor, and you remain silent and do not alert your neighbor, it is if you opened your neighbor's door for the thieves, you are be false. To tell a half-truth, is to be false. Yes, the truth at times can be costly, and painful, but being false can be worse.
…..DO NOT COVET.... Be satisfied with what you have, the job you have, the bank account you have, with the car you have, with the wife or husband you have...Coveting can lead to worse crimes, Look at Achen, who coveted the Babylonian tunic and gold from Jericho, it cost him his life, and his family's lives too. If you want more than you have already, take it to the LORD in prayer, if the LORD sees that there is nothing wrong with giving you a little more, HE will give it to you in HIS perfect time. You never know, people with “more things” usually have “more headaches” or “more” to worry about. I remember what the TV preacher Rex Humbard said once, “God may give you what you want, but you're not going to want what you get!” So, give thanks for what you already have, when we go to heaven, we will leave it ALL BEHIND.

ISAIAH 6:1-7:6

…..”KADOSH, KADOSH, KADOSH, ADONAI TZEVA'OT”.... Holy, Holy, Holy, is YHVH of hosts” When the Torah mentions the “Holiness” of God, the word is KADOSH, the “O” is there, (the letter “vav” in Hebrew) but when “holiness” is mentioned referring to mankind, the “O” is missing, and we have KAD_SH, this “missing “vav” symbolizes our “incompleteness of our holiness, because of our inborn “sin nature”
…..Yeshayahu (Isaiah) is being asked by God, “Whom shall I send, who will go for US?” (Elohim) The Prophet answers, “Here am I, send me!” and God responds, “Go, and tell the people!” That should be our attitude as well, we have those orders too from God, to “tell the people” about Yeshua, to teach those who will listen, his WORD, even though many will not understand at the beginning, or will refuse, we have to try, WE (all believers) are responsible for taking the “Good News” to others who will listen, and with the modern technology, the internet, this has become possible, what used to be almost impossible, now is possible, with fingers going across the keyboard and with the click of the mouse, the word is sent out.
…..Isaiah must be saying right now, “Oh how I wish I had a laptop back then!”

MATTHEW 27:1-28:20

…..This relates the age old story of Yeshua's trial, execution, and resurrection, this story we know well, He did it to pay the price of our sins, past, present, and future, His one time only sacrifice was good for ever, and still IS good for ever. But many people still reject this sacrifice, reject this free gift of salvation, for a short lived world of pleasure, for an eternity of suffering and pain.
…..Pilate wrote these words on the cross, YESHUA OF NAZARETH, KING OF THE JEWS, in Hebrew it would have been 'YESHUA HA NOTZRI, V'HA MELECH Y'HUDIM. Within this title are the letters YHVH, which explain who Yeshua is really, God on earth, made flesh and blood, whose blood was shed to set us free.


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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Mishpatim” (Judgements) “bringing to light the meaning of some difficult mitzvoth” (commandments)

EXODUS 21:1-24:18....................JEREMIAH 34:8-22, 33:25-26.................MARK 1:1-2:28

…..This parasha involves the giving of a variety of commandments, that Elohim gave to Moshe to give/write down, and teach to “b'nei Israel” the first has to do with slaves, and the treatment of slaves. The system of slavery in Israel back in Biblical times was very much different than the cruel slavery of Africans here in the United States, starting from the 1600s, into colonial days, up until the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863.
…..Unfortunately, the slave owners used the bible as a “reason” to own slaves, as they said, “The Bible permits slavery!” Yes, but only in extreme circumstances when one could not pay one's debts. And the person was only a slave for 7 years, in year 7, the master had to release the slave, give the slave gifts of oil, wine, wheat, so he or she could start a life over again. The slave could not be abused, like slaves were whipped and abused under American slavery. But if the slave wished to remain with the master, the master could make a hole in the slave's ear and put in a ring, indicating that the slave was slave for life, (being the choice of the slave) but “life” was up to 50 years, until the year of “Jubilee” if the slave chose to be with his or her master for “life” and the year, let's say was “40” then, “Life” was 10 years more, and then the slave would be released.
…..If the slave was hurt in any way, say the master hit the slave and knocked a tooth out, or put an eye out, the slave was to be released immediately, and with compensation. Not so in America during the years of slavery.
Rav Shaul/Paul the Apostle, talks about being “bond slaves” to Messiah Yeshua, and that is our state. Would we want to be “released” from following HIM? Would we want to be under a “different master?” There are only two that claim our lives; Yeshua or HaSatan? We were “bought with a price” the price of blood, and we were released from Satan's bondage, to follow and subject ourselves to a new master, “Adonai” which means; “my master” We are “servants” to the Most High God. The Hebrew word for “Slave” and “servant” is the same in Hebrew; “Eved” slaves/servants were not considered “objects of purchase” or “property” they were considered “human beings” just like we are considered in the eyes of YHVH his “servants” “children” “adopted sons and daughters”. Do not sons and daughters serve their parents?
…..”An eye for an eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe; (21:24....) if you read on, we see that it doesn't mean, “if you knock out my tooth, I have a right to knock your tooth out too” or “if you blind me in on eye, I have the right to put out your eye” or in modern terminology, “If you break my stereo, I have the right to go into your house and smash your stereo” how, I ask you, does that solve the problem? It doesn't, it just creates more problems. If we look at this situation in light of scripture, it is saying in other words; “just compensation for hurt or damage received”
How would that work? If I broke your arm accidentally or on purpose, I would be responsible for taking you to the doctor and paying the medical bill, and even, paying you “lost wages” if you couldn't work. It doesn't mean that the other guy could break “my arm too”. If you broke my stereo, then I would expect you to either pay to have it fixed, or buy me another one of equal value, (arm for arm, stereo for stereo, etc)
…..We continue to read about many rules, commandments, judgments, that make very good sense, even today, yet many of these judgments are not practiced today, everyone is off to the lawyers for a lawsuit. My opinion is that if the legal system today, was set up to reflect the Biblical standards of criminal justice in accordance to God's Word, there would be a lot less crime. The criminals would think twice before committing crimes. An example would be the following; A man goes to prison for stealing a car, he sells it, spends the money, so the prisoner has to work in prison and the money he would make would be sent to the victim to compensate the loss. His sentence would end only when the sum is completed. Or...the court system would pay the victim the money lost in the theft, and the thief would have to work to pay back the court. This type of punishment would reflect more the Torah standard of criminal justice.
…..We come now to Exodus 23:19. “You shall bring the first-fruits of thy land unto the House of YHVH, Thou shalt not seethe a kid in his mother's milk” One commandment does not even reflect the other. It would be like saying, “turn out the lights when you leave the house, hey, don't forget to check the mailbox for mail”. What has one got to do with the other? G-d is saying is saying here to bring your tithe to the House of YHVH but then goes on to a different subject. Would this; “seething a kid in its mother's milk” be taken literally? In order to break this commandment, one would have to take a kid goat, butcher it, cut up the meat, then take the mother goat, milk her, then boil the meat in the mother's milk. Who would go to the trouble to do all that? Today, when people make stew, the meat is usually boiled/seethed in water with condiments, not in milk. But if we look at this commandment in a derashic sense, (the moral and spiritual sense) we could get this understanding;
…..It may be all about the separation of life and death, of the clean from unclean (tamei from tahor) good from bad. In “Basar v'chalav” (meat and milk) we can see that the word “Chalav”(milk) spelled in Hebrew is “Chet, Lamed, Beit (ch+l+v) yet the word “fat” is also spelled (ch+l+v) yet pronounced “Chelev” They are related, “milk” is a form of “fat”, and the fat of an animal was offered up on the altar to YHVH, as a “sweet savor” a “pleasant smell” unto YHVH, this was part of the worship service. We worship G-d with our full “heart” and the word “Ch+l+v” contains the letters “lamed” and “beit” (l+v) (Lev) which means “heart” Milk symbolizes “life” a baby is nurtured by its mother's milk to live, to have life. Yet the flesh (Basar) symbolizes death, as a believer, to be in the “flesh” is the opposite to being “in the spirit, full of life”. Once the animal is cut up, if not used, the flesh sits and rots, flies come around, and it becomes “tamei” (unclean) when we are in the “flesh” we are in a way of speaking, “unclean” spiritually, until we confess our sins, and become as “milk” (full of life) again, walking in the spirit, and, like the fat of a clean animal, being a “sweet savor unto YHVH” .
This just one way one can look at this prohibition of boiling a kid in its mother's milk, from a Derashic (moral and spiritual) standpoint. (watch “Basar v' Chalav/Meat and Milk” on YouTube “Kehilah Melech Yisrael”)
…..”if you meet an enemy's ox or his *** going astray, you will bring it back to him again” (Ex 23:4) This is one way to make your enemy, your friend, make peace with him. Would not this be for today as well, of course it would! “Do not oppress the stranger, seeing you were strangers in the land of Egypt” other bibles say “foreigner” the USA used to welcome all immigrants, now many are being oppressed, being deported, being cheated in wages, we must turn this around and start helping those who come to this country to seek a better life, thus turning a curse into a blessing. If you read from chap 21 to 24, look carefully at the commandments/judgments, you will see that most make perfect sense even unto our modern days. God's Word is right on the money!

JEREMIAH 34:8-22, 33:25-26

…..Jeremiah is known as the “weeping prophet” because Israel had returned to idolatry, and corruption, YHVH sends him with a message to Israel, “Repent” and “turn from your sins”, one of the sins was to go back on their word. Jeremiah told them that God had said, “release your slaves” since they had no released them after 7 years, they did that, but afterwards, they “re-captured” their slaves and returned them to captivity, This is to be “double-minded” for “appearance sake” they released the slaves/servants, but when they thought that “the prophet wasn't looking” they went back on their word. Result? Babylon came and captured Israel! And king Zedekiah was taken to Babylon as a slave.
…..How well do we as believers respond when someone calls our attention? When we are in the wrong, do we really repent, and turn from our sins? or....when we think no one is looking, go back to our sins? Our old attitudes, our old “issues?” A thief looks ahead, in back, to the left, to the right, to make sure that no one is looking, but the thief never looks “up”! Yes, our Heavenly Father who is on high is looking down on us all, and observes ALL our actions, even in private, so, we really are NEVER alone! Someone is always watching us.
…..God, his holy angels, Satan and his demons, all that are in the spirit realm are always watching our every move. So, make sure our lives are holy, unto God on high.

MARK 1:1-2:28

…..The talmid/disciple Mark writes about John the baptist, his ministry to prepare the people for the coming of his cousin, Yeshua, preparing hearts, minds. Baptism was important in Jewish life, it symbolized who was once unclean, is now clean, from “tamei” to “Tahor”, from “death to life”.
…..When a born again believer is baptized, the believer identifies himself or herself with Yeshua in death and life, death, burial, and resurrection. But John was just “preparing” the way for He who is THE WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE.
…..Yeshua is the WAY to eternal life, He is the TRUTH, which is the opposite of lies and deception, and He is LIFE eternal, to those who embrace Him as Savior and LORD.
…..Yeshua went walking along the Sea of Galilee, and there he invited Kefa and Andrew to come with him, and later, at K'Far Nachum (Capernaum) went to the synagogue there and began to teach the people. I thank God that I visited that same syangogue back in 2015 when I went to Israel to serve the IDF with the reserve units. My friend Alon and I went by car to Capernaum, walk around, and visited the part of the lake that served as a dock for the fishing boats, that is probably where Yeshua met Kefa and Andrew.
…..We are all called by Yeshua through his spirit, to follow him, do we follow Him?...or...do we expect HIM to follow US? He teaches us through HIS word, are we listening?

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: “T'ruma” (offering)

EXODUS 25:1-27:19...........................1 KINGS 5:12-6:13........................MARK 3:1-4:41

…..Gut shabos, in this Parasha, we see that a request is made for a “free-will offering” so that the tabernacle can be built and the articles of furnishings for the same. As we remember, when the Israelites left Egypt, they left with quite a treasure which the Egyptians gave them so that they would leave. We could consider this, “back pay” for all the work they had done for four-hundred years.
…..Egypt had quite a wealth in gold, silver, gems, fine fabrics, etc, and now, Egypt remained poor and in ruins while “B'nei Yisrael” left with the “spoils of war” a war which YHVH fought against the gods of Egypt, and won. So, in a battle, the spoils of war belong to the victor. So, while the Israelites were protected, G-d fought against the demonic entities, in guise of the “gods of Egypt” Pharaoh included. So, rightly, the riches and spoils of Egypt belong to YHVH, being carried by HIS people.
…..So, where in the desert are the people going to spend it all? Any where? No where!, they are just carrying it around, a lot of extra weight and burden, might as well put it to good use. The plan is to build a place where YHVH can come down and live with his chosen people. It isn't that YHVH can only live in one place, He is eternal, everywhere, yet He will “rest” with His people, minister to His people right there, visible by a cloud by day and fire by night. The “invisible God” will be “visible” in those two ways.
…..In “Yitro” The Torah was given to Israel, the marriage “Ketuba” was given in the form of the Ten Commandments, written in stone, In “Mishpatim” “justice” was given, some more commandments explained by YHVH through Moshe, and now, YHVH is saying “Take ME into your life, make ME a place to dwell among you” I mean, there is an awful lot of hardware laying around, put it to good use, that is why you brought it out of Egypt. SO, we can say that the Egyptians have financed the building project. For 4 hundred years, Israel worked for a hard task master, “Pharaoh and Company” building edifices dedicated to false gods, now, Israel has a new master, The Creator of the Universe, the Maker of Man, the future “Yeshua Ha Mashiach” A place will be built for HIM to minister to his people, and every piece of furniture will reflect who HE IS.
…..Gold, silver, precious stones, fabric, and wood. Now there is a question, where did the wood come from? Is there any ****im and Acacia trees in the desert? If one looks at the desert of Saudi Arabia today, even through “google maps” or “google earth” one can see almost no trees, just bare mountains. But we are talking about a desert almost 4000 years ago, it was probably very different, it had to be, remember that the Israelites brought wih them cattle, sheep, what are they going to eat? Sand? NO, there had to have been vegetation, trees. They could have cut the trees down in the desert and fashioned them into boards for the “Mishkan” (tabernacle) or they might have brought them out of Egypt, already cut and fashioned, perhaps some of the Egyptian lumber yards just gave them all that, since not all of the Egyptians were rich in gold and silver (just an idea)
…..This is a “free-will offering” Moshe states, “of every man whose heart maketh him willing”. So it was not forced, it was “of free will”. We know that the people gladly gave, so much that later on, Moshe has to say,
“Stop giving already, we have enough”. Can you imagine a pastor or rabbi from a church or synagogue that would say that to his congregation, “OK brothers and sisters, we have enough money for all of our needs, you can stop giving..” I don't think that will ever happen, When one gives of his or her time, talent, and treasure, God gives back many times over. Money is like a conduit, it should flow like water through a pipe, to be spread out, no “back logged”
…..There are many who hoard money like a squirrel hoards nuts in a tree, no amount in the bank seems to be enough. One rich man was asked, “how much is enough?' he said , “only one dollar more...” and it never ends.
Adonai has promised us that He would provide for ALL of our needs, through his abundance in grace, both in spiritual ways, physical, and material ways, if we will only trust Him.
…..So, the building project is started, with “tent of meeting” (The tabernacle/Mishkan) with its wooden boards, bars, clamps, and curtains of linen, the furniture that would go inside; The brazen Altar, the brazen Laver, the Menorah, the table of shew-bread, the incense altar, and finally, the Ark of the Covenant, (Aron Ha Kodesh. Each and every one of these pieces reflect who Yeshua is and his finished work on Calvary's cross.
…..The Ark of the Covenant is mentioned first, made of acacia wood over laid with gold, both inside and out.
Inside this box would be the tables of the Law, the “Torah” It symbolizes the purity and sinlessness of YHVH. The wood; the humanity of Yeshua who was YHVH in the flesh, both God and man. As it was covered with gold inside and out, it symbolizes that we also should be, through the Holy Spirit, “pure” inside and out, both physically, and spiritually, where people can see and where only God can see, inside us. The Torah, God's teaching and instruction to us, is inside the Ark, as the “Living Torah” who is Yeshua is inside of us, and also, his teaching, his “Torah” inside of us, to understand, learn from, and put into action in our daily lives.
…..The Cherbim that are on top of the Kaporet look down upon the mercy seat, and they remind us of God's Holy Angels that are around us and who protect us. The “Shekinah Glory” the “Holy Presence of YHVH” was on top of the “Kaporet” (the cover) and when the high priest would sprinke blood on the cover, YHVH would see the blood. The blood on the cover symbolized (before Yeshua) that the sins of man were “covered” for one year, but after Calvary, the sins of all of us were “erased” “wiped away” “blotted out” FOR EVER.
…..The 7 branch Menorah (candlestick) was made of pure gold, with 7 branches, the “perfect number of God” the six branches would extend from the center branch, just like we, believers, depend on the center branch, or “trunk” for our sustenance, there were “6” banches, (number of man) connected to the “7th” main branch. This Menorah symbolizes “Yeshua” as the “Light of the World” and the oil inside it as the “Ruach Ha Kodesh” (The Holy Spirit) We see the “wicks” that are inside the lamps as “believers” who depend on the “oil” (the Ruach HaKodesh) for our continuous growth, as part of the body of Messiah Yeshua.
…..The table of shew-bread symbolizes Messiah Yeshua as the “Bread of Life” with the 12 loaves of unleavened bread. The bread was to be there, “continuously” the priests would eat the bread on the sabbath and more bread was placed on the table, so that there would be “always the presence of “the Bread of Life” As believers, the living Torah is our spiritual bread, and we must partake daily of this bread. No wonder Yeshua was born in Bethlehem, yet in Hebrew the name is “Beit-Lechem” the “House of Bread” Again, the table was made of Acacia wood overlaid with gold, the purity of the sinless presence of God and the humanity of Messiah Yeshua.
…..Then there is the table of Incense, also made of acacia wood overlaid with gold. This is where coals from the brazen altar were placed, and incense burned. The incense symbolizes our prayers, which go up to Heaven as the sweet smelling incense smoke also goes up.
…..The curtains of the tabernacle were to be made of fine linen, with the colors, blue, purple, and scarlet. These colors remind us of “blue skies of heaven above” “purple” (color of royalty, Yeshua the King) and scarlet, (color of blood) reminding us of Yeshua's blood that was shed for all our sins, past, present and future.and of course, the wooden planks that remind us of the humanity of Yeshua.
…..In the outer court of the tabernacle, there is the brazen altar, made of bronze and filled with water. This is where the priests washed their hands and feet. Bronze symbolizes judgment, imagine when the priests approached the still waters in the bronze laver, they would be able to see their reflection in the water. Imagine that is us looking into a mirror, what do we see? The image of a holy God, yet tainted with sin, we need to judge ourselves, and turn from our sinful ways, repent of our sins, like Yeshua said, “You sins are forgiven, GO, and SIN NO MORE.
…..Finally, there is the brazen altar, which is really the first thing a person would see inside the tabernacle. It symbolizes Yeshua who was judged for our sins. It is made of acacia wood overlaid with bronze. The bronze symbolizes the judgment that Messiah Yeshua went through to pay our sin price. The animal sacrifices were placed on the grills which were on top of the altar. The animals symbolize our Messiah Yeshua, their blood symbolize HIS blood, and the fire symbolizes the “fires of judgment” which Yeshua endured on the cross of Calvary, once and only once. It was sufficient, for our sins, past, present, and future. Let not his sacrifice for sin be for naught. If you have never placed your faith in Yeshua as Messiah, Savior, and LORD, do it now.

1 KINGS 5:12-6:13

…..The tabernacle was used for many, many years. It followed “B'nei Israel” when they crossed over the Jordan,
…..but 480 years later, it was replaced by the first temple which Melech Shlomo (King Soloman) built. It must have been magnificent. The Ark of the Covenant and the furniture that were inside the Mishkan were transferred to the new temple. Yet many years later, after the death of Shlomo, the priesthood corrupted themselves, the kings as well. The temple was destroyed by the Babylonians, and the furniture taken away.
…..A believer can walk away from God, we can go astry, and the Ruach HaKodesh will call for us, to invite us back into fellowship, yet for how long? Will the Spirit of God call us back indefinitely? Or...like the Spirit of God that finally, “Left” the presence of the Temple, leaving it “Ichabod” just an empty building, can we become like an “empty vessel? Just walking around empty and lifeless?
…..But just as a believer is capable of going astray and walk away from the presence of God, the believer can also return, and be received with open arms by the Father. One day, the third temple will be built, and the presence of YHVH will be there, and Yeshua will be back to rule the earth. We will be there too, to share in this rule for one thousand years, and then...into eternity.

MARK 3:1-4:41

…..Here we see Yeshua on the sabbath, and he heals a man with a withered hand, yet receives criticism from the Prushim (Pharisees). Yet Yeshua explains, “doing a good deed on the sabbath is permitted” so, YES, if one works, doing a “mitzvah” on the sabbath is permitted, if it is to bless another, help another, be it to bring medicine for someone who is sick, help repair a hole in a roof (if you see the rain clouds a comin!) .
…..Yeshua went down to the Lake and more people came to be healed. The Sea of Galilee is a peaceful place to swim in. Just stand in the water and feel the fish nibble at your feet, quite an experience. I swam down about 10 feet in the lake at Tiberias and brought up a ceramic dish. Still have it, a free souvenir. But just looking at the Lake brings back thoughts of Yeshua there 2000 years ago, healing those with illnesses. He still does, and he heals our souls as well.


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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Tetsaveh” (you shall command)


EXODUS 27:20-30:10.............EZEKIEL 43:10-27..............MARK 5:1-6:56


…..In this parasha, we will see the preparation of the Menorah, and the clothing of the priests. The study starts out with preparing olive oil to fill the lamps of the Menorah, The Torah tells us that it was a “permanent light” (Ner Tamid). It would be the only light outside of the “Kadosh Kedoshim” (The HOLY of Holies) where the “Shekinah” illuminated that small area where the only article was the “Aron Ha Kodesh” (The Ark of the Covenant.
…..The Menorah was “outside” the curtain, yet still inside the tabernacle. In the same room with the Menorah were the Table of Shew bread, where the 12 loaves of bread were, and the Table of Incense. Here we have a three-fold symbolism of Messiah Yeshua. The table of Shew Bread, “Yeshua HaLechem Chaim” (Yeshua the Bread of Life) and the incense altar, where our “Prayers go upward to heaven” and where “Yeshua intercedes on our behalf. The Menorah is “Yeshua HaOr Olam v'ha Or Tamid” (Yeshua the Light of the World and the Eternal Light.
…..The Menorah was to burn all night, and in the morning, the high priest (Aaron) would come in to trim the wicks and prepare the Menorah for the evening lighting. We can see the significance in this, in many cultures, usually pagan cultures, darkness was when evil came about, demons, etc. In ancient Egypt, their god “Ra” went to sleep at night, so the Egyptians were without protection against the “evils of the night”. Those who ventured out usually took a cat with them, symbolizing “Bastet” goddess of the night, who would protect the person against “evil”. Wow, what if the cat saw a mouse or a dog, and....ran off? Oh, well.
…..The Menorah that burned during the night symbolized “Elohim” who would be the “light in the evening” as well as in the day. The light was inside the tabernacle, and also, outside in the form of the “column of Fire”
We are blessed by the presence of the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) at all times, in the day and during the night, inside and out, the believer is NEVER alone, the Light of G-d is forever with us.
…..The Menorah had seven branches, it was made of pure gold, the middle branch was called the “Shamash” or the “helper”. “Seven” is the perfect number of holiness. “Six” branches (six is the number of mankind) are on either side of the shamash, three on the right and three on the left. Mankind needs the presence of Yeshua, to fulfill his destiny, to get right again, into a right relationship with his creator through Yeshua, through the “New birth” (John 3:3) . The wicks are “all of us” and the oil that goes into the lamps, the “Holy Spirit” we need to be in continuous contact and communion with the Ruach HaKodesh, so that our lamps will “shine brightly” continuously, after all, Yeshua said to his followers, “Ye are the Light of the world” (Atem ha Orot ha olam). Israel's purpose was to be the “light to the gentiles” to go into the world and teach the pagan peoples who worshipped idols, that there was only ONE GOD, to bring the Torah to the world.
…..This is what happened during the “scattering” of the tribes of Israel to the nations, now, there are “Y'hudim” in all nations, and in all nations, there are many who worship our LORD and God. Even among the Jewish peoples of the world, there are many Messianic believers who embrace Yeshua HaMashiach.
…..In the next chapter, it talks about the vestments of the priests. Clothing has always been a thing of importance. The world says, “according to how a person dresses, that person IS” a “bum” or “hobo” (a word of the 1930s), usually has dirty and torn clothes, unkempt hair and a scraggly beard, HOWEVER, that “bum” or “hobo” might be a “born again believer” who is going through hard times, maybe being chastised by God for some sin.
…..I don't know how you readers were brought up, but when my family went to worship at our congregation, we all put on our suit and ties, and mom wore her best dress. Yet today, some come to synagogue or church dressed as if they were going on a walk in the park , or to the beach. I mean, God still sees our hearts, even if we wear a sport shirt or long sleeve shirt with a suit and tie, BUT.. if we are going to meet with the KING of Kings, shouldn't we wear our BEST? What would you wear if the president of your nation invited you to his house?
…..In different Jewish denominations, different clothing is worn, some causal, some dressed up, some only wear “black and white” (Ashkenazim/orthodox) or even some “Ashkenazim Messianics” follow the custom, nothing wrong with that, it is just a custom/tradition. Maybe the “black” color symbolizes the sin nature, and the “white” our renewed, or born-again nature. The priests had there own vestments
…..As you read the parasha chapters and verses, we see the tunic/robe, bonnet, ephod, breastplate, etc, all meaningful. The onyx stones on the priests shoulders had the names of the tribes of Israel engraved, the priest would “shoulder the burden” of the nation, taking the animal sacrifices (that represented Yeshua's death) would intercede before YHVH on the nation's behalf. Now, Yeshua intercedes before the Father on our behalf with his “once only” death/sacrifice for all sin for ALL time.
…..The breastplate would have 12 stones engraved with the names of the tribes of Israel, “Israel was/is next to YHVH's heart! As we are too, since we are all part of the commonwealth of Israel. Two interesting things are the “Umim and Thumim” no one knows exactly what they were, there are suggestions, they might have been two stones which lit up and glowed when the priest would ask YHVH a question, the “Umim and Thumim' (Light and perfections) were placed under the breastplate. When the priest went before YHVH seeking an answer to some judgment concerning the people, the stones would light up “illuminating” the priest with perhaps special wisdom from God, and it would be a “Perfect” response from God.
…..Or....the Umim and Thumim might have been a special paper, parchment, animal skin with the most holy name of God ( Y H V H ) on it, and placed inside the breastplate, and then, some think, that the letters of the names of the tribes of Israel that were engraved on the stones, would glow. The priest under the anointing of the Spirit of God, would then put the letters together and would “read” God's answer. But these are just ideas, nothing 100% certain. In heaven, we will discover what the “Umim and Thumim were/are! “
…..Today, we have the Word of God . YHVH speaks to us through his written Word, but also, through dreams, at times, through other people who are very sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, YHVH conveys messages through events in our lives. If we look back in our lives, we can see that YHVH has been right there working and preparing events/people to bring us to where we are now.
…..In chapter 29, we have the anointing/dedication of Aaron and his sons for the ministry. The sacrifices were a bullock and two rams, unleavened bread with olive oil. All these point to Yeshua, these were clean animals, whose blood symbolizes the blood of our Messiah, just like the unleavened bread, “Yeshua the Bread of Life” and the oil, the “Ruach HaKodesh” a little bit of the blood was placed on Aaron's right ear lobe, right thumb, and on the right toe, the same was done to his sons. What does this symbolize? We could say that as priests, “May they always HEAR, LISTEN TO the voice of God, that they might DO his will, and follow his commandments, and WALK in HIS footsteps, FOLLOWING the path of Torah.
…..This would be the same expectation of ministers who are anointed as rabbis, chaplains, pastors, priests, etc
that they might always listen to the voice of God, and follow/do his will through his Word, to serve those who are placed under their leadership. We don't use blood today, but we do use anointing oil, so, the next time you might be called to anoint a minister, place some anointing oil on the right ear lobe, on the right thumb, and the right toe, (or on top of the shoe) since most don't use sandals today, (except on Purim) .
…..Chapter 30 talks about the altar of incense, this was made of ****tim wood overlaid with gold, again, the humanity of Yeshua and the purity of HIM who is God. On this altar, the incense was burned, symbolizing our prayers that go up to YHVH as a sweet savor.


EZEKIEL 43: 10-27


…..The prophet receives a vision of the heavenly temple, which is an exact replica of the tabernacle and temple on earth. When YHVH gave the instructions to Moshe to make the tabernacle and later, when Solomon built the temple, It was with the plan of the heavenly temple that was in mind. When Yeshua died for our sins, He went up to the heavenlies and placed his own blood on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, meaning that our sins are forgiven, erased, blotted out for ever!

MARK 5:1-6:56

…..This is when Yeshua heals the man who was possessed by demons. There were one thousand demons inside the body of this man, since demons are in the spirit world, the physical body is not an obstacle, no, they didn't feel “crowded”. And since the demons have to obey the voice of God, they left, and as we read, they went into the bodies of swine.
…..we can see how far away some Israelites were, from walking in fellowship and obedience to the Torah, since they herded swine, which was and still is, an unclean animal, unsuitable for eating although many Christians believe the contrary. When the swine took a suicide leap from the cliff into the Sea of Galilee, they told Yeshua to “Leave”! Imagine that, telling “God” that he was not welcome in their city. “Hey, you just ruined our business, get out of here!” well, THEY had no business herding and raising pigs to begin with. Sheep and goats, would have been better.
…..How do we react when God calls our attention to something, do we tell him to “get away from us?” or do we “welcome” his visit and correct our sinful ways? The man who was demonized, now in his right mind wanted to follow Yeshua, yet Yeshua told him; “go and tell what has happened to you to your family and people”
…..Even though he wanted to follow Yeshua personally, Yeshua sent him on another mission, to “evangelize and be a living witness” He had credibility, since everyone knew him. YHVH sends each and every one on us has a special mission to fulfill while we are on earth, He has equipped each and every believer with the gifts of the spirit to fulfill our mission. Let us be faithful to HIM who has provided us with such a blessing as eternal life.


Sabbath Shalom...............Hag Sameach Purim..............Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

TWO DAYS OF PURIM, THE 14th AND 15th of ADAR, A QUICK LOOK AT THE BOOK OF ESTHER


Today and tomorrow, March 12th and 13th 2017, are the 14th and 15th days of Adar, the Feast of Lots

…..A long time ago, in a palace called Sushan, in the kingdom of Persia, there was a king named Ahasuerus who had just a little too much to drink, he called for his wife and he called for more wine, and the wine he got but the wife he got not! His wife Vashti refused to come,
…..”Hey, husband, Mr. King, I have my own party, kinda busy now, so, later dude...”
…..Wrong response, that cost her her job, she got fired! She got “de-queened” But when King Ahasuerus sobered up again, when the Manashevitz ran out, he said, “Oi Vey, what have I done?” Did I really fire the queen?” “Yeah” his counselors said, “and you signed her out of the palace too, can't get her back now....But.. You can send out for a replacement queen!”
…..”Welllll, Okkkkeeyy” let's have a beauty contest, the prettiest girl gets to be queen, that'll work”
…..So we know the rest of the story, Esther (Hadasah) the niece of Mordechai becomes queen. This is not by accident, even though YHVH's name is never mentioned, He is still controling the situation. The Book of Esther reveals YHVH's activity inspite of his name being omitted. He is still there on the scene, behind the scene, controlling all the events; We can even see symbolism in the characters and events.
…..Did it just happen that Vashti got fired and the king arranged for a beauty contest? And that of all the pretty women in the kingdom, all virgins, that Hadasah (Esther) was chosen?.....I would say that YHVH arranged the whole thing...put eveything and everyone in its place and in his and her place, for a reason.
…..HaSatan is always out to destroy the Jewish people, and this time, he used Haman to try and do it. So Haman is a type of HaSatan. God places Mordechai at the right place at the right time, in order to learn of two plots, one plot to assassinate the king, the other to murder all the Jews of the provinces controlled by Persia.
…..He sends word to his niece, now queen, of the plans, both plans were revealed by Mordechai, to Queen Esther. Now she has to let the king know. But he hasn't sent for her in a month, to go before the king without being summoned is a death penalty, but she prays and fasts and so do the Jews of Shushan area, Since the king loves Esther, He recieves her, she touches his scepter, and she invites him to two parties, along with Haman,
…..Now Haman already has an attitude against Mordechai since he will not bow before his presence, I think YHVH has a bit of a sense of humor, Haman rides on a horse and looks down at the people under him, and everyone bows before him in homage, except Mordechai. Now, The king orders Mordechai to ride a horse, wear a crown, and royal apparel, while Haman is below him and has to look up! Interesting change of events.
…..Haman's plot to have the Jews killed is revealed, the king is wroth, orders Haman to be hanged on the same gallows (75 feet high) that he meant for Mordechai. That was one big and tall neck-stretcher! Haman probably grew a few more inches in a matter of seconds in that fall from “heaven to earth” by a rope. Remind you of someone who was cast down from “the heavens to earth?” a few thousand years ago?
…..The Jews defended themselves on the 13th day of Adar, which was last shabbat! And won the battle, they also collected the “spoils of war” which was a custom back them, and still is in some parts. To the victor go the spoils, like weapons, money, combat equipment, etc, that the enemy used.
…..The King and Esther can symbolize YHVH and mankind, the only way to gain access to our Heavenly Father is through YESHUA, the scepter can symbolize YESHUA, We can only come by invitation, the Father invites us to come to him THROUGH YESHUA, if the scepter is not extended, you don't come, without the scepter, death is for sure,
…..We can look at it this way too. Esther can symbolize YESHUA, and the king, our Heavenly Father, As Esther intervened before the king for her people, so does YESHUA intervene before the Father on our behalf.
Esther, the bride and wife, can also symbolize all believers, the “Kehilah” of Messiah. And the king, Messiah Yeshua. As King Ahasuerus loved Esther so much that he listened to her petition, so Yeshua loves his bride and soon to be wife, so much that he gave up his life for us all, on Calvary's cross. His bride consists of all believers everywhere. He listens to our petitions, our prayers, and he responds according to his perfect will.
…..Satan was defeated again back then. Never bow the head or knee to HaSatan, as Mordechai resisted Haman, so should all believers resist the temptations that are thrown at us by the father of lies. So, let us rejoice this day and tomorrow, remembering the Feast of Lots, (purim) which fell upon the 13th day of Adar, a day meant for destruction of the Jewish people, but death and destruction were changed to continued life and prosperity for “b'nei Israel” and so we continue to exist, and will always exist, and be the apple of our Savior's eye, for all eternity. HAPPY PURIM.


Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Ki Tisa” (when you elevate)

EXDOUS 30:11-34:35………………1 KINGS 18:1-39……………MARK 7:1-8:38

….This parasha starts out by numbering the people, those who are 20 years old and older, Each person has to give one half shekel of silver. Why the count? This is to count those who are old enough for the Army, the very first IDF (Israel Defense Forces). Since it is not appropriate to count “people” perhaps as to not trust in “numbers” for strength, which might lead to pride, YHVH tells Moshe to collect silver, and for each half-shekel of silver, one person is represented. The silver is to be used for the Mishkan, for repair and maintenance. Of course, we realize that the Levites were not included in the Armed Forces, they were exempt, their jobs were to be “chaplains” of a sort, working with the priests in ministry.
…..Every born again believer is “numbered” in the eyes of YHVH for HIS army of adopted sons and daughters, we are fighting a spiritual battle against a hardened enemy, HaSatan, who has his own army of demons, devils, and unsaved humans working for him. Even though there will be many battles, the war has already been won, it was won 2000 years ago, on Calvary’s cross. YHVH came down in flesh and blood and paid our sin price in full. We are fighting against an enemy who has lost the war, but he has an attitude and will not relent, He wants to cause havoc among the brethren, and “sisteren” (my own made-up word)
…..YHVH commands Moshe to prepare incense and anointing oil. The incense is to be used in worship, burned on the table of incense, which is before the “Kedosh-Kedoshim” (Holy of Holies) and also, on the bread, and on the sacrifices. Incense is still used today in religious services, it has a calming effect on the emotional and nervous system of those who are around it. There are many distinct aromas, the aromas that are similar to the incense that was used in the tabernacle and temple would be frankincense and some even say “musk” scent, however no one can be sure of the original ingredients, what they are today, besides, YHVH prohibits an exact duplication of the formula.
…..The anointing oil was used to anoint the Levites and priests “on their heads” and not on the flesh, the ingredients were sweet cinnamon, calamus, cassia, myrrh, and olive oil, there are oils today that are used for anointing, yet it was prohibited to replicate the “exact” recipe.
…..In Remez, the incense symbolizes our prayers that go upward towards heaven, and the oil symbolizes the Holy Spirit who is with us all the time. Through the Ruach HaKodesh, our prayers go up and are heard by our Messiah Yeshua.
…..We see later on in this parasha that Moshe goes up Har Sinai to receive the tablets of the Mitzvoth, and as we all know the story, after a while the people wonder; “and Moshe? What happened to him?” their faith was weak, and when faith is weak, the enemy HaSatan will take advantage, Aaron who was left in charge was pressured into relenting, with gold earrings, the people made a “golden Calf”. “This is our god” they said, Could one think that they replaced YHVH with this false god? The Egyptian god “hapis” took form of a cow or bull, and perhaps, they had a miniature one of those gods with them. I would think they still believed in YHVH but they wanted to “See” with their eyes, some kind of form, breaking of course the commandment, “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image”. True faith is “believing” even if we cannot see something that is invisible. Yeshua said to his talmidim; “Blessed are those who do not see yet believe”.
…..Do we trust Adonai, even when we cannot see the immediate results? That is what testing is all about, He will try our faith, will we trust HIM even unto the end? YHVH lives in the infinite dimension of time and space, while we live in the finite dimension. He can see the end while we can’t even see around the corner. He has everything under control, we just have to believe and wait on him, as the Israelites should have done. It would have saved a lot of grief, lives, and dishonor.
…..Moshe comes back down only to witness the disaster, breaks the tablets as a sign of a “broken covenant” between YHVH and the people. It is like getting married and on the same wedding night, the bride goes out and commits adultery. YHVH wants to DESTROY the people, and start over with Moshe. YET, Moshe intercedes before YHVH for Am Israel. Just as Moshe interceded, so did YESHUA intercede before the Father on our behalf, and still does. “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do” (Yeshua’s words). “Yet now, if you will forgive their sin, and if not, blot ME out of thy book” (Moshe’s words) and…. YHVH forgave them. Just like YHVH forgives us of our sins, when we confess and turn from our wicked ways.
…..Moshe wants to see the glory “HaKavod YHVH” he goes back up for a second copy of the commandments.
“Show me thy glory!” the LORD responded; “I will make all my goodness go before thee” yet, he said that no one could see the “face” of YHVH, who can look upon the pure essence of YHVH? For it would drive the spirit out of the body, So, as YHVH passed by, Moshe saw the “after-effect” the “tail end”. It could be similar to my experience in seeing Haley’s comet back in 1987. While I was in college, I went to Lynchburg College Observatory which was open to the public, we could see Haley’s comet going back out into space, I saw the “tail end” of the comet, which was just a faint glow at that time.
…..Now Moshe gets the second set of the tablets, and YHVH gives them to him with these words:
…..YHVH, YHVH God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy unto the thousandth generation, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and their children’s children……”
…..Now, how does that describe our God? He IS full of mercy and showed us grace, in that we were yet sinners, He came to earth in human form and died for us all. He is “long suffering” in that he puts up with our “stuff’ our “attitudes” and “rebellions” and gives us second, third, and fourth “chances” to repent, He could have wiped out Israel in one second, but he didn’t. He gave us his Torah, the Bible which is full of “goodness” and IS the TRUTH, he forgives sin, but ONLY when we come to him as repentant sinners and trust Yeshua as our Savior and LORD. He does not clear the guilty ONLY WHEN, the guilty DO NOT REPENT! And yes, the sins of the fathers can affect the children, just look at the public schools today, the students are rebellious, disrespectful because they have learned that from THEIR PARENTS!
…..If they kids hear the parents fuss and cuss, they will too, If the parents smoke dope, they will have the tendency to do the same, children will copy their parents in all ways, HOWEVER, the blood of Yeshua can heal all of that, the generational curses can be cut short when YESHUA comes into the lives of families.
…..Moshe returns to the congregation with the new set of tablets, and YHVH instructs him and reminds him of his commandments, “Yes, I will go before thee…only observe all that I am commanding thee this day…. And toward the end, YHVH mentions, “thou shalt not seethe a kid in its mother’s milk” which is a repeated commandment, this was discussed before, it symbolizes a separation between, “life and death” of the “clean and unclean”
…..Moshe comes down “glowing” like a thousand watt light bulb, why? He has been in the presence of YHVH right there, in the middle of the Shekinah glory! If he glowed with God’s glory, Moshe being a sinner like all of us, can you imagine how Adam and Eve glowed before the fall? Being in constant fellowship with Elohim? It was only after the fall that the “light covering” left, and they found themselves “naked!”
…..Yeshua said; “Ye are the light of the world” Yes, we are, yet we have no light of our own, we reflect the light of Messiah Yeshua, in our own lives. Is our light bright, like that which reflected from Moshe? Or…dim?

1 KINGS 18:1-39

…. This relates the time when there is a contest, sponsored by Eliyahu Ha Navi, Elijah the prophet calls for a contest between “Baal” and “YHVH” it is time to take action, clear up the error that Baal even exists. So, it is Baal vs YHVH, Elijah against 450 false prophets of Baal. Sacrifices are ready, all that is needed is fire, but fire not kindled by man, only by the true God, We all know who won the contest, Elijah called upon YHVH;
…..”ATAH YHVH HaELOHIM” (you are YHVH you are God) and fire fell from heaven and consumed EVERYTHING , the sacrifice, altar, stones, water, The people now had proof, the false prophets were still crying out and dancing around. Judgment; death for all false prophets. The people repented and returned to YHVH
…..Are we worshiping and serving our true God? Or are we chasing after idols, idols of money, fame, popularity, jobs, fast cars, lust, avarice, etc. We can only serve one master, who is it going to be? Do we serve YHVH? Or the world? The choice is ours.

MARK 7: 1-8:38

…..In this portion of scripture, we see Yeshua rebuking the prushim (pharisees) they are pointing out that the disciples did not wash their hands before eating. It is true, that one of the rites of the priests was to wash their hands and feet before entering into the Holy place, yet this was never stated as a commandment.
…. Today, we see many religious practices which are stressed and done as if they were commandments. There is a big difference between “commandments” and “tradition” many traditions stem from commandments, but we need to differentiate between the two. Wearing a Kippa, is a tradition, different manner of dress in Judaism is tradition, but wearing tzitziot is a commandment, putting a mezuzah on the doorpost is a commandment. But one should not judge one another in these cases. One can point out different scripture verses, but we must leave everything in the hands of God.
…..”It is not what goes into a person that which defiles, but what comes out of a person that which defiles, for out of the HEART comes forth…….
…..So as not to confuse one thing from another, eating certain kinds of food does not defile a person SPIRITUALLY!, it may defile one physically, eating what is not considered biblically kosher, like pork, shellfish, etc.. BUT there are other things that can defile a person spiritually, like listening to unholy music, doing things, watching things, movies, etc. that are un-holy, satanic, occultic, etc.
…..Physical defilement is different from spiritual defilement. In this passage of scripture, Yeshua is performing many miracles, opens the ears of a deaf man, healing the eyes of a blind man, casting out demons, how are our eyes, ears, heart? Can we see the truth in scripture? Can we hear the WORD of God clearly? Is our heart open to receive his word? Do we come against HaSatan and his demons through the power of the Holy Spirit? Is Yeshua HaMashiach your savior and LORD?

Shabbat Shalom……….rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: VaYakhel (and he assembled) and P’Kudei (Accountings of) THE FINAL CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK OF EXODUS (Shemot)

EX 35:1-38:20 and EX 38:21-40:38……………..1 KINGS 7:13-8:21………….MARK 9:1-50

…..These are the final chapters of Exodus (Shemot) and Moshe talks about honoring the Sabbath day, the prohibition of lighting a fire on the Sabbath, gathering an offering to build the tabernacle and it’s furnishings, the appointment of persons to make certain items, and finally, the building project in detail and the outcome. All these are worth talking about.

….”Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to YHVH”

…..”You shall kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath day.”

…..These are very important statements, commandments repeated from before. Even before the building project begins, YHVH wants his people to know the work days, rules, and regulations. It this “work-a-holic” world in which we live, the believer should know when to stop and rest. YHVH commands it, for our own good and mental soundness. Too many people work all seven days a week, perhaps 10 or more hours each day to make a “lot-of-money” only to spend the extra money at the hospital when they have a nervous breakdown because of all the extra work hours.

…..The Sabbath is a day to spend with the family, at the family’s place of worship., be it at a synagogue or at a church. It is a time to spend with the LORD, to worship, learn from HIS WORD, and fellowship with other believers. It is a time to leave the things of the house alone, perhaps eat out, and return home at the end of Sabbath. It is intended as a “day of rest” so, “rest” means exactly that, “rest”.

…..When we look at the commandment; “Thou shalt kindle no fire throughout your dwellings on the Sabbath” we need to ask ourselves, what was fire used mainly for? Probably for cooking! To boil water, prepare food in different ways. Manna fell from the sky and the Israelites perhaps ate it as is, or boiled it, made it into bread, they probably roasted goats or lambs from the flocks, heated ovens for “Manna flat bread” It was a task and a half to start and maintain a fire, cooking, preparing and all that. So, YHVH is saying STOP!, just for the Sabbath, and take a break from it all. Stop slaving over the hot stove and rest, prepare something on Friday, that is why HE gave a “double-portion” of Manna on Friday.

…..Today, how can we put that “mitzvah” into good use without “overdoing it” as some Jewish sects do, not , turning on a light switch, not driving a car, etc. Well, to start, we can prepare meals for Saturday on Friday, and on the Sabbath, just heat them up. Another idea, eat something light like salad and sandwiches. Many churches and synagogues have the custom of eating out, or eating “in”. Some Jewish synagogues have “oneg” a lunch prepared for the members and guests after service. Some church Sunday school classes go out to eat as families after services on Sundays. Why not? Give the house-wife or house-husband a break from kitchen duty! Don’t they deserve it? Anyway, the Sabbath was made for man and woman, to “rest” and take it easy, and mediate on YHVH.

…..The rest of these two Parashot have to do with the Tabernacle. The order to build it, to take up an offering of materials, to assign workers, to “build it” to “put it all together” and finally, to invite YHVH to come down and dwell in it, which he DID, at the close of the book of Exodus. So, go ahead and read the chapters. How can we look at this in light of our lives as born-again believers in Messiah Yeshua?

…..The “tabernacle” today is YHVH’s dwelling place which is each and every “Kehilah” (congregation) where born-again believers meet to worship the LORD, singing praises and teaching his WORD. The tabernacle is also the bodies of all believers, with the Ruach HaKodesh dwelling inside of us! YHVH has given each and every believer some gift and talent to “maintain” the “Mishkan of Believers” as YHVH chose different individuals to build the furniture of the Mishkan, so HE has selected different believers with different talents to maintain the Kehilah.

…..So, what does every article of tabernacle furniture symbolize in relationship with Yeshua and believers?

…..1. The Mishkan itself with the curtains, poles, staves, etc = A “fence” to keep holiness in and ungodliness out!

Once inside, you are in the holy place, where YHVH dwells, and where the priests minister. Our Kehilot are “holy places” where the LORD dwells and where we join for fellowship with other believers.

…..2. “Aron HaKodesh” (The Ark of the Covenant) the “heart” of the Mishkan, where the tablets of the commandments are kept, together with a pot of Manna, and Aron’s rod. It symbolizes the believer who “should” shine like “gold” both inwardly as well as outwardly. We should be mindful of the commandments to put them into action as “unto good works” Yeshua is our “Manna” the “Bread of Life” and the Rod of Aron as our “Rod of authority, our high priesthood of believers” The “Shekinah glory” which rested above the mercy seat is the everlasting presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

…..3. “The Table of Incense” it symbolizes our prayers as they go up “like smoke” unto the heavenlies, even to the Throne of Grace. One thing to point out, all the furniture with the exception of the Menorah, was made of Acacia wood overlaid with gold, the wood symbolizes the humanity of Yeshua, and the gold “purity”. The incense was made of various ingredients, but making an exact replica of the original substance is forbidden, most worshippers today that use incense use a mixture of Frankincense and Myrrh, which is readily available. It is a relaxing aroma that helps one to go to sleep at night.

…..4. “The Golden Menorah” was made of one solid piece of gold, hammered and formed into a seven-branch candlestick. It had seven lamps which were filled with olive oil and burned all night. In the morning, the priest would come into the Holy Place and trim the wicks and re-fill the lamps with olive oil. We look at the Menorah as “Yeshua Ha Or Olam” (Yeshua who is the light of the world, the Eternal Light) we are the 6 branches that are on either side of the “Shamash” the helper lamp which is in the middle, Yeshua said, “Ye are the light of the world” that means “every believer is a light in dark places” but our light comes from Yeshua” we have no light of our own, like the moon, moon light is sun light reflected off the lunar surface. The oil symbolizes the Ruach Ha Kodesh, (The Holy Spirit) and the wicks are “us” we need to be in contact with the “oil” in order to have brightness.

…..5. “The Table of Shewbread” made of hard wood overlaid with gold. Had 12 loaves of bread, symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. The table and bread symbolize “Yeshua HaLechem Chayim” (Yeshua the Bread of Life)

Even the “unleavened bread” of Passover which symbolizes “Yeshua” who is the unleavened bread”

…..6. Outside the holy place are two items, the bronze laver and the Brazen Altar. The bronze laver was a huge bronze bowl filled with water. The priests would wash their hands and feet after offering blood sacrifices. It was made of bronze which symbolizes “judgment” when the water was still, the priest would see his reflection in the water. When we look in still water, or in a mirror, we see our reflection, we see who we are, sinners saved by grace, yet we still have the sin nature, and Yeshua went through “judgment” in our place, we have been “washed” in his blood and made clean. Remember that Yeshua washed the feet of his talmidim.

…..7. “the Bronze Altar” (Mizbeach) (pronunciation = “ach” like Yohann Sebastian Bach) not “beach” which is by the ocean, NO! was made of hard wood overlaid with bronze, symbolizing the humanity of Yeshua who was judged in the “fires of our sin”. The animal sacrifices were performed on this altar, the blood was poured out at the base of the altar and the animals roasted on a grill. Think of the Mizbeach as a big BBQ pit. The brazen altar symbolizes the cross of Messiah Yeshua, the animals symbolizing Yeshua himself who poured out his blood for us sinners, who incurred “our judgment” in his own body.

…..We see the materials that went into building the tabernacle; gold, silver, bronze, fine linen, wood, blue, purple, scarlet, and animal skins, They all have symbolic meanings; Gold=purity (of Messiah) and the goal of every follower of Mashiach, Silver=redemption (Yeshua redeemed us from the curse of sin) bronze=Judgment (Yeshua was judged for our sins, Fine linen= our new nature and our walk with the LORD, wood=Humanity of Messiah

Blue=Heaven, Purple=Royalty, (we are royalty in Messiah Yeshua, part of his royal family) Scarlet=blood. Animal skins=the covering of our sins before, but now, our sins have been erased, not just covered.

…..At the end of Exodus, in 40:38 it says that YHVH settled upon the Mishkan in a cloud. Now his presence is visible. Messiah is still with us in the form of the Holy Spirit, WE are the living Tabernacles and the Spirit of God lives in our heart, as well as within the “Kehilot” of believers who come together for worship. There is much more to say, but I better end here, or I’ll be here all night and it is already past midnight.

1 KINGS 7:51-8:21

…..We see here a repetition of the same building project, but on a larger scale. Solomon builds the first “Temple” for the presence of YHVH. Wherein the tabernacle was a mobile structure (kinda like a mobile home) the Temple was a fixed place. He employed thousands of workers, so there wasn’t much unemployment in Israel during that time. It took many years to build whereas the tabernacle was finished in a matter of months.

…..It takes time to build a ministry, many years sometimes. But if the goal is to share/teach the Word of God to others, to minister HIS word, then the LORD will bless that work, no matter how small or how big, whether a “mobile” ministry or a “fixed-in-one-place ministry, Adonai will bless and it will last.

MARK 10:1-52

…..Here, Yeshua teaches on divorce. This is a big subject, and a sad subject because many couples do not take marriage seriously any more. “Love” is a “commitment” it is a “conscious choice” to care for a person, it has nothing to do with “feelings”, yet “feelings” can lead two people together in order to “make a “love” commitment”

.....Divorce was allowed out of the “hardness of man’s heart” in biblical times, it was instituted by the man, never the woman, all is different now, get tired of your mate? Bored? Run to the lawyer and get a divorce, look for a new mate, someone more exciting and full of life. This is the mentality of the world, but not the mentality of God. The only biblical reason for allowing divorce is adultery, and for unbelief, if there is a mixed marriage and the unbeliever refuses to live with the believer, “let him (or her) depart” for we are not called to strife. All the more reason to be “equally yoked together, believers with other believers” Personally, divorce should be a last choice if one is living in a “hell hole” and the mate is a “unholy terror” but let’s not even go there now, we need to lift up our mates in prayer and pray for understanding one with the other. We are all different, and our mates complement our weaknesses, and through our mates, our weaknesses become “strong”

…..It is almost 1 AM, I am definitely going to bed now…………Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Well, you have read through all the Parashiot and midrashim (commentaries) to continue, go back to page 1 of the Forum Post title "GENESIS TO DEUTERONOMY" a weekly study. it starts with "VaYikra" (Leviticus) For those of you who are printing out the studies, you might want to re-arrange the studies in order starting from Genesis. In the future, I will continue to add to this page (page 5) with other studies on God's Holy Writ

Jacob Ben Avraham........and thanks for reading through the studies.

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “VaYIKRA” (and he called) a few more details to add to the above Parasha study,


LEVITICUS 1:1-6:7………………ISAIAH 43:21-44:23……………MARK 11:1-12:44


……We start the book of Leviticus, this part of the Torah has to do with the Mishkan (the tabernacle) now ready to be used, and the sacrificial system that will be instituted within the Mishkan. All the sacrifices point to and illustrate MESIAH YESHUA (Jesus the Christ) who he is and what his one-time sacrifice means to us as believers. Even though the sacrificial system was completed with Messiahs’ death on Calvary, it is still worth while studying the meaning of it all, since it is a very integral part of the Torah.

…..The first thing you must do is read over the scripture verses, from Chapter 1:1 through 6:7. Now we are ready for a discussion. The whole idea of a “Korban” (sacrifice) is to generate the idea of “substitution”. The sacrificial system involves; a gift, a death, a substitute, a renewed relationship. “The gift (haMatanah)” comes from the person offering, which is an animal. The animal, which would be a goat, a lamb, a bull, or a bird, would be killed and the blood splattered on the altar (mizbeach), the animal would be a “substitute” for the person who offers it. The sins of the person “transfer” to the animal. Through the sacrifice, the relationship between the offeror and YHVH is renewed. But remember that the “sacrifices” are just symbolic of what they really mean,

Which is Messiah Yeshua taking on ALL of our sins and him being nailed to the cross, and shedding his blood for our sins, giving us a “renewed” relationship with Him, through a “born again” experience.

…..There were 5 kinds of “korbanot” (sacrifices); 1. The burnt offering (Olah) 2. The sin offering, 3. The guilt or trespass offering; 4. The Peace offering (Korban Shelamim) 5. The grain or meat offering (Minchah). Each one identifies our relationship with Messiah Yeshua.

…..THE BURNT OFFERING (Olah) This involved an animal sacrifice, the animal was completely burned on the altar and the ashes taken away and buried “outside the camp” the head, the inner organs, and the legs were burned as well. The pieces of the animal were arranged on the altar and burned. The head could symbolize our “thoughts” the inner organs could represent our “inner being, the heart, and the legs, our “walk” all of these were “offered up” to YHVH, thus symbolizing our “complete surrender to God in all that we are and have. The altar as you remember was made of hard wood overlaid with bronze and had a grill in the middle, and under the grill was earth and stones, Wood was laid on the grill and the animal was cut up and laid on the grill and burned. This reminds us of Yeshua who was “sacrificed” by his own free will on a WOODEN cross, and was consumed by the “fires of judgment” He was judged for OUR SINS. The animal’s throat was cut and the blood was poured out and splashed on the altar. The person offering the animal showed that he/his family was “offering themselves to the LORD”. It also symbolizes our awareness of our sin nature. This sacrifice originated in Genesis, with Adam and Eve, Abel offered an “Olah Korban” so did Abraham, when he offered up the ram instead of his son Isaac, so did Noah, when he left the ark.

…..THE SIN OFFERING (korban chatat) This also involved an animal sacrifice. It symbolized our specific sins that we commit by mistake, (active) or something we do not do, or forget to do (passive). In this korban, the person would offer the animal as a sacrifice, the person would place his hands on the head of the animal, transferring his “sins” into the animal, which would be the “substitute. The animal’s throat would be cut and the blood splattered on the altar. The priest would offer on the altar the fat, the liver, and the kidneys of the animal. These could symbolize our inner being. In this, the person confessed their sins and they did it by free will, and the animal symbolized Yeshua who paid our sin price in full.

…..THE TRESPASS OR GUILT OFFERING; This involved the same process, only that the person who committed an offense against another would also have to bring compensation for the wrong doing, either in payment in silver or gold, or payment with animals. When we offend another person, be the person a brother or sister in Messiah or an unbeliever, we need to “compensate” the sin, if we can do it, sometimes, we cannot, if the sin is against the person’s character, no amount of money can repay the damage done, only a sincere confession in humbleness. So, we need to watch our “walk”.

…..THE PEACE OFFERING (Shelamim). The word “Shelamim” comes from “Shalom” (peace) this was an enjoyable sacrifice in which both the priest and the offeror and his family would enjoy “roast beef, goat, or lamb”

This was a “thankfulness” offering for blessings received. The animal was offered in the same way, only the meat was shared between the priest and his family, and the offeror and his family. We see this kind of “korban” even today in the parks, when families go out and BBQ ribs (hopefully beef and not pork) chicken, beef sausage, steaks, etc, many times they invite friends and family to enjoy in the “grilling and BBQ” they also have bread, or tostadas, tortillas, drinks, salad, etc to accompany the meal.

…..THE MEAL OR MEAT OFFERING (minchah) this was a non-blood offering on the altar, in this korban, fine flour was offered, mixed with olive oil, frankincense, and also, the flour was made into cakes, rolls of bread, or flat breads (tortillas) but made without leaven or honey. These usually accompanied the peace offerings, to make the meal a “feast”. The fine flour symbolizes “YESHUA THE BREAD OF LIFE” the oil THE RUACH HA KODESH (The holy Spirit) the frankincense, OUR FELLOWSHIP THROUGH PRAYER. The animal itself represented Yeshua who gave his life for us, and took upon himself ALL of our sins, past, present, and future. The word “KORBAN” (sacrifice) comes from the Hebrew verb KARAV which means; “to come near”

…..We can only come near to YHVH through the shed blood of Messiah Yeshua, who was the “sacrificed lamb” the Bible says that “without the shedding of blood, there can be no remission of sins” Our sins were “atoned for once and forever. That is why the “new covenant” or “renewed” covenant is a BETTER covenant, because there is no more need for animal sacrifices, because YESHUA took their place.

ISAIAH 43:21-44:23.......................................... .................................................. .................. ..

…..YHVH speaks through the Prophet Yeshayahu and is complaining that Israel has forgotten about God, they no longer bring sacrifices, but are engrossed in sin, He explains that craftsmen will use their skill to make idols, that have no value, what a waste of craftsmanship! They can take iron and make a plowshare, swords, and even an idol. Is the fault in the iron? Or in the craftsman? Iron is just a material from the ground, the craftsman can turn it into something for usefulness or for idolatry. The worker in wood can cut down trees, make perhaps a plow, a wheel, use the wood for fuel for fire, or make a wooden idol. Is it the wood’s fault? or does the fault lie with the craftsman? Even today, we can use money either to buy food for our family, pay our bills, or buy and sell drugs! Does the fault lie in the money? Or the use of it? We can use money to honor or dishonor God and those around us, the choice is ours. God cries out to Israel; “I SHALL WIPE OUT YOUR TRANSGRESSIONS LIKE A CLOUD, AND YOUR SINS LIKE A MIST, RETURN TO ME AND I SHALL REDEEM YOU” (44:22)The promise still stands. If we “teshuv” to HIM, HE will save us!

MARK 11:1-12:44.......................................... .................................................. ...................

…..There are several themes in these verses. Yeshua is in all of them. One theme is that when he went into the temple in Yerushalayim, he threw over the money tables and chased out the money changers, saying “My house is a House of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves” there are many synagogues and some churches that refuse to conduct business on the Sabbath or on the day of worship because they are reminded of that verse. However, Yeshua called them “thieves” these money changers were exchanging foreign money such as Greek “drachmas” and Roman “Denarii” for Israel “Shekels” in order to buy sacrifice animals. Many times, the money changers would not honor the exchange rate, and would “cheat” the clients. If 12 Mexican pesos equaled 1 US dollar, it would be like accepting the 12 pesos and giving the person 75 cents! Perhaps these money changers were cheating in this way.

…..In 12:29-31 Yeshua quotes the “Shema” Hear O Israel YHVH is our Elohim, YHVH is ONE (Echad) and he continues, Love Elohim with all your heart, being, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Yeshua just summed up all the 613 commandments in two verses! Because all the commandments have to do with our relationship with YHVH and our relationship with our fellow man. That is the purpose of Bible study, to learn of these commandments and put them into practice, so as to deepen our relationship with Messiah Yeshua and to be a good witness to our fellow man, and…bring lost mankind to a saving relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ)

Shabbat Shalom………rabbi Ben Avraham (now return to page 1 and start the study anew)

[JacobBenAvraham]

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 or late March, is the “New Year” for us. This year, 2017, “New Year's day” was on March 27th
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 16th 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.


HAPPY PASSOVER SEASON………………….Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

STANDING ON THE ROCK! (Exodus 33:12-23)

.....Moshe asks YHVH a very interesting question; “You say bring this people up, but who is going with me?”
Without guidance, we can go nowhere. It is like walking in the dark without a flashlight, or being in the middle of the ocean without a compass. Where will we go? Who will lead us? Adonai has the answer Moshe is searching for;
.....“My presence goes, and I shall give you rest” (vs 14) The “Ruach Elohim” will go with the people, and they will receive “shalom”. There are two kinds of rest, “physical rest” from our labors, and “spiritual rest” that is from within us. Before, we were burdened down with the curse of sin, but once we accept Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ) as our LORD and Savior, we have his “presence” inside of us to give us “peace” (shalom)
Moshe wants to experience the “essence” of YHVH, but who can know who He really is? Can we grasp the meaning of the universe? The mind of God? We are limited, to what we can fathom as fallen beings, but YHVH listens to Moshe and gives him an answer;
.....“I shall cause all my goodness to pass before you, and I shall proclaim the Name of YHVH………See, there is a place with me, and you shall stand on the ROCK……. (vss 19,21)
.....There was a special place, a special ROCK, where Moshe was placed, he “Stood” upon the ROCK” (HaTzur)
In the picturesque/symbolic ancient Hebrew, the letters can symbolize, “The first Tzadik to receive the nail”
The ROCK symbolizes YESHUA, who IS the TZADIK (the righteous one) who received the Nail and paid our sin price in full, and thus…giving us SHALOM (rest) from our spiritual torment of being lost sinners.
The name YHVH proclaimed is HAVAYAH, (the essence of existence) who is “Haya” (the past) Hoveh (the present) and “YiYah” (the future) and who is YESHUAH (salvation of YAH)


Shalom……………rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHIOT: “Tazriah” (she bears seed) and “Metsora” (infected ones). April 29, 2017

Lev 12:1-13:59......................................... Lev 14:1-15:33
Prophets:....... 2 Kings 4:42-5:19..... Brit HaDasha:..... Luke 17:11-17

…..This week we have a double Torah portion; “Tazriah” which talks about when a woman gives childbirth, and “Metsora” which talks about “Tzara-at” which most Bibles interpret as “leprosy” but in actuality, the word “Tzara-at” covers ALL skin afflictions and diseases, including the dreaded disease called leprosy, medically known as “Hanson’s disease. Go to google “images” and see it, but be sure you don’t eat anything before hand, it is quite horrible.
…..Leviticus Chapter 12 covers childbirth, and YHVH deems “unclean” a woman after giving birth, and she has to stay put in her tent, 7 days plus 33 days. All together, “40” days, “40” is the number for testings’ and trials. Why, we might wonder, should a woman be rendered “Tamei” or “Unclean” because of giving birth? Only YHVH has the pure and true answer. It isn’t that she has sinned by giving birth, on the contrary, she has given life! Some rabbinical midrashim (commentaries) state that there is both “death” and “life” during childhood. “Life” is the new baby, yet “death” because the woman loses fluids (blood) which symbolizes life. Not that the woman actually dies, but the “lost blood” however much or little, still symbolizes life.
…..For a female child, the purification time is longer, 2 weeks plus 66 days, altogther, “80” days, the number “8” is the number of “new beginning” If we remember when Yeshua was born, Miryam and Yosef brought two turtle doves to be sacrificed after she went through her ritual cleansing, Yosef brought Yeshua to be circumcised on the 8th day.
…..Chapter 13 deals with two kinds of “Tzara-at” skin diseases (all kinds, both major and minor) and “mold & mildew on clothing. In ancient times, the person with a skin disease had to be isolated outside the camp until he or she got better, and was “healed” there were probably some ointments available then, probaby primitive, the priests were not doctors, but acted as “judges” who would “judge” the person “healed” if the disease was temporary, today we have many kinds of skin ailments, Psoraisis, Escema, simple rashes caused by allergies, scabies, ringworm, etc, were all based under the word “tzara-at” when the person was well and the disease was no more, the person would offer a sacrifice and return to the camp. Here again, we see a form of “death” (cast out, rejected) and “rebirth” entering into the body of Israel once again after healing.
…..Clothing also had to be checked, God knew about the dangers of mold and mildew long before man found out. People had to carefully check the fabric of their clothing, the sewing together of the yard was called “woofs” and “warps” and if there was a red or green discoloration, it was “mold and mildew” (also called “tsara-at”)
…..A person’s house could also be affected with “tsara-at” with mold and mildew, if it was, the walls had to be scraped and the affected stones removed and replaced.
…..How does this affect us spiritually? There is a “spiritual leprosy” that is rebellion against YHVH, living in contrary to His Word, doing what is “right in our own eyes” disregarding the commandments as if they were “only for the past” claiming that “Now we are under grace” and not guided by the Torah. Grace and Torah always co-existed, and they still do! Abraham was saved by grace, and this was before the written Torah. Even though many commandments can not be followed today, there are still many that CAN BE followed, let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater!
…..If we were to analyize our spiritual lives and maturity honestly, how many of us would have to cry out “Tamei” (unclean) and go run and hide? Yet there is forgiveness and a new beginning in our Messiah Yeshua, who paid our sin price and penalty on Calvary’s cross once and for ever. We can “come in the camp again” when we confess of sins before a Holy God, and accept His forgiveness, and accept his inner “healing”.
…..Some rabbinical commentaries claim that “tzara-at” came upon people’s skin, clothing, and houses because of ‘Leshon Hara” (evil tongue) because of spreading lies, slander, gossip, backbiting, backstabbing, etc. Take in account “Miriam” who was struck with “Tzara-at” when she spoke against Moshe! Yet Moshe interceeded on her behalf, and she was healed. The same way Yeshua heals us when he goes on our behalf before the Father.
…..We should be careful when speaking and only speak positive things about others, if another is in error, go to that person personally and confront the person in love, not talk about what he or she is doing wrong with others.
No wonder we have only ONE mouth, yet two EARS. Listen carefully, yet speak little.

2 KINGS 4:42-5:19

…..We read about “Naaman” the Syrian who was healed of his Tzara-at, whatever kind he had, He was healed, not because of anything he could pay Elisha, but what he did in OBEDIENCE and FAITH. He went and bathed in the River Jordan, when down 7 times, again, “7” is YHVH’s perfect number, it kind of symbolizes baptism in a way. When we came up the seventh time, he was healed of his disease.
…..We can became clean inside when we obey God’s Word, and accept Yeshua as Savior and LORD, Yeshua is the “Living Water” and when we “bathe in Him” we become clean, our “tamei” becomes “tahor”

LUKE 17:11-17

…Not the official Parasha reading, but this deals also with the healing of 10 who suffered with some sort of skin ailment, which made them “tamei” and “outcasts”. Yeshua healed them all, only for the asking, YET only ONE returned to say “thanks”. Do we take our Salvation for granted? Do we think we deserve it? Remember that only through the grace of YHVH does he allow us into HIS family. Do we really live like “B’nei Malach?” (children of the King) or….do we succume to the deceiver and lair of all times? Do we praise and thank Him for so great a gift such as YESHUAH (Salvation) ? do we thank and praise YESHUA for YESHUAH? Something to think about

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

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Achrei Mot” (after the death) and “K’doshim” (holy ones) LEV 16:1-20:27
Amos 9:7-15; Luke 2:1-52

Entering into a KADOSH (Holy) Relationship with Adonai

…..This Parasha speaks of the solemn Moed (appointed day) of Yom Kippur. The “Day of Redemption” also known as the “day of Coverings” (Yom HaKipurim). It was the only day of the year when the High Priest could enter into the “Most Holy Place” (K’dosh haK’doshim) the “Holy of Holies”. This is where the “Aron HaKodesh” (Ark of the Covenant) was kept and where the “Shekinah” (Glory of YHVH) hovered over the “Kaporet” (the covering of the Ark of the Covenant, looking down upon the Mercy Seat.
….The Parasha starts out with; “”Tell Aaron your brother not to come at just any time into the Holy Place inside the veil, before the mercy seat which is on the Ark, lest he die” Was this perhaps the reason why Nadab and Abihu died? Because the went into the Holy of Holies with their own fire? That is another thought. The high priest had to put on a special tunic, all white, of fine linen. Thus today it is customary during Yom Kippur to wear all white, symbolic of how YHVH views us through Yeshua our Messiah, but ONLY through Yeshua, can we be viewed as “Holy unto the LORD”
…..The High Priest had to sacrifice a bull and a ram for the sin and burnt offering. The bull could signify the “strength” of G-d, representing also Aaron and his family. and the ram, the reminder of the ram sacrificed instead of Isaac on “Mt. Moriah”. The ram symbolizes YESHUA who took our place on the cross of “Mt. Calvary”
…..Two goats were also present; one served as a “scape goat” and the other the “sacrificial goat”. We see Yeshua symbolized in both goats. One was sacrificed as a sin offering, symbolizing Yeshua as our “sacrifice of sin” because we are sinners. The other goat, carried symbolically our sins, and was sent off into the desert, (Azazel) as “Yeshua took our sins away from us”, and as far as the East is from the West, so our sins will be separated from us.
…..Aaron then took a censor of hot coals from the brazen altar, and he took incense and put the incense on the hot coals, then, with the smoking incense, he went into the Holy of Holies and put blood on the Mercy Seat. We see our Messiah Yeshua in all of this. To have fellowship with our creator, we need to start at the cross, where our sins were judged. This is the brazen altar. The incense symbolizes our prayers that go up before our Heavenly Father, through our prayers, we have fellowship with HIM. The blood that is sprinkled on the mercy seat symbolizes the blood of Messiah, that was shed for all of our sins. Under the mercy seat are the commandments that were given on Sinai. These were broken by our rebellion, and the blood of Messiah “covers” the sins of us all, BUT, more than that, they have been REMOVED, once and for ever.
…..Chapter 17 speaks on the “HaDam Kodesh” The sanctity of blood. Since blood symbolizes life, then, YHVH has prohibited the drinking of blood. One of the reasons that carnivorous animals are not kosher to eat is because they eat flesh, and flesh contains blood. “You shall not eat the blood of any flesh, for the life of all flesh is its blood” 17:14
…..Chapter 18 deals with sexual sins, there is no need to go over them since they are self-explanatory, much is common sense, yet in today’s societies, there is a perverse sexual expression, and philosophy of “if it feels good, do it” this is a lie straight from the pit of hell, straight from HaSatan! Sex should be expressed in the bond of matrimony and in this sense, it is entirely holy and sacred, because there is a commitment between the husband and wife, which (should) last a lifetime. And this is where the enemy attacks, Satan hates families, that’s a fact.
…..chapter 19 deals with quite a variety of commandments; “You shall not profane the name of the LORD thy YHVH; You shall love thy neighbor as thyself, I AM YHVH”. All of the 613 commandments of HaShem have to do with honoring YHVH and our relationship with our fellow man. When we honor and love the LORD with all of our heart, we are honoring and not profaning the Name YHVH, and when we honor and treat our fellow man well, and try to establish a good relationship with him or her, we are, in a matter of sense, keeping the whole Torah, (in a general sense). When we are a bad witness before our fellow man, when we are an embarrassment because our sins are brought into the light, then, we are profaning the name of YHVH.
…..”you shall not curse the deaf nor put a stumbling block before the blind” (19:14) When one talks about another in a negative sense or spreading an “untruth” the “other” cannot hear what is being said, it is as if that person is “deaf”. When we misrepresent the Truth of God, teach or spread false teaching whether on purpose or by error, we are in a way a “stumbling block” before someone that does not know Yeshua “The blind” (spiritually). “You shall not sow your field with mixed seed” ( 19:19) because each plant takes away from the soil nutrients, planting a mixture of crops will very soon deplete the soil of all of its nutrients, making the soil useless. “You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor TATTOO any marks on you I AM YHVH! That is quite a statement. I am of the opinion that if God wanted us to have tattoos on our bodies, we would have been born with them. Why can’t people be happy with the bodies God gave them? Why do they have to alter them with drawings and markings? But such was the custom of the pagan cultures like the Canaanites, Moabites, etc, and it continues today. However, the blood of Yeshua covers, cleanses, forgives ALL sin, even the sin of tattooing, yet tattooing is one sin that will leave its mark forever! (unless it is somehow removed)
…..”uncovering the nakedness of ….” Is another way of saying, “having sex” chapter 20 takes up that topic again along with other topics. Adultery, under Torah command, resulted in the death penalty, If this were effective today, how many couples would be true to each other, really? Perhaps many more than we imagine. It seems like sexuality is a serious issue with our creator. If it is serious with Him, it should be with us as well.
When we follow the Torah of Adonai, and put his commandments into practice with all of our heart, we are consecrating ourselves to Him, as “Kedoshim and Tzadikim” (holy and righteous ones) however always remember, that “SAVING” k’doshim and tzadikim comes ONLY through FAITH IN YESHUA! It is our faith in HIM that makes us Holy and Righteous, and this relationships leads us to Holy and Righteous works, which are obedience to his mitzvoth (commandments)

AMOS 9:7-15

…..Amos Ha Navi (Amos the Prophet) speaks through the Ruach HaKodesh (the Holy Spirit) saying that Yes, Adonai will seek out and punish Israel for their sins, and will search out the kingdoms of the earth where they are at, many will and have been destroyed because of their rebellion, HOWEVER, not all, there is always a remnant which is faithful, and true to the God of creation.
…..Amos looks into the future, and sees that Israel, and all of God’s children, both born as Israelis, and born in the Gentile nations will come together as ONE, (echad), …”Behold, the day is coming says YHVH…” we look into the future millennium and see “paradise restored” and real and eternal peace, and Yeshua will be on the throne as KING and LORD of all the world, what a time that will be for ALL of us.

LUKE 2:1-52

…..Do we forward to the future return of Yeshua? In this chapter, Simeon and Anna looked forward and greatly rejoiced to see Mashiach, even as a baby. He was presented at the Temple and was circumcised, Simeon and Anna recognized him as Mashiach, even before he grew up and performed miracles. Simeon said ; “My eyes have seen YESHUAH! Who is a LIGHT (HaOr) to bring revelation to the Gentiles. It is God’s perfect will that Yeshua be revealed to ALL PEOPLES, both those of Israel and those outside of Israel, so that HIS BODY might be complete, a “Kehilah Kadosh, Kol HaAm” (A holy congregation of all people)

Shabbat Shalom………….Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Emor” (say..)

LEVITICUS 21:1-24:23…………….EZEKIEL 44:15-31……………..LUKE 5:1-6:49

…..In this parashah study we see more details on the sanctity, Holiness, and comportment of priests. When we read in chapter 21, we read that YHVH is very particular and pays much attention to the physical. We might think that God only looks upon the heart, but thousands of years ago, the physical appearance was important, some with any kind of imperfection; like a broken foot, blind in one eye, hunchback, dwarf…It doesn’t say that they could not serve in the tabernacle or later on, the temple, but they couldn’t offer sacrifices.
…..We must remember that the priest was a kind of mediator between the people and YHVH, Today, YESHUA the Messiah is our mediator, between us and the Father, and Yeshua was/IS without sin, perfect in all ways, both inside and outside. We may not know what he looked like physically, but we can know that he didn’t have any physical deformities, being God in the flesh.
…..We also see regulations on marriage, touching dead things, etc…the priest was in a class of his own. The priest was “God’s man” his “representative” on earth, so, as the priests had a higher calling, their expectations were much higher than the regular “Joe Israelite” There is a repeated phrase: “You shall not profane my Holy Name, I am YHVH (Yod Hey Vav Hey) “ when we act contrary to His commandments, expectations as “b’nei Elohim” (children of God) we ARE profaning HIS Holy name, be it in words, or deeds. If the Israelites were observed by God through a looking glass, then the priests were observed by God through a microscope! If you get my drift! How are WE seen by our HOLY, SINLESS, GOD? Our standards are based on the Torah of Adonai.
HIS standards should be OURS as well, yet we always come up lacking, because of our inborn sin nature.
…..Thank Adonai for YESHUA, who bridged the gap caused by sin, to be our “high priest” before a Holy God, although our sin in dark and ugly, and we should see ourselves as such, because it is reality, through YESHUA, Our Heavenly Father sees us as “white as snow” or “white a wool” and now, under the new covenant, we are all “high priests” in his eyes, should not our expectations be as a “higher calling” just like the priests of old?
…..Chap 23: “HaMoedim of YHVH” (The feasts of the LORD). Here the special days of worship and assembly are mentioned, the first being the “Sabbath Day” it is a “day of Rest” a time of worship and coming together to worship Adonai and learn from HIS Word through His teachers, pastors, rabbis, evangelists, etc. The Sabbath day was NEVER changed to Sunday. Not that it was bad to come together on Sundays, any day of the week is a good time to come together. It just became customary for the believers in the first century to come together on the “first day of the week” like it is mentioned in Acts, to fellowship and eat together, but the believers ALWAYS considered Saturday, the Sabbath, the special and the official appointed day for rest, worship, and Bible study.
For me, the sabbath and Sunday are both special days to worship God and study his word with other believers.
…..The Passover and days of unleavened bread, symbolize Messiah Yeshua in our lives as the “Lamb of God” who took away the sin of the world, and who is also, the “Bread of Life”, who was “roasted in the fires of judgment for our sins, whose blood was shed for our sins, once and for ever. The “matzah” bread without leaven symbolizes Yeshua as the Bread of Life, without sin (leaven). And his blood is symbolized by the wine.
…..The Feast of First Fruits and Shavuot; counting 50 days from the time of Passover, to celebrate the blessing of a good and fruitful harvest of grains, (wheat and barley, the main crops). On Shavuot or “Pentecost” two leavened loaves of bread were made, each weighed about 5 pounds, were “waved” by the priest before the LORD in a special ceremony. These loaves symbolize the blessings of YHVH, they could also represent Israel and the Nations, “2” is the number of “unity” and “division” we are all “united” to YHVH by Messiah Yeshua, and have been “divided” or “separated” from the lost world of sin, YET, we still have our sin nature, noted by the leaven in the loaves of bread. It was also on “Shavuot” that the Torah was given on Mt. Sinai
…..The Feast of Trumpets, “Yom Teruah” symbolizes the start of the “days of Awe” when we reflect on our own relationship with Adonai. How do we measure up to God’s standards? Lacking? Fall short? I would say YES. 10 days later, comes “Yom Kippur” the day of “covering” or “Atonement” which was when the high priest came into the Holy of Holies, once a year, to commune with Adonai. This day points to Calvary, when Yeshua’s blood “atoned” for our sins, past, present, and future. It is a day of fasting, repentance, and soul searching. It is a day when we are accustomed to dress in white.
…..Feast of Tabernacles, or “Sukkot” is a joyous festival, when the “harvest” is in, kind of like “Thanksgiving” in the US of A. The time when God came to earth in human form as Yeshua, born in Beit Lechem, being raised learning carpentry and Torah, a teacher of Torah, healer of diseases, a raiser of the dead, and a sacrifice for our sins. This festivity was for 7 days, “7” the perfect number, and a special “8th” day “Hoshana Raba” when the customary reading of the Torah starts over again from Genesis. It also symbolizes when the Israelites lived in tents, “temporary dwellings” as our bodies are “temporary dwellings” for our souls and for the Holy Spirit dwelling within us.
…..Chaper 24: The Menorah, the lamps were lit from dusk to morning, the menorah was made of gold, which symbolizes perfection. The flame/light symbolizing Yeshua who is the “Light of the World” and the “all-consuming fire” and also, all believers are the “lights of the world” reflecting the SON light! “Table of Shewbread” which was in the Holy place across from the Menorah. Has 12 loaves of unleavened bread, representing the 12 tribes of Israel, again, Yeshua the “Bread of Life” Hey, maybe that was where the idea of the “bagel” came from, bread with a hole in middle, who knows! Maybe! This bread was for Aaron and his sons.

EZEKIEL 44:15-31

…..In this prophetic book, the Prophets sees into the future, the future priests of the third temple, (to be built in the near future) the descendants of “Zadok” will be the priests in the millennium, the same high standards are for these priests as well. It also states the job of the priest: “And they shall teach My people the difference between the holy and unholy, and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean” This should also be the goal of every Torah teacher, rabbi, minister, pastor, etc.. to teach the WHOLE TORAH in their place of worship and study, so that their sheep might follow their shepherd whole heartedly and secure.

LUKE 5:1-6:49

…..Yeshua speaks to the people, from a boat. After teaching, He and Kefa go out a ways and the result is a boat-load of fish. Kefa hears, yet protests, “We fished all night and caught nothing” yet still obeys and “reaps the harvest” many fish, the take home to sell and eat.
…..With simple obedience through faith, we can all reap the blessings that YHVH has instore for us. A little bit of faith, trust, and obedience, will bring in a big catch. Now, Kefa is promoted to be a “fisher-of-MEN” rescuing men’s souls from the grasp of haSatan, and bringing them into the Kingdom. Are you a fisher of men (and women) or are you still content with the small “fishy” things of life? You decide!

Shabbat Shalom…Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “B’Har” (on the Mountain)


LEVITICUS 25:1-26:2……………..JEREMIAH 32:6-27…………………LUKE 7:1-8:56


…..This parasha deals with the giving the land a rest after six years of planting and harvesting, on the seventh year the land shall rest. This, agriculturally, is very sound and comes from the mouth of the creator of all the earth. The reason is quite simple to understand. Crops, such as corn, wheat, barley, vegetables, etc, when they grow in the soil, take in nutrients, quite like us, when we eat, we absorb nutrients from the food we eat. Imagine the land after 6 years of planting and harvesting, all those nutrients, minerals, chemicals from the soil, are being absorbed by the crops sown, if the land does not have a chance to rest and renew itself, it will soon become useless, quite void of nutrients…so… a year’s rest will give the soil enough time to replenish itself.
…..We can apply this commandment today, to allow the land to rest after six years of planting and harvesting, even families that have little vegetable gardens in the back of their houses. May they enjoy six years of vegetables and then in the seventh year, just dump compost in the soil, food that goes bad, moldy bread, etc., don’t put it in the garbage, bury it in the garden, do that in that seventh year, and then the next year, plant and harvest again.
…..We can look at ourselves in a similar way. How do we count our lives? By a 365-day year? Or by sabbaticals?
If we were to count our years by the day, we could say we have many days and years ahead of us! Really? Do we know tomorrow? (didn’t think so). However, if we were to count our years on earth by counting by sevens? How many “sabbaticals” have we lived? How many “might” be left? If I were to count my sabbaticals, I would have to count starting in 1954. 1954-1960 first seven years, 1961-67, the second sabbatical. I would have to ask myself, What have I done or accomplished in each of these periods of seven years? Anything of importance? Have I influenced other lives? If we count by sabbaticals, we will find that we really don’t have many sabbaticals to live.
…..What do we do in our “seventh year?” wouldn’t it be wonderful to “rest” a whole year? Or just dedicate that “seventh year” to full time ministry work? That would be quite hard to do for those of us that work for a living
Who depend on a salary. Don’t think the boss would be very happy to hear us say; “Boss, I want to take off for this year, it is my “sabbatical” I’ll come back next year at the same time!” (Yeah, u-huh, weeelll, you might not find your job waiting for you after a year) but we do have the summers to rest. If we could divide the year into seven parts, we would end up with more or less 1.7 months of time. Why not minister during 1.7 months? Share God’s Word, teach the WORD to others, for those who can take off a year without compromising their jobs, take every seventh year and just take that time to rest, travel, minister, hike, walk, leave behind gospel tracts, visit different churches and/or Messianic synagogues, and may ADONAI supply ALL of your needs.
26:2 “YE SHALL KEEP MY SABBATHS! AND VENERATE MY SANCTUARY.


B’CHUKOTAI (in my statutes) LEVITICUS 26:3-27:34


….This double Parasha week brings the book of Leviticus to an end. When we read these final chapters, what YHVH is saying is; IF…you follow my torat (teachings, laws) and faithfully observe my mitzvoth (commandments) I WILL….. It is ALL CONDITIONAL, there is nothing without a condition. If we want Elohim’s blessings and good favor, we will follow HIS WORD, accept HIS LIVING WORD (Yeshua) into our life. Yeshua said; “If you love me, ye will obey my commandments” not only the commandments that he spoke about during his life on earth, but also, the ones which he gave to Moshe when HE was with the FATHER as part of ELOHIM.
…..Blessings and curses are a part of life. The world calls them as “good luck and bad luck” there is no such animal! All things that happen in our lives are a result of blessings, curses, and testing’s. Do we want to best of our Mashiach? Then, follow HIS Word, follow HIS mitzvoth, not to bring us salvation, that we already have, but as a RESULT OF our salvation (Yeshuah) And if you haven’t accepted Yeshua (Jesus) as your LORD and Savior, and Messiah, NOW is the perfect time, remember, we are NOT promised tomorrow, we are only one HEART BEAT away from eternity.


JEREMIAH 32:6-27; 16:19-17:14


….The prophet, before his people went into exile in Babylon, buys a piece of property, Why? Because Adonai has promised him that he will, to buy and sell again, build houses, plant vineyards, AFTER a period of 10 periods of 7 years each. Israel did not honor the sabbatical years, and now, the land will rest for 70 years. HOWEVER…The prophet was promised that Israel would return and repossess the land.
…..We see in reading this parasha that Adonai is a God of judgment, but at the same time, a God of forgiveness
Many times, we break HIS commandments, and many times, suffer the consequences for our actions, but there is forgiveness, after the time of suffering and tears, YHVH will never forget HIS PEOPLE. We might go under, but we will never be annihilated. ISRAEL is 4-ever. In chapters 16 to 17, the same thing is being said, YHVH sees all , “For my eyes are on all their ways, they are not hidden from my presence”
…..Who can hide from a Holy God? Yet the prophet says; “O YHVH, my strength and my stronghold, my refuge in a day of trouble” He continues to trust in Adonai, even though the rest of Israel goes into captivity. We might live in the midst of idolaters, lovers of the world, yet still we must trust HIM.


LUKE 7:1-8:56


…..We read about the miracles of Yeshua, Even the faith of a Roman Army officer whose servant was sick unto death, and the servant was healed. What is required of receiving a miracle? Faith! Not blind faith, but faith in the healing powers of Adonai, The Roman believed being far away, yet his servant was healed. He did not see Yeshua, yet he believed. Yeshua said, “blessed are those who do not see, yet believe.
…..Yochanan the Baptizer was recognized by Yeshua, as one of the best “talmidim” since he endured imprisonment, and even death, for the sake of the truth. Could we do that? Do we even dare to answer? Time will tell.


Shabbat Shalom…………rabbi Ben Avraham***

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “B’Midbar” (in the wilderness)

NUMBERS 1:1-4:20………………HOSEAS 2:1-22…………….LUKE 11:1-12:59

…..We start the new Torah Sefer called “Numbers” in English because it talks about “numbering” the tribes of Israel. We wonder why the reason of “numbering the people?” for this reason, we need to go back to the beginning to see.
…..In Egypt, Israel was a hodge-podge of undisciplined slaves working for Pharaoh, In Adonai’s timing, He sent Moshe, a “Messiah Type” to lead the people out of slavery to freedom. Once out of Egypt, came the task of taking Egypt out of the Israelites. They came to Har Sinai, ready to become a nation united under YHVH. The Ten Commandments served as the document in stone, a “Ketuba” to solidify the covenant. Now, the United Tribes of Israel under YHVH is established. But this is only the first part. Each Shavuot, we remember the giving of the “Torah in Stone” in the midst of thunder and fire.
…..Now that the nation is established, YHVH takes a count, why the count? As a nation, as every nation in the world has, the Nation of Israel needs an army! So, the count is taken to form the very first IDF (Israel Defense Force). I am sure that many of you that are reading this have served in one of the branches of the Armed Forces of the USA, or of other countries. I myself served in the US Army from 1972-1984. I met many people, and learned many things. It was a great experience and a special time in my life. Quite a few of my family members also served in the Armed Forces, the first being an ancestor of mine, Richard Ellis, who served in the Massachusetts Militia in 1640.
…..YHVH takes up the count and “enlists” every man who is 20 years old and older. They will serve in the armies of Israel. All those who are …”20 years old and upward who are able to go to war.” After the numbering, part of the daily life would have been practicing and learning how to use different combat weapons, back then would have been swords, spears, bows and arrows, and slingshots.
…..Every soldier has a job to do. Today we call these jobs MOS, (Military Occupation Specialties) One of mine was that of chaplain assistant. I was to assist a catholic chaplain who everyone called; “Father McCarthy” who had a bulldog named “Gus” who also went to chapel with him. 11 of the 12 tribes were called to be fighting men yet the tribe of Levi, was called to be the “chaplain tribe” They were exempt from combat duty, they would attend the Tabernacle and services. There were the cohenim (the priests) who would be the “chaplains” and the “levites” who would serve as the “chaplain assistants” sort of speaking.
…..So you are thinking, what does this numbering have to do with us as born-again believers in Messiah Yeshua? We need to again, go back and look at our lives before and after Messiah Yeshua. Before, we were just a bunch of “hodge-podge lost sinners in the camp of HaSatan, until Yeshua took us out of that camp by shedding his blood on the cross of Calvary, When we accepted his sacrifice, we were officially “out” of the camp. Yet, there would still be a lot of “haSatan and worldly influence” still in us, so, like the Israelites, “Egypt” was still in us.
When we accepted Messiah Yeshua as our Mashiach and Goel (Redeemer) we were added to the Commonwealth of Israel, now part of the Community, the “Adat” which began at Sinai 3500 years ago. We are the “olive branches” that have been “grafted into” the Olive Tree.
…..Now that we are members and citizens of “HIS People” we also are considered “soldiers” and in the LORD’s Army. However, we fight a different type of war. In this world, armies fight with RPGs, M-16s, Kalashnikovs, Berrettas, M-60s, etc.. We fight against, “spirits and principalities of darkness” it is a spiritual war against HaSatan and his demons. Only through the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) and the power of His WORD can we overcome the onslaughts of the enemy. He realizes he has lost the war, yet still continues to fight a losing battle, which was won at the cross 2000 years ago.
…..As the Cohenim ministered and had jobs to do, and also the soldiers had their jobs to do, we believers also have jobs within our “Kehilot” and “Adat” (congregations). That is why the Holy Spirit has given gifts of the Spirit, so that we might all serve in different capacities in the body of Messiah. In this way, the body grows and prospers. Some of us are rabbis, pastors, who also serve as teachers, also we have ministers in music and praise, finances, maintenance, prayer intercessors, counselors, and the list can go on.
…..The twelve tribes of Israel encircled the Tabernacle, with the tribe of Levi next to it. The “Mishkan” was at the center of the People. So also YHVH should be the “Center” of our life. The whole purpose of our life is to serve our God and Creator, while loving and supporting our brothers and sisters in the faith, reaching out to others who are lost, and teaching Torah to those who have ears to hear and learn. We are “numbered” in the eyes of Elohim, HE knows who we are, He has numbered the hairs on our head, and there is no such thing as “retirement” in the work of YHVH, well, there is…. It is called d-e-a-t-h.

HOSEA 2:1-22

…. How would you react if God spoke to you in a dream or vision, and you knew that is was really HIM, and he told you, “Hey_________ I want you to marry a prostitute!” Weeelll, you would think, was it really God who spoke to me, or was it the pizza I ate last night giving me nightmares? Hosea was told to marry a prostitute, a “wife of harlotry” and…he obeys! Even though he knows that she will be unfaithful to him. He still loves her, in spite of her unfaithfulness.
…..This mirrors the love of God toward his people. Israel was unfaithful to YHVH. They went after false gods and committed “spiritual adultery” yet…the love of our LORD and Savior is beyond measure, and he forgave them, Yes, there was punishment, as all fathers will chastise and punish their sons and daughters, so Israel suffered captivity, banishment from the land, dispersion among the nations, yet we have not been forgotten, we are being gathered together and being brought back to the roots of our faith.
…..Will be unfaithful to our God? Every time we break the commandments, we are in a way, being unfaithful, we are being disobedient sons and daughters, but we have a forgiving Father, King, Savior. If we wonder away, let us return to the bridegroom, who awaits the return of his bride.

LUKE 11:1-12:59

…..This portion has quite a few themes. One of the most important is the “LORD’s prayer”. Many people “pray” this in a robotic way, a series of words in repetition, many “pray” this without really thinking, “What am I saying really?” Yeshua wanted his talmidim to do more than just “pray” the words, but to “think and meditate on what the words are saying;
…..OUR FATHER…only believers can call God “Father” it is special relationship, to a lost person, God is their creator and will be their judge in the future, to a born-again believer, there is a “father-son/daughter” relationship….IN HEAVEN…He lives in the heavens (plural) in Hebrew it is always plural “HaShamayim” He is in the New Jerusalem, in outer Space, in our atmosphere, in our back yard, in our front yard, in our living room, and living inside of us. KADOSH BE YOUR NAME. His name “YHVH” is HOLY, and being Holy, His name should be spoken with reverence, whether we call him Yod Hey Vav Hey, or Adonai, or HaShem, or Adonai-Yeshua, Is our comportment as believers reflecting the holiness of HIS name? YOUR KINGDOM COME. His kingdom is already here! His kingdom is his activity on earth. His activity began with creation. There will be a political Kingdom that WILL COME down to earth in the future, and we will all be part of it….YOUR WILL BE DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN… We should always ask for and expect his PEFECT will for our lives. There is his “permissive will” and his “perfect will” We want to be in his “perfect will” as He wants the best for us All the time. GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD… We ask for our daily needs be met, and when we are in his will, our needs will be met, and many times, our wants as well. HOWEVER, be careful for what we ask for, since sometimes “He will give us want we want, but we won’t want what we get! If you catch the drift! Sometimes, when we don’t ask for much, he gives us that, and much more, and sometimes, he gives us just a “little at a time” to keep us humble. FORGIVE US OUR SINS AS WE FORGIVE THOSE WHO SIN AGAINST US. How can our Heavenly father forgive us if we hold grudges against others who have offended us. Sometimes, forgiveness is hard, but our Father commands it, and only through the Holy Spirit can we do it
Hosea forgave Gomer, his harlot wife, just like YHVH forgives us, LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION BUT DELIVER US FROM THE EVIL ONE. But wasn’t Yeshua tempted? Yes, and he called upon the Father for strength. When temptations come our way, and they will, we should ask that we not succumb to the temptation, and pray for an escape route. The enemy preys on our weaknesses, our eyes, our mind, our ears, however, if we have our sight on Yeshua, our mind tuned to HIM, and our ears to hear his WORD, we will overcome temptation.


Shabbat Shalom………….rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Nasso” (Elevate)

NUMBERS 4:21-7:89……JUDGES 13:2-25…………LUKE 13:1-14:35

…..We will see various themes in this Parasha study. In Chapter 4, the duties of some of the important Levite families; “B’nei Kohat” “B’nei Gershon” “B’nei Merari” (sons of). Their jobs consisted in taking down, transporting, and the setting up of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) throughout the wilderness journeys. Each family member had an important task to do within the Tabernacle and its furnishings. Interesting note that all the furnishings had to be covered by blue cloth. Blue symbolizes “HaShamayim” (The Heavenlies)
…..In the service to Adonai, we each have different jobs and ministries to perform. The Body of Messiah consists of many members, some preachers/pastors/rabbis, teachers of Torah, of Hebrew, Youth ministers, musicians, praise and worship members and leaders, finance personnel, maintenance personnel, prayer warriors, intercessors’, counselors, and the list could go on, HaShem has put his Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) on each and every born-again believer, and has given each member different gifts and jobs to do in the body of Mashiach.
There should be no laziness in the body. We were not appointed just to show up on the sabbath and/or on Sundays just to sit in the pews, listen to the message, drop some money in the box, and leave. It is much, much more than that, anyone can do just that, what are you doing with YOUR gifts of the spirit?
…..It is interesting to note that service in the Mishkan started at 30 years old and ended at 50. (4:29) Each Levite family member had a twenty year commitment to serve. When did Yeshua begin his ministry? When he was 30 years old! Coincidence? Or obedience to Torah?
…..Chapter 5; Unclean persons isolated! Anyone who was physically unclean had to be put outside the camp, until the uncleanliness had passed. When we sin, can we consider ourselves spiritually “outside the camp?” out of fellowship with YHVH? I would say yes, our spiritual condition is much more important than our physical condition, as Adonai looks upon the heart and not upon the flesh. But once we repent and get right again with our LORD, we are back in fellowship and in right standing. We could be physically inside the synagogue or church, going through the “praise” motions, yet spiritually miles away, yet through true confession and “teshuvah” when we “Shoov” (return) to Adonai, He accepts us again. He never leaves us, we leave HIM!
…..(5:5) Confession and Restitution; Part of our lives is “confession and restitution” if we have wronged our brother or sister in Messiah, we must confess that “wrong” and if possible, make up the “wrong” if it is possible.
If not, when all we can offer is a sincere “I am sorry for what I did” then, it is up to the person wronged to be mature enough to accept that and leave the event in the past, and not mention it at all, for evermore.
…..(5:11) Concerning unfaithful wives; it the days of old in Israel, if a wife was accused by her husband of adultery, she had to either confess or take an oath of “not guilty” a prayer was written with the name YHVH on it, and washed off into a bit of muddy water, if the woman told the truth, nothing would happen to her and the husband would have to accept her and HE would have to confess his “jealous spirit” BUT If the woman were guilty, then, her thigh would rot and her belly would s swell, that would be a horrible punishment, sounds like her womb would never again harbor a child. A lesson to all marriages to be faithful one to the other. Not that the same thing would happen, but where there is adultery, there is the spirit of jealousy, the spirit of HaSatan, and many times, broken marriages and lives, marriage is a covenant, and a broken covenant leads to the curse.
…..Chap 6. The Law of the Nazarite. After reading this chapter, we ask ourselves, are there Nazarites today? Is there any prohibition of undergoing a Nazarite vow? Torah does not prohibit it, if a person feels compelled to take a Nazarite vow, then, that person should honor that vow and stay away from raisins and grape juice, and grape wine. If one could remember the 1960s, in the “hippie era” one could think; “a lot of Nazarites, everyone has long hair” but not so, I don’t think that hippies had long hair because they were Nazarites. One can take an “oath” to serve HaShem completely for “X” amount of years, perhaps on the mission field, without undertaking a Nazarite vow, remember it is the heart that matters, not so much the “hair”
…..The Priestly Blessing; a very important blessing that says a lot: MAY YHVH BLESS YOU AND KEEP YOU
This is written in the Hebrew “singular” YOU not the plural YOU, because Israel, and all believers today are as ONE (Echad) in unity and ONE in fellowship, Adoani KEEPS us by “guarding us against curses and calamity, against sickness, poverty, He delivered our souls from the curse of sin, through Yeshua HaMashiach. HOWEVER, we can, through rebellion, bring on to ourselves these curses! MAY YHVH MAKE HIS FACE SHINE UPON YOU AND BE GRACIOUS UNTO YOU. The idea of “shine” is happiness, purity, and friendship so, May “P’nei Adonai” bring happiness to you and keep you pure “tahor” and bring to you many friends, also GRACIOUS is from the Hebrew “Chen” (grace) something that is not merited, by GRACE we are saved, not by our own merit, He showed us the “Face of Grace” in YESHUA HaMASHIACH who is our YESHUAH (salvation)
LIFT UP HIS COUNTENANCE UPON YOU AND GIVE YOU PEACE. May YHVH give his “attention” to you and directed to you, and may you rest in HIS SHALOM! When we have Yeshua as Mashiach, we have that internal shalom, inspite of the world around us being in a lot of “unrest” So THEY SHALL PUT MY NAME ON THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL AND I WILL BLESS THEM. We can see that one of the names of God which is EL, is part of the name “YisraEL” and the most sacred name; YHVH is part of “Y’HUdaH (Judah)
…..Chap 7 “The offerings of the leaders” The leaders of the Tribes of Israel brought offerings to the Mishkan, great offerings of silver, gold, and other items, for the maintenance of the Tabernacle. Today, we bring tithes, and offerings, yet our offerings can also be the offering up of our Time and Talent as well as our finances, it all goes back to using our spiritual gifts to edify the body of Messiah.

JUDGES 13:2-25

The story of Shimshon (Samson) starts here, it is full of promise, but Samson chooses the flesh and not the spirit. He was a Nazarite who broke all the Nazarite vows, in the end, lost his sight and his physical strength, yet, He was still used by Adonai to take vengeance upon the Philistines, which cost him his life. We see a God of mercy who showed mercy again unto this wayward judge, returned to him his strength, punished the Philistines, then took him home to glory. Perhaps he would have lived many more years had he honored his Nazarite vows, and had honored God. When we look at our own lives, are we bent more toward the flesh or toward the Spirit?

LUKE 13:1-14:35

….Among the themes in this chapter, the parable of the fig tree is enlightening, A fig tree is supposed to bear fruit in the right season. In the month of May, June, and July, are the months that fig trees bear fruit, at least here in South East Texas. there is one right across the fence line where we live, on the property of an African church, and we have been blessed by so much fruit. Did you know that boiling fig leaves into tea lowers blood sugar? Among other health benefits?
…..Yet the fig tree in this story had been planted three years ago, and still no fruit! Yet the keeper of the vineyard told the owner, “let’s use some fertilizer, then see what happens” All believers in a way are like fruit trees, we must bear fruit, by sharing, teaching God’s word to others, using our spiritual gifts, yet at times, we might need some “fertilizer” perhaps some more individual study in the WORD, a “pep” talk through a counselor or a pastor/rabbi, or just an encouraging word by another brother or sister in Messiah Yeshua.

I will be away for the month of June on vacation to South Florida, I might not be near a PC, so, I might get back to the Parashat again in July. Shalom Shabbat.

Rabbi J Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parashat: “Balak”


NUMBERS 22:2-25:9……………….MICAH 5:6-6:8……………….LUKE 22:1-71

…..This is the famous story of Bilam, who was asked to “curse” Israel, and instead, “Blessed” Israel, yet before this, his donkey spoke to him. The name “Bilam” or Baalam” might be a shorten version of the name “Baal-haAm” (lord of the people). Some believe that he was a true prophet of G-d, others believe he was a false prophet or a corrupt prophet. Seems like he was the later, yet YHVH used him for the purpose of blessing HaAm Israel
…..The princes of Balak, king of Moab, offered money to Balaam to curse Israel, so, Balaam consults Adonai as to what he should do. Elohim gives the answer; “Thou shalt not go with them, thou shalt not curse them for they are blessed” (Num 22:12) What the LORD has blessed, stays blessed, what the LORD has cursed, stays cursed UNLESS the LORD himself lifts the curse and changes the curse to a blessing.
…..Balaam tells the princes, “I can not go with you” yet Balak is stubborn, and wants Israel cursed, he offers more money, and fame, re-sends his princes and asked them again to propose to Balaam; “Stay here tonight and I will see what the LORD will tell me” says Balaam.
…..But hey, didn’t Adonai already say NO? what more is there to ask again?...or…is there a hidden reason? Maybe a money reason? We can see perhaps a greedy prophet trying to see if “God will change his mind”. Just a little curse for a lot of money? However, Adonai says; “Go with them, but only say what I tell you to say”. So, the word of God says that in the morning, Balaam saddled his *** and went with the princes of Moab, BUT…God was angry because he WENT!
…..There is a problem here, didn’t Adonai already give his permission for Balaam to GO, yet he was angry because he WENT! What is the root of interpretation here? Adonai gave his permission for Balaam to go PHYSICALLY with the princes of Moab, Yet, Balaam in his heart was GOING ALONG WITH THE IDEA, to curse for money, greed was in his heart. One thing is to GO, another is GO ALONG WITH THE IDEA, or be in unison to do evil. This is why the anger of the LORD was kindled, Balaam had in his heart the IDEA or the DESIRE to GO CURSE ISRAEL for riches.
…..Now Adonai used Balaam’s donkey to “wake him up” as to what is happening. Then, “Malach-YHVH” the (Angel of the LORD) stands in the way, the *** avoids him, three times, until Balaam strikes his donkey three times for going off the road. Finally, the LORD opens the mouth of the donkey and the donkey is made to speak;
“Why have you smitten me these three times?” Wouldn’t you wonder that Balaam would have been impressed that an animal would speak? Hebrew at that? Even the Angel spoke; “Why have you smitten your donkey these three times?”
…..Some wonder about the number “3” does it have meaning? There are “3” entities in Elohim, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, Yeshua was in the ground for 3 days, there are 3 parts of the Bible, the Torah, the Prophets and Hebrew poetry, and the Brit HaDasha (New Testament) Yeshua asked Kefa 3 times “Do you love me?” The Angel of Elohim gave “3” warning to Balaam, yet he did not SEE, or perhaps, did not WANT to see or heed the warnings, until his donkey, “alerted him”
……Another thing we can see is that God is concerned for the treatment of animals. Those who have pets should treat them with love and tender care, not mistreat them, for if the angel saw the donkey being struck and called Balaam’s attention on that, the LORD sees how YOU are treating your pet, (hopefully no one has a pet crocodile running around the house, yet there was a case of a family that DID have indeed a PET CROC in the house)
…..Balaam meets Balak, and again, they go to “3” separate places to view Israel, and Balaam orders “7” altars to be built. 7 bulls and 7 rams would be sacrificed. “7” is the perfect number, yet all three times, Balaam opens his mouth to BLESS Israel, Whom YHVH has blessed, no man can curse. Even in the third blessing, Balaam echoes the blessing of Abraham; “Blessed be everyone that blesseth thee, and cursed be everyone that curseth thee!”
…..What can we learn from all this? We must always support and bless Israel, bless our brothers and sisters in our congregations, do not let money be the main interest in our doing “good” if we wish to bless our neighbor, with our prayers, labor, favors, etc, let it not be guided by monetary gain, but but our sincere desire to bless and be a witness to Yeshua our Messiah. Oh yes, and treat your cats, dogs, birds, tropical fish, etc with TLC! Adonai is watching!

MICAH 5:6-6:8

…..”and the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many peoples…..” thus begins the Prophet Micah’s message. We can witness this account today. In every nation of this modern world we see the Jewish people. In almost every large city, there are Jewish neighborhoods, communities, Jewish Community Centers,
….The mission of Israel in the diaspora was to be a “light unto the nations” the nations thousands of years ago were dwelling in idolatry, the worship of pagan deities permeated their lives. Israel’s mission was to “introduce the worship and love of “One God” Adonai-Elohim, yet even in Israel idolatry was to be found, Elohim would have to “cut off” the worship of graven images, witchcrafts, Asherim, etc,
…..”Oh my people, what have I done to thee?” (6:3) Adonai has a right to ask this question. Did HE not take them out of Egypt? Bring them into a new land, He was to be their king, yet they fell into idol worship.
…..”and what does the LORD require of thee? only to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God”
(6:8) And that is what it is all about, If Yeshua loved mercy, did what was just and right, and lived a humble lifestyle, shouldn’t we do the same. Following in HIS footsteps is a meaningful goal in our lives.

LUKE 22:1-71

…..The final and last day of Yeshua on earth is here. He is celebrating the Pesach with his Talmidim. This is very meaningful as it illustrates what the “bread and the wine” symbolize.
…”This is my body which is being given to you” “the cup is the New Covenant ratified by my blood which is being poured out for you”. During the time of Pesach, and every time we take communion, which is like a “mini Pesach” we are reminded of our Messiah, who was beaten, whipped, torn apart, spat upon, and nailed to a cross, all because HE loved us SO MUCH. He, God in the flesh, loved his creation, a creation that was once sinless, became flawed by sin, wanted a new relationship once again. The Matzah which is marked by little holes, illustrates the nail holes, and he hung by those nails until his life paid our sin debt in full.
…..The New Covenant is ratified, by HIS BLOOD, the blood of bulls, sheep, and goats did NOT, and NEVER did have the power to remove sin, the animal sacrifices only SYMBOLIZED what Yeshua would do in the future.
That is why the New Covenant is a better covenant, because the blood of Yeshua, symbolized by the wine we drink, had and has the power to forgive, atone for the sin of mankind. Man only has to ACCEPT this sacrifice in a personal way, only then, can Messiah’s death on the cross benefit the person. So, if you have never accepted Yeshua as Messiah and LORD, do it now!

Shabbat Shalom……….Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Pinchas” (being zealous for God)

NUMBERS 25:10-29:40…………………I KINGS 18:46-19:21…………………….LUKE 23:1-24:53

…..This Torah portion starts with somewhat a surprise, a promotion in rank for an execution committed, and rather suddenly. Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron was a Levite, and during the time of the “weakness and falling away of the men of Israel, He took matters into his own hands, and slew Zimri and Cozby, who were commtting fornication in the sight of all Israel, yet Adonai rewarded him for this and gave him an “everlasting covenant of peace and an everlasting priesthood” because he was “Zealous” for his God, because he made an “atonement” for “b’nei Israel”.
…..to understand this, we must go back to Parasha Balak. King Balak wanted Balaam to curse Israel, yet Adonai did not do this, as Adonai prohibited this. Israel was already blessed by Adonai, and who Adonai has blessed, no man can curse. However, as many past rabbis and sages believe, what happened afterwards was indeed a tragedy. Even though the Torah does not record this, because of the events that followed, we can conclude that this is what might have happened afterwards.
…..Perhaps, Balaam went to Balak and told him that even though he could not curse Israel, the children of Israel could bring a curse among themselves by disobeying God’s commandments and going after other gods. The Torah says that b’nei Israel went after the Moabite prostitutes and went to worship their god “Baal-Peor” thus bring down the wrath of YHVH. The result was a plague that killed 24,000 Israelites until Pinchas took action and took a lance and thrusted it through the bellies of Zimri and Cozbi, thus “staying” the plague. As Adonai called it, “making an atonement for the children of Israel’ “Blood” for “blood”
…..We find this a very “rash” thing to do, yet, we need to understand that Israel was under a “theocracy” and not a “democracy”. Their ruler, King, commander-in-chief was YHVH himself. God calls the shots, makes the rules, and decides outcomes. Under our “democracy” we have presidents, kings, senate, governors, etc who make rules and vote on rules and outcomes. Try being “zealous” for God today the same way Pinchas did would land us in prison very quickly.
…..There are other ways one can show “zeal” for YHVH today; Loving his Torah, obeying his commandments, teaching his Word to those who would listen, loving our neighbors, supporting our local body of believers, voting for government officials who also uphold biblical standards. Pointing out sinful ways to sinners (in a loving, not condemning way) and pointing them to a personal relationship with Yeshua our Messiah.
…..Chapters 28 and 29 deal with the review of the sacrifices and offerings that the Israelites would offer to YHVH. Remember that they are about to cross over the Jordan to possess the promised land. There they would be “permanent residents” and the fight would continue to cast out the Canaanites (another reason for the census) to see how many “fighting men” the nation consisted of. Each and every element of the offerings and sacrifices illustrates who YESHUA is and what he stands for;
…..2 lambs per day, fine flour with oil; Yeshua who is the Lamb of God, who is the BREAD of Life, who has the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) within him. The oil symbolizes the Spirit of Elohim, and the “anointing by the Spirit on ALL believers. Wine was also used to pour over the sacrifices, the “wine” symbolizes the blood of Yeshua that ran down the cross, out of his veins for an atonement for all who believe and accept his sacrifice for sin. Bullocks were also sacrificed, the bullock symbolizes “strength” as the ancient symbol of the letter “Alef” was in the form of a bull. Adonai is “strength” yet he allowed himself to become “lower than the angels” to walk as man and be a willing sacrifice for sin. The goats remind us of Yom Kippur, one was set free and the other sacrificed, reminding us that our sins were “cast away” from us as well as dealt with on the cross. The sacrificed rams remind us of the “ram” that was in the thicket when Abraham offered his son Isaac as a sacrifice. That ram was sacrificed instead of Isaac, just as Yeshua was offered as a blood sacrifice in our place.

I KINGS 18:46-19:21

…..In this study, we see a second example of “zeal” for Adonai. Israel was again, bowing down and worshipping baal, and Eliyahu really had enough and decided to do something about it. He initiated a contest between YHVH and baal. Whoever answers the prayers and brings down fire to devour the animal sacrifices, that “god” would be GOD, who the Israelites would worship from then on.
…..Of course we know who won the contest. Yet as soon as Jezebel, the queen and wicked wife of king Ahab, heard this, and was told that Eliyahu had the 450 priests of baal slain, she sent a “death threat” to Elihayu. Well, he head for the hills! Ran all the way to Mt Horeb in Saudi Arabia, hundreds and hundreds of miles away. There he hid out for a while.
…..There are times when a “man of God” or a “woman of God” can pretty much tired out, exhausted, and they really need a rest. Eliyahu was no different. Adonai understood that. He allowed him to rest, he sent an angel to cook for him, and reassured him that there were 7000 Israelites that did not bow the knee to baal! Elihayu’s mission wasn’t quite over yet, he still had a job to do before being taken up to Heaven in a chariot of fire. Now that was quite a hot exit!
…..When we serve the LORD we work to the best of our anointed abilities, yet we need to know when to rest. Not quit mind you. Quitting and resting are too different things. Serving Adonai in ministry is a life calling, ending only at death! So, continue to serve YHVH, in this way we show our zeal.

LUKE 23:1-24:53

…..We have seen in the above cases, “zeal” for YHVH, yet in this case, we see YESHUA himself, who the zeal was directed to, in his case, he was the “lamb to the slaughter”. Remained silent in front of his accusers, before Pilatus and Herodus. There is a time for a believer to protest, to speak out, and there is a time to remain silent. For this reason, Yeshua came into the world. Not to claim kingship then, yet the whole earth was his to rule. His mission was to teach Torah, heal the sick, and to die for our sins.
…..Yes, there were times when he got incensed, angry, there were times when he showed his power, yet on the final day of his earthly life, it was a time to be silent, yet a time to forgive his accusers, to accept the nails, and to say; “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do!’ “Aba, Sh’vook l’hoon la ge’ir yadeen mana av’deen” (Aramaic) and “It is finished” “ha m’shalam” (Aramaic) seems like the translation is saying “the peace’ (is restored)
…..Zeal can come in two forms, aggressive, and passive, we need to know when to use them. Shabbat Shalom

Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA “Matot” (tribes) and Masei (Journeys of)

Numbers 30:1-32:42, 33:1-36:13………….Jeremiah 1:1-2:3…………John 1:1-51

…..I am not feeling very well now, intestinal cramps, so I will have to make this parasha a little short, so if anyone out there has a natural remedy for intestinal cramps, (without chemicals) leave me a comment.

…..Making vows, promises, etc. We need to be careful upon making “vows” Adonai takes serious “promises” that we make, especially using “His” Holy Name (YHVH). We might have said in times before words like; “I sware to God that I’ll____________, or “I promise that I’ll______” or “Next week by this time, I’ll________!

But how do you know that you will still be in the land of the living by next week to fulfill your promise? We take “making promises too lightly”.

…..If we remember the Israelie “Yeptah” who, upon winning a war against Israel’s enemies, “vowed” a vow and said, “Whatever comes out first from my house to meet me, I will offer it up as a burnt offering”. I am sure that he was probably thinking of some animal, be it a lamb or a goat, yet when he got home, his only “daughter” came out to meet him. The WORD of God says he “kept” his vow, yet how can we imagine that God would accept a human sacrifice? The WORD does not say, but there is a possibility that he DID offer up his daughter, yet not as a burnt offering, but perhaps a servant to the Levites in the tabernacle,

…..What did Yeshua say about vows? “Let our YES be YES, and NO, be NO” without more words. We might have good intentions, yet only the LORD manages our time on earth. If we say that we will do something, and we use God’s name, and we end up NOT doing it, we will have taken HIS HOLY NAME in vain. So, what words can we say when we want to do something, without “vowing”.

…..”If God permits, I will try to____________” or “I am not sure if I can, but, I will try to________” these words seem better, because it leaves the option “if God permits” . We can make plans for the future, but the future is always in the hands of Adonai

JEREMIAH 1:1-2:3

…..The calling of Navi YirimYahu (the prophet Jeremiah) As we see in the beginning, God says, “Before I formed you in the womb, I knew you!” A great statement, a great truth that flies in the face of abortionists, those that say, “a fetus in not yet human”. If God is saying that EVEN BEFORE” being formed in the womb, He had Jeremiah in mind.

…..Where are we before being formed in the womb of our mothers. No one seems to know; the WORD does not say. Some believe that we are in Spirit form and that we await bodies to go into, and that when a man and woman unite together in love making, when the sperm meets the egg, there is a guardian angel that is sent to be with that person, and either God or the angel takes the spirit and puts it inside the tiny microscopic body. Well, who knows if this is true, but it might just be that way.

…..Everyone has a calling in life, we just have to find out what it is. Our first calling is to “get right with God” and accept Yeshua as our Messiah, LORD and Savior, that act of faith will secure our eternity in Heaven. Then we must search out hearts and ask the LORD what our calling will be. It may be full time ministry, it may be a secular job joined with ministry. The gifts of the Holy Spirit will enable us to do many things. Jeremiah was called to a difficult task, to “wake up” the nation of Israel that was seeded deep in sin, his calling as “Prophet” (or spokesman) was for him, he accepted it, and we have his book to prove it.

…..Prophets declared the words of Adonai to the nations, today we have the complete written word of God. Everything we need to know is written in the Bible. His entire WORD is in 66 books. Can God speak through individuals today with “special words?” Sure, but those words will NOT contradict what is already written in the Torah.

…..If you are called to teach and expound God’s WORD, (which was the mission of the prophets of old in a general way) STUDY to show thyself WORTHY, a WORKMAN that needeth not be ashamed, but rightfully dividing the WORD of TRUTH!

JOHN 1:1-51

…..”In the beginning, was the WORD, and the WORD was with God and GOD was the WORD” This opening statement clarifies that YESHUA was part of the creation in the beginning, Yeshua has many names; Son of David, The Second Adam, Son of Man, the WAY, the TRUTH, the LIFE, the LIVING WORD, and many more.

…..WORDS are alive, and with words, Elohim created the heavens and the earth, bringing into being all that is in existence today. There are the things that were “created” (Bara) and those things (such as man) that were “Made” (Asah) “Asah” is used when things are “made” from pre-existing material, such as Adam (man) from earth, dust, water, and the spirit was put inside the body.

…..In time, GOD was manifested in human form as YESHUA, who is the “Living WORD” to pay the price of sin, to crush the head of HaSatan, to teach the Torah, heal the sick, We as followers of Yeshua are called to share and teach his WORD to all who will listen. Are you fulfilling YOUR CALLING?

Shabbat Shalom………Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Masei” (journeys) A Torah Midrash over NUMBERS 33:1-36:13

"We ALL experience journeys on this trip called "Life" "

…..”Masei” or “journeys” or “stages” in some translations, describes the encampments of the Israelites starting in “Mitzraim” (Egypt) which comes from the root word “Mtzr” or “m’tzar” meaning “restricted” and ending at last in the promised land, dividing “Eretz C’naan” between the different “matot Israel” (the tribes of Israel).
…..We can’t just look at this from a superficial view, saying, “well, so what, they traveled here and there and they finally made it home, they would have made it a lot sooner if they hadn’t complained so much! I mean, they listened to the spies, etc”. We need to look into the moral, spiritual, and symbolism. It is much more than just, “going from place to place physically”
…..They started out “restricted” to a place called “Egypt” and that is what “Mitzraim” means from the root word, m-tz-r, (mem, tzadik, resh) using the Hebrew letters, “Mitzraim” sounds more plural, so it could also mean “restrictions”. What was restricted? Their FREEDOM! They were surrounded by pagan idolatry, they couldn’t leave! Because they were slaves to Pharaoh. It took the power of Adonai-Elohim the great I AM-YHVH, to get them out using his chosen servant Moshe.
…..They left on the 15th of Nisan, the morning after Passover. The Word says they left with a “high hand” in some translations, “Boldness” with all “confidence” “fearless” with “valor”. It is interesting that the word “masei” in the hebrew is spelled, “mem, samech, ayin, yod” if we could see this word in the ancient hebrew spelling, the symbols would look like, “water, leaning on a short staff, an eye, and a hand connected to the arm”
So what could this word symbolize? What does “journeys” mean? Well, here is one idea; the “multitudes march forward, leaning on the staff in sight of the hand!” huh? OK, sooo what does THAT mean? Look at it this way, Moshe lead the way, he walked with a staff, as the custom of all leaders back then, the people kept Moshe in sight, and as he leaned on his staff, they followed, the “hand” leans on the “staff” but who gave Moshe the staff? It was YHVH!
…..As they journeyed, the kept YHVH in sight! The staff also symbolizes leadership, we lean on HIS leadership, and we have the “hand” in our sight, the “hands” that were pierced with the nails on Calvary. “Journeys” are not only physical, but also spiritual!
…..The Israelites left Egypt, crossed the Red Sea, now, they left “restrictions” behind, The sacrificed lambs of Passover symbolized Yeshua, the sacrificial lamb, who conquered the curse of sin and death, of haSatan. Now they are on their way to a new life, just as we begin a new journey starting from the cross of Calvary. The Israelites experienced “bitter waters” at Marah, yet they experienced an oasis at Elim. We experience both bitter times, and times of “refreshing cool waters”. Good times and bad times are part of our wanderings, or “life’s journeys”
…..They encamped at Mt Sinai, to receive the Torah, to become officially united as a nation. “Am Echad b’Elohim” (One united People of God) We receive Yeshua as our Messiah and LORD, and we receive his WORD, his Torah to guide us through the “wilderness of life”.
…..Then comes a list of all the places where they stopped, camped, and continued when the Glory Cloud lifted. All these stopping places took place during a period of 40 years. The number “40” symbolizes “testing” The LORD was “trying, testing” his people. Each place they stopped at, they learned new things, they experienced the sacrificial offerings once the Mishkan (tabernacle) was fully errected. Yes, they complained, and Adonai chastised, yet forgave his children. He was with them all through the 40 years of journeys, and He brought them into the promised land through their new leader “Yehoshua” who took Moshe’s place.
…..Our journeys through life will take us to many “stops” and “settlements” one might consider a “new job” a kind of “Stopping to settle down for a while” just like moving from “house to house” or “apartment to apartment” or “mobile home to mobile home”. Another “journey” in life is the “marriage journey” then there are the “childhood, adolescence, teenage, young adult, middle age, and Senior” journeys. In each journey we learn and experience different things, “bitter waters” as well as “refreshing new waters” all the time being led by “the LIVING WATER!
…..There will be enemies to fight, the worse kind being “spiritual enemies from the Kingdom of Darkness” who will put traps in our way, stumbling blocks, bad attitudes, issues, carnality, etc. But all these are part of the journeys in life. Aaron’s journey lasted 123 years. Methuselah’s journey lasted 969 years, while Abel’s journey was very short, maybe his journey ended when he was a teen. Enoch’s journey lasted 300 years.
…..We know not how long our journey will last, it is in God’s hands. What is important is that we learn from our experiences during our “stops” along the way, especially the “education stops” Education is a life-long stop, it should continue all of our days. We have our secular education and our Torah education. Sometimes there are conflicts between them, and we must adjust our ways, to the TORAH ways, not the other way around.
…..The last stop is the “Canaan” stop, “death” is our trip across the Jordan River that will bring us to the River of Life in the World to Come, In the New Jerusalem, we will receive our share of our inheritance, issued out to us by Our LORD and Messiah, Yeshua HaMashiach, (Jesus the Christ) Then, in the New Jerusalem, begins our “new journey” which will never end.
…..How can we imagine a journey without end? We really can’t, not with finite minds. “Time” as we know it will be meaningless. Perhaps 100 years on earth will be like 10 seconds in heaven. As Elohim says, “One day is likened unto a thousand years, and a thousand years as a day”
…..It is said that the “Jew is always wandering/traveling” Is this really true? The Jewish nation was sent out of the land to foreign lands, yes, they were cast out, expelled, but for what eternal and divine purpose? To take the belief in One God, in Adonai-Elohim, Adonai-Echad, YESHUA! To the pagan peoples. Many look at the expulsion as a punishment, yet the big picture is “evangelism”. Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul) was a traveling Jew, He founded many “Kehilot Meshiachit” (Messianic congregations) in many different areas of the middle east and southern Europe.
…..”Ashkenaz” was a descendant of Japheth, son of Noah, who “journeyed” to what is now Germany, and his descendents to East Europe and Russia (probably after the fall of “Babel”), and “B’nei Israel” (the Children of Israel) in their “journeys” met with the “descendants” of Ashkenaz, intermarried, and thus spreading the belief of ONE GOD to Germany and East Europe, thus we have the “Y’hudim-Ashkenazim” (The Ashkenazim Jewish peoples).
…..Some say that the desire to “travel” and “journey” is inbred into all Y’hudim, perhaps not all, many Jewish families have stayed in one place for centuries, others, are on the move. I personally like to travel, go to different places. I have traveled to many states in the USA and to about 12 countries in my “life’s journeys” I hope that the LORD will allow me to live to walk across Spain on the “St James Way” (Camino de Santiago) when I reach 66 years old. And of course, to return one last time to Eretz Israel to spend some time with the IDF again.
….As we physically journey from place to place, remember that we are also “journeying” spiritually, being guided (hopefully) by God’s WORD, through his Holy Spirit. May you prosper in your journeys through life,
“Buen Camino Peregrino!” (Have a good walk pilgrim!)

Shavua Tov …….Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parashat : “D’varim” (Words) Let's continue our journey, we have a long way to go...

DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:22…………………..ISAIAH 1:1-27………………..JOHN 4:1-5:47

…..We start the final book of the original 5 books of the Torah, in which Moshe wrote down all the statutes, commandments, precepts, details, etc that Adonai dictated to him to write. We must remember that Am Israel received the first 10 commandments directly from the mouth of Adonai, written down in stone, and given to the people, as a form of “Ketuba” or “marriage contract. Later, Adonai called Moshe back up to the mountain and there, dictated the rest of Torah, the rest of the 603 commandments which he wrote down on the scrolls.
…..603 were written down by Moshe, yet dictated by Adonai, and 10 dictated and written by YHVH himself. All in all, we must conclude that ALL the TORAH comes from YHVH, whether directly or indirectly written. This book of Deuteronomy is the last. Moshe began writing it, and it was probably finished by Yehoshuah (Joshua) or another leader.
…..The book relates the travels and experiences that “Am Yisrael” took and went through in 40 years time. Moshe retells the experience somewhat as a father would relate to his son. Let’s say that father and son travel across the USA for 6 months, then, perhaps 10 years later, the father would remind the son of their trip by remembering their “experiences” “Remember son, the time when we were traveling through Texas and, well, you insisted in exploring that abandoned house, even when I said it would NOT be a good idea…….”
…..The father tells both the good experiences and the bad experiences, the times when the son obeyed and the times when the son disobeyed. Moshe is doing the same thing. This is similar to last week’s parasha “Masei” (journeys) in which Moshe relates the journeys of Israel.
…..An interesting midrash is the difference and similarity between two words; “D’varim” (words) and “D’vorim”
(bees) One could say that the words that Moshe spoke to the Israelites were like the “stings of bees” and after giving this message, a little later on, Moshe went up Mt. Pisgah a died, just like when a bee stings, it leaves the stinger in the victim and dies.
…..Moshe tells the people the words of Adonai: “You have dwelt long enough in this mountain…turn you and take your journey….(1:6) they were right at the border of Moab and Canaan, the Jordan River separated the two nations. It was time to leave their “comfort zone” and “cross over” and conquer the pagan peoples, and lay claim to the land! They had fought giants before, you know, the bigger they are, the harder they fall, especially if Adonai “falls” them.
…..Remember that it all starts in Egypt (Mitzraim) the land of “restriction” , Moshe leads them out, symbolizing a sort of Messiah, leading them to Mt Sinai, they receive the Torah, for 40 years they undergo instruction, go through both “good times” and “bad times” sometimes, “very bad times” when YHVH chastised and killed many of them for disobedience and rebellion. Yet now, it is time for the promise to be fulfilled, the “Promised Land”
…..We go through the same thing in our lives. We start out being liberated from our “Egypt” we are liberated from the “lost world and the ways of the lost” by accepting Yeshua as our Messiah and LORD. We grow in faith, in spiritual maturity, or…perhaps fail in our relationship with YHVH, going through valleys and dark places, yet always emerging into the light of Torah again. Sometimes we get comfortable in one place, or doing one thing, yet, God is saying…”turn now and take your journey” or “continue your journey and continue to grow in faith, expose yourself to different “stuff” “situations” yet always trusting in HaShem

ISAIAH 1:1-27

…..The prophet has a difficult calling, he tells Israel of their unfaithfulness, sinfulness, how they wander away from God, and Adonai has to put up with the sacrifices, celebration of “new Moons” the High Holy Days. Etc. not that there is anything bad in celebrating them, BUT….when these are done in the “flesh” and not with the heart, and because these are “things that you just have to do” then, God wants NONE OF THESE! Many people that adhere to “religion” go through “rites and traditions” just because they are used to “doing them” this in no way pleases Adonai, HOWEVER…when we do things with a pure heart, and with a spirit of “worship and praise” then…Adonai welcomes it. The LORD says through the prophet;
…..Come now, let us reason together, though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow, though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool… IF…ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land” It is all CONDITIONAL!
…..We have the same choice, IF we choose to love and follow the LORD, by accepting HIM as LORD and Savior, then follow and do his commandments, following in his footsteps, THEN… we will reap the rewards, first is eternal life in Heaven, second will be spiritual blessings and perhaps even physical blessings while we are on earth, and even more, in Heaven.
…..Again, the choice is ours to take.

JOHN 4:1-5:47

…..This tells the story of the woman of Samaria, who comes to the well to draw water, and she receives even a better blessing. She gets her water and even more, the “Living Water” She meets her “Messiah”. It is very interesting that she is the first person who Yeshua reveals himself as Messiah to, without riddles, just in plain words;
…..The woman said; “I know that the Messiah is coming, and when he comes, he will teach us all things” (John 4:25. Yeshua responds saying; “I AM the one who speaks to you” in Aramaic it’s “Enah-na damalel na amehee” as this was the common language of the street then. Or one could rephrase and say, “It is I, (the Messiah) who speaks to you”
…..No doubt she had a life changing experience, she went to tell the others about Yeshua. Isn’t that what we are supposed to do? Receive Yeshua as LORD and Savior, then, go tell the world, go and teach others to respond to the calling of Adonai in their lives. Is HE part of YOUR LIFE?

Shabbat Shalom…… Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

TISHA ‘B’AV , WHY? HOW?*

…Tisha’B’Av, or the “9th of Av” , falls on August 1st, 2017 this year. It is a time of sadness, sorrow,* The question begins with “Eiha? (how) and “Lamah” (why?).* The book of Lamentations begins with “Eiha” (how) “How alone she sits, the city (Jerusalem) once great with people….” It is customary to read the five chapters of Lamentations during this time.

…..The voice of Yirimyahu (Jeremiah) after the destruction of the 1st Beit HaMikdash (Temple) and the city of Jerusalem by the Babylonians in 586 B.C.E the destruction culminated on the 9th of Av, (Tish’B”Av) This date marks the tragedies of many destructions in the history of Am Israel. Here’s a list, the destruction of the 1st temple is the first.

…..70 A.D. the Roman emperor Titus, destroys the second temple and murders millions of Israel’s inhabitants and 100,000 taken captive to Rome, those taken captive to Rome are used as sport in the arena, and others served as slaves.* Many others from Jerusalem fled the country, going to Europe, Africa, and other parts of the world.

…..1095 A.D.* Crusades, started by the church in Europe, main goal to kick the moors out of Jerusalem, many crusaders were anti-Semitic, during this time, 40% of Europe’s Jew’s were destroyed, one important event happened in Mainz, Germany.* There were 700 Jews living in that city at that time.* They sought refuge in a large church to be protected from the crusading murderers.* The Bishop at that time was kind and accepted to hide the Jews in the church.* The Jews had given the Bishop all their valuables in exchange.* To no avail.* The crusaders entered Mainz, discovered their hiding place, murdered all of them including the Bishop.* Some say that the Jews there committed suicide rather than falling into the hands of the crusaders.

…..1478* The start of the Spanish inquisition by Pope Nicolas, many Jews had to renounce their faith and accept Christianity, if not, they would be tortured and killed.* This of course is not “real Christianity” rather “Pseudo or false Christianity.* Those who were genuine/real believers and followers of Jesus, would never do such atrocities against God’s anointed people.

…..1492* The expulsion of the Jews from Spain on the 9th of Av.* Many went to England and to other countries in Europe, later on, many came to the Americas and settled in Mexico, Central and South America.* By that time, many families had lost their Jewish identity, but now, many are finding it again.

…..1635* “Pogroms” or persecutions against the Jewish people starts in Poland

…..1939* *The “holocaust” or “Shoah” begins in Nazi Germany.* Result? We all know, 6,000,000 Jewish people were killed by forced labor, starvation, and just “shot or gassed” in the concentration camps, just for being Jews.

…..1978* 11 Palestinians land in a small Kibutz in Israel by sea. They hijacked a bus, killed the driver and drove towards Tel Aviv. On the way to Tel Aviv, they used weapons fire and* threw hand grenades out the windows at people on the street, and the result was 38 Israelis killed.

…..2012* A rabbi in Rutherford, N.J. was at home during the night with his wife and 5 children.* An arab boy outside threw a molotov bomb through the living room window to kill the family and burn down the synagogue that was part of the house. (Molotov bomb: a glass bottle filled with gasoline and a rag, the rag is lighted and the bottle is thrown).*

* *During the time of Tisha b’Av many will sing this* song;

* *“Look from the heavens and see, we have become an object of scorn and contempt among the nations.* We are regarded as sheep to the slaughter, to be killed, beaten and destroyed.* But despite this, we have not forgotten your name, we beg you not to forget us!”

…..We regard this time as a time of sadness and grief, but we must also remember this time as a time of survival, and a time to get out of “spiritual exile” It is a time to “return home to Abba” a time of “teshuvah”.* Our ancestors in ancient Israel committed spiritual adultery, going after pagan gods, went away from the ways of Torah, despite of the warnings of God, God looked down and warned our people, finally, the punishment ensued yet Elohim has not and will NEVER reject his people, the remnant that survived is now in the millions, in every nation of the world.* It is time to return, return to G-d, return to the ways of his Torah, return to the “Living Torah”


*Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: Ekev (as a result)


DEUT: 7:12-11:25…………………ISA 49:14-51:3…………JOHN 7:1-8:59


…..Moshe starts out reminding and giving “Am Israel” assurance that “because ye harken unto these ordinances and keep them, and do them…YHVH shall keep with thee the covenant…..He starts out on a positive note, however, we know that history reveals that Israel did NOT keep the covenant, but broke the covenant, and went after strange gods, idolatry, etc. Perhaps this was an incentive to obey, and they would reap the blessings of obedience…IF…they would obey.
…..This can remind us of a father who promises his son that if the son would obey the rules of the house, do his homework on time, help take out the garbage, clean the bathroom, help mom with the dishes…THEN…the father would take the son camping during the summer. It is all about “rewards” for “obedience”
…..Is this any different for us? I would say not. Rewards for obedience has nothing to do with our salvation experience. Our salvation is based on FAITH and FAITH ONLY, and not on our obedience to mitzvoth, yet obedience to the Torah comes as a result of our relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach. Even he said; “If you love me, obey my commandments. Yes, he gave some new ones unlike those written down by Moshe, who received them from G-d on Mt. Sinai. Yet even back then, Yeshua was with the Father during the giving of the Ten Commandments, and later, the rest of the 603 that were given during the 40 day period of being with God on Har Sinai. So, did Yeshua give us ALL the mitzvoth? I would have to say YES.
…..An interesting verse is 8:1 “All the COMMANDMENT which I command thee this day shall yet observe to do, the ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land…..” in the Hebrew it is “Kol ha Mitzvah” it is written in the singular and not in the plural! But shouldn’t it be “mitzvoth” (commandments)? One would think so, but it IS in the SINGULAR, but why? The sages comment that all the commandments can be summed up into ONE commandment; “Love YHVH thy God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your might, and strength” and when we do love Adonai in this way, we will follow all the rest of the commandments, including loving our neighbor as ourselves.
…..Chap 9:4….Moshe reminds the people that it isn’t because they are a “righteous” nation that God is allowing Am Israel to move into the land Canaan, conquer the pagan inhabitants and take possession, rather it is because of those nations’ “unrighteousness” and “wickedness” that is the reason. Just like the time of the flood, the wicked world was destroyed and Noach and his family were saved, yet Noach had his problems too, his righteousness had flaws too, just like ALL of us. Our holiness is full of “holes”, and our salvation is because our God is a merciful God and he just chose to love us, just because HE is a LOVING and MERCIFUL GOD, and not that we deserve salvation. We can also state that the land of Canaan was being given to the Israelites because of the promise that YHVH made to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob too. YHVH never breaks his promises.
…..Chap 11, Moshe gives an order; “Therefore, thou shall love YHVH thy God, and keep his charge, and his statutes, and his ordinances and his commandments ALWAYS! Moshe cannot say this enough, like a father tells his children, “obey the rules, obey the rules, obey the rules” it is for their own good. Unfortunately, the admonition of obedience for many people goes in one ear and out the other.
…..Let us go forth with a renewed heart, and show our love to God, by learning and obeying his Torah, of course we cannot be Torah observant 100% , but through the power of the Ruach HaKodesh, we can be obedient sons and daughters of Adonai El Elyon, and live a lifestyle that honors HIM.

ISAIAH 49:14-51:3

….Israel cries out “The LORD hath forsaken me and forgotten me” but the prophet through the Holy Spirit assures the people, NO, the LORD has NOT forsaken you. There is a big difference between, “abandonment, forgetfulness, and chastisement”. The fact that YHVH has punished his people does not mean that He has abandoned Israel. When a father chastises his son or daughter, does that mean he no longer loves him or her? Does he cast them out of the house? Or say, “you are no longer my son, or daughter?” No, of course not, Scripture tells us that a father who loves his children, will discipline them. We can say the same with YHVH and “Am Israel” He loves his people, and so, HE will discipline them. Yes, he cast them out of the land, but in goyim lands, they continued to live and spread the teaching of the ONE GOD (Echad) who is Adonai-Elohim-Yeshuah. We are loved by our heavenly father, even when it hurts

JOHN 7:1-8:59

…..Some are a bit confused when Yeshua says to his brothers, “You guys go up to Yerushalayim to Sukkot, I will not YET go up. He did NOT LIE, (as some critics try to say). He was planning to go up, but not at that time. Remember that the celebration of Sukkot (Tabernacles) is a 7 day celebration, culminating on the 8th day, “Hoshannah Raba” it is possible that his brothers and his talmidim went during the beginning of the festivities, and Yeshua waited until the end, the 8th day.
…..It was on the 8th day that the priests brought up water from the pool of Siloam, and Yeshua took this opportunity to say to the people; “If anyone is thirsty, let him keep coming to me and drink, whoever puts his trust in me, as the scripture says, rivers of living water will flow from his inmost being”
…..We can remember the time when “B’nei Israel” (the children of Israel) were in the desert, and they got water from a ROCK. The ROCK symbolizes Yeshua, who is the ROCK of ages and the LIVING water. Water flowed from the rock so that the Israelites and the cattle could drink as much as they wanted.
…..The water that Yeshua talks about is our inner life through a renewed spirit, Remember that He also told the woman of Samaria the same thing. It was to her that he revealed himself as Mashiach openly. So, when we read the WORD of God, listen to music that praises HIM, we are receiving “living water”


Shabbat Shalom……..Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: “Re’eh” (see)


DEUT: 11:26-16:17………………ISAIAH 54:11-55:5……………….JOHN 9:1-10:42


. ..This Parasha study has various themes, and we can take a look at a few of them and discover what the Torah has to teach from YHVH through his servant Moshe.
…..”See” (Re’eh) this day I set before you a blessing and a curse” we wonder why YHVH did not say in plural, “blessings and curses?” one could say perhaps “blessing” goes with “obedience” and “curse” with “disobedience” both words are also singular. One could also say that “all blessings” fall under “ONE BLESSING” (b’rachah echad) and all curses fall under ONE CURSE, “K’lalah Echad” the word “echad” is ONE in UNITY, Elohim (who is unity) blesses all humanity (also echad) that is in obedience to the WORD, and to the LIVING WORD. and also, the curse is also upon “All humanity” that does not obey and that walks in rebellion against Adonai. Well, that’s one way to look at it.
…..This is a repetition of last week’s parasha, Moshe mentions this many times, and cannot stress it enough to his people. Even the pronoun “I” in “I set before you.. is stressed in Hebrew “Anochi!” meaning “I MYSELF!!!!”
(I am really serious dudes!)
…..12:2 “you must destroy all the sites….” The pagan nations gathered together at different places to erect false gods and worship them, these must be destroyed! Today, we must walk away from false gods, put them behind us, even, destroy them if necessary. If a TV has become a god to you, and you find yourself addicted to it, sell it, give it away, or destroy it. If money has become like a “god” to you, give some of it away to the poor and needy. Anything that comes before your love and worship of Adonai is considered a “false god” get rid of it!
…..12:13 on burnt offerings, it is good to dedicate our meals to Adonai, we are blessed to be able to go to a store and buy chicken and beef already prepared. We must remember to thank YHVH for this food, ALL FOODwhich means ALL that is mentioned in Leviticus 11, is for us to enjoy, now, verse 15 says, “The unclean and the clean alike may partake of it, as of the gazelle and the deer…” this is NOT talking about unclean and clean FOODS, it is talking about PEOPLE who are clean and unclean. Anyway, gazelles and deer are both clean animals, but I have never seen gazelle steaks in the supermarket, maybe in Africa they have them. It is saying that people who have diseases that render them “unclean” like lepers, may partake of this food, just like people who are disease free may, verse 22 mentions this again, “the unclean may it to together with the clean” (people)
…..Chap 13 deals with false prophets. These deceivers were NOT TOLERATED back then! Turning people away from true worship of Adonai warranted a death sentence. Back then, God was dead serious about true worship and teaching the truth, and…HE STILL IS! We must all worship him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH, when study the scriptures (Truth) we must do so in the ‘spirit” of joy and ask for wisdom.
…..Chap 14 deals with the chosen kosher foods which YHVH has selected for all humanity, it is a repetition of Leviticus 11. However, man thinks he is smarter than God and has added stuff to His perfect menu, and the result is obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. We all know what foods have been added to the menu, I won’t go over them as that will produce a bunch of negative comments from readers. When people’s “food comfort zone” is threatened, it is very uncomfortable to “give up” those unclean meats, no matter how tasty they may be. Well, we all can either obey or disobey, the choice is ours.
…..”You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” This verse has caused questions, and traditions, even unto separating meat and milk items, getting separate refrigerators, etc.. All it is saying is this; (literally) if you have a female goat, and the mother goat is raising its kid, do not kill the kid, then milk the mother goat, and boil the kid in its mother’s milk. I mean, who would go out of the way to do that anyway? However, this might also have a deeper spiritual meaning. So, there is more than meets the eye and the basic understanding, if we take this derashically, we can look at it this way;
…..”meat” can symbolize the “flesh” and “milk” symbolize “life” it is the mother’s milk which maintains life to her young, yet “meat” once off the bone is dead! dead flesh! So the connection is “our carnal flesh is sinful” yet the “milk of the WORD” (as said by Rav Shaul/Paul the Apostle) is what gives us LIFE. The Hebrew word for meat is “basar” yet milk, in hebrew is “Chalav”. written with the same Hebrew letters, but with different vowels is “Chelev” which means “pleasure” the three Hebrew letters “Chet, Lamed, and Beit, (CH L V) “LeiV” is also the word for “heart” so “milk” can be connected to “pleasure for the heart” and indeed, the sincere “MILK of the WORD of God is indeed, pleasure for the heart, while the things of the “flesh” (meat) are of the world. So, there is a separation of “meat and milk” symbolizing “things that give life, from things that produce death” This of course, is not a literal separation, but spiritual and moral. (if literal, we shouldn’t eat Lasagna! Or cheese burgers)
…..Chapter 16 deals with “Yamim K’doshim” the HOLY DAYS, the days that YHVH has separated for our observance and worship; PASSOVER , we remember the “Passover Lamb” who was Yeshua HaMashiach who gave his life for us all. The week of UNLEAVENED BREAD, when we put leavened bread away, since leaven reminds us of SIN in our lives. SHAVUOT (Pentecost) when the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) came to earth to stay, and when the Torah was given to Israel on Har Sinai. SUKKOT the feast of booths, which is a time of Thanksgiving, similar to the Thanksgiving of the pilgrims of Plymouth. When we thank God for abundant harvest, and for the coming of God to earth (as Yeshua) to walk among humankind, to teach Torah, heal, raise the dead, and die for our sins. Have you accepted HIM as your LORD and Savior?


ISAIAH 54:11-55:5


“Navi Yeshayahu” (Prophet Isaiah) speaks as directed by the Holy Spirit, as a father who comforts his children, promising them blessings, but begins with “Unhappy, storm-tossed one”, meaning that Israel has been through a lot, deportation to Babylon, destruction of the temple, scattered throughout the nations of the world…YET…blessings, protection, etc. will follow for THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD. Yes, for THOSE who SERVE the LORD. Yes, we have to be on HIS side, part of HIS FAMILY, and walk in OBEDIENCE.
…..”Come, all who are thirsty, come for water….” (Chap 55) Yeshua mentions LIVING WATER (himself) on HoShannah Raba (the eighth day of Sukkot) and also, to the woman of Samaria, this water is available to US ALL, if we just choose to drink of his WORD.


JOHN 9:1-10:42


…. This is the story of the healing of the blind man. Yeshua spat in the dust and make him “new eyes!” What a miracle, and why not? Are we not made from the dust of the earth (Adamah)? So Yeshua takes of the same dust, adds his own spittle (a form of water) and now, the blind man washes in the “Pool of Siloach” (which means “sent”) So, we see this; a man who has a defect (blindness) meets Yeshua (The Living God) who made man from the dust of the earth, puts dust on the blind man’s eyes, add a bit of water, then “sends” the man to wash in the pool that means “Sent” and then, he sees!
…. There are many who are blind spiritually, they cannot or don’t want, or will not “see” the truth. They see it, yet they don’t. The Bible is TRUTH yet many just see a book with stories in it, yet when the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the spiritually blind, then, they can now SEE! The difference between the “clean” and the “unclean” the “worldly” and “Holy”, “obedience” and “disobedience” before they were blind and now they can see. We were all blind, yet now, we can see! Baruch HaShem!


Shabbat Shalom….Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHA: “Shoftim” (judges)

DEUT: 16:18:-21:9…………………..ISAIAH 51:12-52:12……………….JOHN 1:1-57

…..This parasha starts off with; “Judges (shoftim) and officers shalt thou make thee at thy gates, which YHVH thy Elohim giveth thee….they shall judge the people with “righteous judgment…” Many people when they think of the word “judge” they think of the elderly man or woman with the black robe in the court room who points a finger and dishes out a prison sentence, a sentence that condemns a criminal who is standing before said judge. While it is true that the word “judge” can mean to issue or decide a sentence that could condemn, in the Hebrew it also means one who “knows, teaches, and decides issues related to the Torah”. A “shofet” was someone like a Torah teacher, but the job not only included making plain the teachings of Adonai through His Torah, but the
“shofet” also rendered decisions based on God’s Holy Writ.
…..Today, there are “shoftim” in every Bible based church, synagogue, congregation, Torah study group, etc, perhaps we do not call them “shoftim” or “judges” we just call them “rabbis, pastors, Torah teachers, Sunday school teachers. They (should) expound and make plain the scriptures to those who are listening, and if needed, take necessary decisions based on God’s Word, concerning matters such as finances, church/synagogue discipline, or any decision based on our Judeo-Christian faith and ethics. Some call them “gatekeepers” the “gatekeepers” keep in sound doctrine, and “do not let in” false teaching, or, have to “expose” false teaching that perhaps has been circulating. “making righteous judgment” is making “correct or decisions which are “right” according to God’s Word. The Word of God and the Torah is for ALL PEOPLE, and for this reason, the Torah says; “thou shalt not respect persons…” meaning that “one should not single out a person because that person is either rich, poor, famous, in politics, etc… in order to say, “well, because it is YOU my friend, I will make an exception to the Torah rule” Elohim says NO!, we are ALL EQUAL, we are ALL SINNERS are deserve righteous judgment, and what applies to the rich man, applies to the poor man as well.
…..(16:20) “Tzedek, Tzedek tirdof” (Righteousness, Righteousness persue!) Why does the Torah say “righteousness twice? There are two points of view from the rabbis. One is that one must persue (run after) righteousness as long as the end result is also righteous. Example is, from the Talmud, a story about an olive grower. The Owner owns many acres of olive trees and he makes a lot of olive oil and fills many urns with the oil and sells each urn for 100 shekels. A servant of the owner is carrying an urn to the storehouse and he slips and falls, dropping and breaking the urn. Result, the oil is lost. The owner’s son drags the servant to the judge at the city gate, and the judge judges according to the “eye for an eye” judgment.
…..He renders a “right” judgment, that, the servant will have to pay 100 shekels for the lost oil. The son is also in agreement. He will dock the servants pay for that month, which is also 100 shekels. The servant cries out to the owner and explains the situation. The owner who is kind and merciful calls his son and says the following;
“My son, you had the right to bring the servant to judgment, and the judgment is just and right according to the Torah…HOWEVER… the end result will be very unfair and unrighteous, the servant’s family will suffer loss and will not be able to buy food for the month….so…we on the other hand can afford the loss, while the servant can not. I will render this judgement, that the servant’s mishap be forgiven, and no wage kept back!” Thus, “righteousness, righteousness we will pursue!”
…..The other understanding of this verse is that there are two kinds of “righteousness” “Righteous faith” and “Righteous works” both we must pursue! We pursue “righteous faith” through prayer and our personal relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach, reading/studying the Torah, and occupy ourselves as well with “righteous mitzvoth” through our obedience and following the commandments. The scripture says that “we are saved (righteous faith) unto good works (righteous works). But we must always remember that “righteous works never lead to righteous salvation, rather it is the other way, “righteous salvation leads us to do works of righteousness”
….Chapter 17 deals with offering sacrificial animals with blemishes. Since today, we don’t sacrifice animals, how can we relate to this verse? The animals were “offered up” to Adonai, we “offer up” to YHVH our praises, prayers, and our service in form of our spiritual gifts, may our prayers be “without blemish” (without distraction, whole hearted, and sincere) not just repeating words that are printed in a prayer book, but “understanding” the words in the prayer book, or better yet, your own words from the heart. May we offer up our spiritual gift with a whole heart to the best of our ability.
…..(17:14) talks about “setting a king over thee” It was not Adonai’s perfect will that Israel would have kings, as He already knew what the outcome would be. You could probably count on one hand the righteous kings of Israel; David, Josiah, Hezekiah, the rest were perverted and evil (perhaps there were a few more). Manasseh corrected his ways towards the end of his life. God instructs every king to make a copy of the Torah and to study the Torah (17:18). If every president of every nation did that, every nation would be at peace, one with the other, We would not have anti-immigrant laws, racism, etc. We must pray that our president, men and women in authority govern according to the commandments of the Torah, in accordance to what the Bible teaches.
…..Chapter 18. The priests and Levites are supported by the people, they get food, (meat, and produce from the field) and skins from the animals that are sacrificed. This was God’s provision for his ministers. Should it be any different today? I would say not! Those who live to teach God’s Word should be maintained by God’s people. Unfortunately, in many countries, some pastors, rabbis, etc live lives in poverty because the people of their congregation don’t give, yet, some probably do live well, IF they teach their people to give, then, they will, because they love God’s teaching servants and want the best for them and their families. Some ministers have to work secular jobs in order to survive, this affects their ministry because their time is limited.
…..(18:9) “When you come unto the land which YHVH gives you…you will NOT… and the Torah mentions the abominations that the pagan peoples do. When we move to go to a new town, city, or even to a different job, we will notice the habits, and customs of the people of those new towns, cities, or job sites. Perhaps some of their ways will not be in accordance to what the WORD of God teaches; Cheating on spouses, cheating at work, gossip, (leshon hara) dirty jokes, lying to the boss, ill treatment of others, the list could go on, Will we separate ourselves from them? Or…in order to be accepted and not ridiculed, will we “compromise” our standards? Yet Torah says; “thou shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations!” (or job sites, neighborhoods, cities, towns, etc)
…(19:14) “Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor’s landmark which they of old time have set” I remember when I lived in New York, seeing 4 foot high stone walls that were in the wooded area behind my house. I was told that way back in colonial days, the owners of that property built those walls to separate their property from the property of others. The stone walls indicated, “behind this wall is my area, beyond the wall is your area”. God has established “landmarks” His WORD is a “boundary” a “landmark” when we venture out of God’s Holy Writ, we leave the protection of “His property” and enter into the property of HaSatan. In this world, there are only two standards of living, God’s standards and Satan’s standards. YHVH has guide lines, it is called “The Torah” the landmarks are the 66 books of his Torah, outside of that, is the “anything goes” philosophy, “do whatever feels good” way of living.
…..If we attempt to change a biblical landmark, we are “taking away” from the Word of God, we are headed for trouble. Dad told Jimmy, “Ten feet away from the wasp nest is the landmark, don’t go beyond it!” but Jimmy went beyond it, he got closer, the wasps didn’t like that, and a wasp flew over and stung little Jimmy on the leg” had Jimmy obeyed the voice of his father, and had respected the landmark, he wouldn’t have gotten stung. (yes, that is a portion from “my life”)
…..(20:19) teaches us to respect trees. Yes, YHVH is concerned about trees. There are some trees that are used for building, like Oak, pine, willow, etc… yet there are trees that are for fruit and nuts. Many times, when people build homes, they must first clear the field. At times, these fruit trees are cut down. These trees are for food, I have seen in some places, that homes are built “around” a certain fruit tree, and the tree grows in the corner of the kitchen, and a place is made in the roof so that the tree can keep growing without hitting obstacles. The family then can enjoy the fruit and is honoring God’s Word concerning fruit trees.
…..If we remember back in Genesis, the whole food menu consisted only of fruit and nuts from the trees, and from grains and vegetables, and people lived to 900 years. Kind of makes sense to protect “food trees”.

ISAIAH 51:12-52:12

…..The prophet speaks through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) “Therefore, my people shall know MY NAME…..” one thing is to know about God, the other is to KNOW HIM, and “HIS NAME” but we know that God has many names and titles, But his Most Holy Name is Y_H V H (Yod Hey Vav Hey) The one who WAS, IS, and WILL BE, whose letters, in the ancient Hebrew, symbolize “Behold the nail, behold the hand” whose name is also YESHUAH which means SALVATION.
…..”How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings, who announces“shalom” who announces YESHUAH (salvation) and who announces “God Rules!” This is the message that every born again believer should be concerned with. When we talk to people about God, the message is that “YHVH is alive and well, and that He Rules in the hearts of all who come to him through YESHUA and that through YESHUA we get YESHUAH and SHALOM in our lives.
…..”YHVH hath made bare His HOLY ARM, in the eyes of ALL NATIONS, and all the ends of the earth shalt see the YESHUAH of our God”
…..2000 years ago, Adonai made bare his HOLY ARM in the person of Yeshua HaMashiach, who walked on this earth, who taught the truths of the Torah, who healed the sick, and raised the dead, and who took upon himself all of our sins, the name YAH which is a short form of YAHWEH, is spelled with only two Hebrew letters, the YOD, and the HEY, which symbolize “Behold the Arm (or hand) so…YeshuaH has the Y and the H, Salvation is for ALL THE NATIONS, for those who will put their trust in the Messiah Yeshua. One day, ALL the Nations will SEE YESHUA, in the flesh, and HE WILL REIGN! Baruch HaShem!

JOHN 11:1-57

….. This is the story about “Elazar” (Lazarus) who died and was resurrected. We see that Miryam sends word to Yeshua that Elazar, her brother is sick and dying, yet Yeshua tarries, does not rush to heal Elazar, he waits until he is finally dead, and then, 4 days later, he shows up. He could have arrived in time to heal him, yet he waits! But why? To understand, we need to understand one of the Jewish mind-sets of that time.
…..It was believed back then that when a person died, his or her soul left the body, yet stayed near the body for three days, on the fourth day, it left and descended to Sheol, It was believed that after 4 days, only the MESSIAH could resurrect a person, even from the pit of Sheol.
…..When He called out “Elazar, come forth” he did come out of the tomb. As believers, we all look forward to the resurrection of our bodies, when we die, our bodies will be buried, yet WE will be in the presence of the LORD. Our bodies will be transformed into incorruptible bodies, which will join our souls in Heaven. Rav Shaul said, “To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the LORD” which means, either we are in our bodies, or we are in heaven with the LORD, how else could one interpret that verse?
…..So, take heart, we have “x” number of years to live here on earth, yet, earth is not our permanent home, our home is in the New Jerusalem, where we will live…well…time is not a factor…FOR EVER….is!

Shabbat shalom (pray for our protection against the approaching hurricane here in south-east TX)

Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parashah:* Ki Tetse (when you go out)*
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DEUT: 21:10-25:19……………….ISAIAH 54:1-10………………….JOHN 12:1-50**
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**** In this parashah we see a lot of “common sense” mitzvoth that are for today, and we can also see some mitzvoth that we need to take a good look at to see how we can apply them, perhaps not so much literally, but spiritually and morally.* In some cases, both.
**** Verse 10 talks about taking a captive woman from the enemy and making her your wife.* Well, I wouldn’t recommend that very much, you might end up with your throat cut when you are sleeping.* But back in the old days, an Israeli soldier had the right to take a woman who was from an enemy city, once captive, and make her his wife.* We might ask ourselves, why? Well, if a person falls in love with someone, well, as the saying goes, “love is blind” many times, the man (or woman) can’t see reason, just the flesh.**
**** But in the case of a captive woman from an enemy city, what is the “bigger picture?” An Israeli soldier shows her compassion, she has lost her family, her city in ruins, her “gods” have abandoned her.* All she has now is this “soldier” who has brought her to his camp, and to his “One God”.* Soon she will see the difference between the false gods she left behind, and the one and Only God, Adonai-Elohim, perhaps she was ill-treated in her city, and here, she is showed compassion, she is allowed to mourn her loss, and in time, she will learn about Adonai, and perhaps, even to love her new husband.* At first, it seems a bad thing, but in time, it turns into a good thing.
**** Many US soldiers have returned home with foreign wives, perhaps, some pagan who worshipped idols, perhaps some even gave up their pagan worship to embrace the worship of Adonai.* We would like to hope so.
Looking at this from another standpoint.* We were at one time, in the enemy’s camp, we were in the camp of HaSatan, and our “bridegroom’ (Yeshua) paid the price of ransom, and bought our freedom with his own blood, now, He has taken us (his bride) to his encampment, and we, all believers, will be HIS future bride. Baruch HaShem! (Praise God) *
**** Vs 18 talks about the “wayward son” in that if he is rebellious and defiant and refuses correction, that the parents would have to take him to the “shoftim” (judges) and they would stone him with stones.* Rebellion had a death sentence connected to it.* Now, we never read of that actually happening in God’s Word, yet it was a commandment back then. Try that today and you will definitely be “standing tall before the man!” (off to prison you will go) HOWEVER…if we train up a youth in God’s Word, and teach him to worship, and he sees (or she sees) the parents as models, then…it is likely that rebellion will not be part of his or her life.* Today, we know that “rocks” are not the answer, only the “ROCK of ages is!”
**** Vs 22:* those that have received the death penalty, could not be left “hanging” either from a rope, or from a cross or stake.* They had to be taken down and buried.* That is why our Messiah was taken down and buried in the tomb.* Today, we see many crucifixes with Yeshua still on them.* The fact is that He did NOT remain on the cross, but was buried, and arose the third day.* We worship a risen Savior, not one who is still on the cross.
**** Chap 22; 1-4.* To help someone find a lost item is a big mitzvah, be the item an animal, such as a lost pet, or a wallet, important papers, etc.* Unfortunately, we live in an age of worldly materialism, the ideology is “Finders Keepers, Losers weepers” that is the philosophy of the lost world, not of born-again believers.* If one finds a wallet with money inside (that has happened to me a few times, finding peoples’ wallets) and there is an ID, we must return it to that person, money intact! Not minus the cash, that will only make you a thief.* If a person’s mule (or car) is on the side of the road, go render assistance if you can (sometimes, a bit dangerous today) or at least, call the police for assistance if the emergency looks bad.
**** Vs 5;* “A woman must not put on a man’s apparel, nor a man wear a woman’s clothing”* Back thousands of years ago, the clothing was generally the same, long, flowing tunics tied with a cloth or leather belt or sash and sandals.* The difference between men and women’s tunics was the type of material used and the design.* Today we live in a unisex clothing world.* Many women wear blue-jeans or pants to work, just like men, yet a man better not put on a dress (unless you are a Scotsman with a kilt and bagpipes).* But even today, there are pants and jeans that are “made for women” let us all abide by this commandment. Personally, a woman looks better in a dress than in pants.
**** Vs 8:* Common sense to build a fence on your roof, or around a swimming pool, property, etc, so that there will not be accidents, (nor alligators coming in to swim in your pool)
**** Vs 9:* prohibition of mixing seed, wool and linen, mixing work animals.* These can be considered being “unequally yoked” an ox is stronger than an ***, and the *** will suffer in the long-run.* Mixed seeds will take out more chemicals from the soil. Wool will shrink, and linen will not, this goes for a marriage relationship as well, mixing a non-believer with a believer.* You will have an unequally yoked household, different goals, ideas, philosophies, mannerisms, etc.* One will serve God the other, HaSatan! That is why there is a separation of things that are Holy and things that are unholy, the things of God and the things of the lost world.
**** Vs 12:* “You shall make Tzitziot (tassels) on the four corners of your garments” This is still for today and speaks about our relationship with our Messiah Yeshua, it also connects us with our Jewish culture, it reminds us of the Torah, and the number of windings of the blue thread* 7,8,11,13 are significant.* (7+8=15, Yod + Hey) and (11 = Vav (6) + Hey (5)) Y H V H and ECHAD (one in unity) = 13 (Alef + Chet + dalet) YHVH is ONE
**** Chap 24 addresses divorce, if a woman is found in “uncleanness” as some texts state, the man can divorce her.* This word is connected to “nudity” and could even go as far as saying, the husband finds the wife nude with another man, (adultery) the word in Hebrew is “Ervat” (uncleanness) yet Yeshua teaches that forgiveness is more important than “putting away the wife” but…the exception remains “adultery” yet even this can be forgiven, a marriage is important, and Satan will do everything in his power to destroy marriages.
**** 24:14** “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a STRANGER (foreigner) in one of the communities of your land” Very important to know, that ALL workers, including immigrants, with or without work visas, should be respected, helped, and not HARRASSED! Hello!!* The USA was founded by immigrants, let’s do our best to pray for them and respect them, and help them, vs 17 says “You shall NOT subvert the RIGHTS of the stranger…” Every immigrant has the right to the “pursuit of happiness and well-being in this country called the US of A.* If the immigrant is an unrepentant criminal, that is a different story.
**** The chapter also talks about the farmer and his crops, he should let the needy take what they need, it is not considered stealing.* We should not look at everything with $ in mind, we should share with the needy.
**** 25:4** “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.”* In other words, every employee has the right to his or her lunch break!
*** 25:5-10 talks about the “Levirate marriage” when a man dies and leaves no sons, the man’s brother (if single) must marry the man’s widow so as to raise up children.* Well, would this be a good thing today? There are some who would say yes, and others would say no.* I’ll let you decide, If I were single and in that situation, if I wasn’t going with anyone, well…. maybe I’d go for it, why not? (especially if she was pretty).* I guess it would be good because the marriage is kept within the family.
*** 25:13 talks about “diverse weights” very important to conduct “honest business transactions” not crooked and unfair, unfortunately, we live in a world of greed, and there are people out there, scammers, that want to get your goods, be careful! Especially on the internet.*
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ISAIAH 54:1-10
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**** “Shout O Barren one, you who bore no child, shout aloud for joy…” We ask when does a barren woman shout for joy because she cannot have children.* I would guess that it depends of the circumstances.* This reminds us of Sarah, who was barren, yet she did not give up hope, in spite of her error, in giving to Abraham her servant Hagar, YHVH still blessed her, and her child “Yitzchak” was the blessing she hoped for, her “offspring will dispossess nations” from Yitzchak to Ya’akov, from Ya’akov to the 12 sons, and from the 12 sons, we are all here
Today, many of us, mixed in with the nations, yet we are still here.
**** The LORD has called us back! There was a time when we didn’t give spiritual things a second thought, the bible was just another book on the book shelf.* I for sure didn’t have any interest in it growing up as a teenager.
Yet the LORD called me through another teen, and from there, Bible study groups in the Army, and from there, Yeshiva school.
**** We are chastised yet we are forgiven, the LORD chastens all whom he receives, I think that the worse type of chastening is having an indifferent spirit, neither hot nor cold, The LORD has taken us back in love, His love is seen in YESHUA HaMASHIACH, who gave his all for us all!
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JOHN 12:1-50
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**** Nearing the time of Pesach, when Yeshua entered Yerushalayim, people welcomed him.* We know the story, with palm branches.* It reminds us of the first Passover, when a lamb was to be taken on the tenth day of Nissan
And then, sacrificed on the 14th.* The Lamb of YHVH entered on the tenth day, and gave up his life on the 14th
**** Yet before Calvary, he made a statement; “Unless a grain of wheat that falls to the ground dies, it stays just a grain, but if it dies, it produces a big harvest” What is he saying here?* HE is the grain of wheat that died, yet arose again with life.* WE are the big harvest of believers that have come from his death and resurrection, and when we “sow the seed” (God’s Word) we are helping to create big harvests,
**** Yet we need to understand that some seed will land on stony ground, not all seed that ends up in the ground, sprouts, if it responds to the water and sunlight, it will come up.* We came up! Because we responded to the “Living Water” and the SON light!*
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Shabbat Shalom......Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHAH: “KI TAVO” (When you enter in)

DEUT 26:1-29:9…………………………ISAIAH 60:1-22…………………….JOHN 13:1-15:27


We are coming to the end of Moshe’s earthly ministry, and he reiterates again, the importance of following and obeying the Torah of Elohim. Am Israel is still in the desert wilderness, but it isn’t like the desert that we find today in the middle east. Remember that the people had much cattle to tend and care for, there had to be grass and water to eat and drink, otherwise, the cattle would have died out.
Moshe starts off with; “when you enter the land that YHVH gives you as an inheritance…” they will be planting and harvesting crops like wheat, barley, corn, etc. In the third year of harvest, the people must give tithes and offerings of whatever they harvest. Tithes to the priests, where? “to the place where YHVH your God chooses to have his name dwell! They must also care for the widows, orphans, foreigners, etc, giving them also from the tithe and offerings of the crops. This is so that everyone is taken care of.
Back in the Bible days, there was no such thing as the welfare office and food stamps. God’s people were responsible for caring for each other. The same thing should exist today, if there are brothers and sisters in the faith that are suffering, God’s people should take care of them until they can get back on their feet. Today we can not only give monetary tithes and offerings to our congregations, since this is where YHVH has chosen to place his name, we can also give of our time, and talent. Whatever spiritual gifts that the Holy Spirit has given us, we can give back and minister to others.
Moshe continues to say to his people; “Today you have affirmed that YHVH is your God and that you will walk in his ways, keep his statutes, commandments, and ordinances, and obey him. And today, YHVH has affirmed that you are His special people as He promised you……….You will be a AM KADOSH (Holy People) to YHVH your God as He promised.
Every born-again believer today is part of His “AM KADOSH” even though we were born and raised in Israel, and perhaps our parents weren’t either. The Commonwealth of Israel has extended from that specific group of Israelites that were ready to cross the Jordan River, to ALL people who embrace the God of All creation and accept the blood atonement of Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ), and so become part of HIS family, we have been all called out and separated from the rest of the world, a world that rejects God and all that is holy. We are the “odd-balls” of the world. But it is good being that kind of an odd-ball.
There is, however, belief in Christendom that the “law” has been done away with, abolished, and in its place, “grace”. All the commandments that God gave are no more. It may be that many are not for today, because there is no more Levitical priesthood, no more animal sacrifices. Yet we know that Yeshua FULFILLED all the Torah in its entirety. “Fulfilling” is not “abolishing” Yeshua said so himself “I have not come to abolish the Torah and the Prophets, but to fulfill” in other words, to give a precise interpretation of the same. The Torah (God’s instructions to his people) has always existed, it just was not written down until the time of Moshe, and “Grace” has always existed as well. Adam was saved by grace, so was Eve, so was Noach, so was Abraham.
But let us also remember that “Salvation” is a separate issue, “salvation” is a done deal when we accept Yeshua as Messiah and LORD in our lives. Through our salvation experience, we should be led by the Holy Spirit to love and obey the teaching that is within God’s Holy Writ, and not that we can choose only what is convenient to us, like, “guess it is OK now to have a ham sandwich, or order shrimp scampi at a restaurant, “wrong” Elohim already made up man’s menu, it is up to us to follow it, or reap a physical curse of high cholesterol and high blood pressure. \
Speaking about curses, there are “covenant curses” that we should all be aware of, starting in chapter 27:15
“Cursed is the person who: makes carved idol images, who dishonors parents, who moves boundary markers,
Who leads a blind person astray, who denies justice to foreigners, who does illicit sexual practices, who commits murder, who accepts bribes to kill an innocent person, and all those who does not put the Torah into practice.
Let’s look at some of these, “no images” yet most religions today have them, many of them, have they not read about this curse? It is always best never to condemn religious denominations that have images, because God’s Word already does it, our job is to lead a person to study God’s word and see it for themselves. “removing boundary markers!” the Word of God makes boundaries for us NOT to cross over. God’s Word is like a fence, it keeps us in and keeps evil out, cross the boundary marker, or “take away” boundary markers, then, we are “taking away” from God’s WORD, we are headed for trouble. “Leading a blind person astray” who would intentionally do that one may ask? But when one brings erroneous or bad teaching of God’s Word to people, we are “leading astray” those who do not know God’s Word, many being “blind” to the truth, one might be leading them “away” from the truth.
“Those who deny justice to foreigners” are under a curse, is the USA government under a curse? For deporting so many innocent immigrants who just want to come to America for a better life? Did “Harvey” just happen? Did Irma just happen? Or are these weather conditions part of divine judgment? Something to think about!
“Illicit sexual practices” goes without saying, yet many call these practices, “alternate life-styles” Why not just call it what it is; SIN and REBELLION to God’s WORD! and be honest? Murder and bribes to murder, this goes without saying, we all can understand that. The last is a hard statement, “cursed is anyone who does not put the words of this Torah into practice!”
Yet Yeshua, took the curse of sin from us, and nailed all of our disobedience to the cross of Calvary, so even when we do sin, and fail to put the “words of the Torah” into practice, there is forgiveness when there is sincere repentance, As Yeshua told the woman who was caught in the act of adultery, “I condemn thee not, go and sin no more” If the one who could have condemned her, did not, but forgave her, we also can receive forgiveness when we fail to keep the Words of the Torah.
Remember, first comes a personal salvation experience with Yeshua, which leads us to follow the Word of God, in that order, never the other way around. (we are saved unto good works, not to do good works to be saved)
But on a better note, there are blessings for obedience! IF…. we obey, blessings and curses are always and have always been conditional. It is up to us, to follow in the master’s footsteps, following the master’s words. There are earthly blessings, and eternal blessings, the best of both worlds.

ISAIAH 60:1-22

Israel can rejoice, for the OR ISRAEL has come, the LIGHT of ISRAEL, will attract all the nations. Isaiah gets a glimpse of the future of Israel, perhaps the millennium Israel, when YESHUA is on the throne, what a time that will be. Jerusalem will be the capital of the world, and best of all, we will be serving the LORD during that time too. Did the prophet Isaiah see airplanes; “Who are these who fly like a cloud, like doves in their windows?” sounds like an airplane to me.

JOHN 13:1-15:27

In this chapter, we see Yeshua washing his disciples’ feet, this was after the last supper. Many might wonder what was this all about. We must understand the custom of that time. Today, when visitors come to our house, we might show them to some easy chairs, get them a drink of water or juice. In winter, we might take their coat and hang it in a clothing closet which might be near the front door. In my aunt and uncle’s house, it was by the front door.
In ancient times, the host would have the guest sit down and the host, or the host’s servant or slave would take the guest’s sandals off and wash the guest’s feet. There were no paved roads back then, the roads were dry and dusty, and when it rained, the roads became muddy. A guest might come with either dusty or muddy sandals and feet.
When Yeshua washed the disciples’ feet, he was giving the example of “servanthood” the “master” becomes the “servant” to “lead” one must first learn to “serve” washing of the feet also symbolizes “fellowship among believers”
An important part of ministry, is serving others, when we serve others, we are doing it unto God.


Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

*********PARASHIOT: “Nitsavim” (you are standing) and “VaYelech” (And he went)

DEUT 29:10 – 31:30………………ISAIAH 61:10-63:9……………………. JOHN 16:1-17:26

We are coming up to the end of Moshe’s earthly ministry. He is stating his final words, He has walked with God’s people for 40 years, and has gone through a lot with them. He received the commandments from Elohim, and taught the people the Word of Adonai. As we remember, YHVH gave the people the Ten Commandments directly, and the rest of the 603 commandments were given to the people through Moshe, yet ALL the Torah comes from Adonai. Moshe has intervened quite a few times to rescue Israel from destruction, as we remember, YHVH wanted on a few occasions destroy the whole people because of their disobedience and unbelief, yet Moshe intervened on their behalf.
The same thing happens today, we have an advocate in Heaven who pleads our case before our Heavenly Father. Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus the Christ is our “mediator” and his blood pleads our case, and atones for our sins. As long as we have the sin nature in our bodies, we need a redeemer, a Messiah who will stand before a Holy God, and HE sees us as “righteous”, because we have accepted HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, by faith.
Moshe starts out saying…” You stand, all of you, before YHVH your God, your chiefs, tribes, elders, officers, men, women, children, etc.…” he goes on to say “that you may enter into the covenant with YHVH your God is making with you today, in order that HE may establish you as HIS PEOPLE!
What is this covenant which Moshe talks about? It is the first covenant established by blood, the blood of rams, bulls, goats, and sheep, the establishment of the sacrificial system which lasted many, many years. Yet about 1400 years later, Rav Shaul (Paul) writes that this covenant was changed to a “better covenant”, the “better covenant was NOT based on the blood of rams, bulls, sheep, and goats, rather based on the blood of YESHUA! The difference was that the sacrificial system continued for years, every day, day after day, and the blood of the animals only “Covered” sin for one year, and the covenant was renewed every “Yom Kippur”.
The covenant of YESHUA, however, was a “one- time deal”. His death on the cross was enough for ALL TIME. His covenant wiped away the stain of sin, it “atoned” “got rid of” the curse of sin. So, one might ask, what was the reason for the animal sacrifices of the Old Testament? They were to “point” to Yeshua’s future sacrifice for sin. The animal sacrifices “symbolized” what Yeshua would do in the future.
People were still saved by faith, the only difference was that before Calvary, people looked “forward” to the cross, and after Calvary, we look “back” towards the cross. One thing both covenants have in common; “The Blood!”
Moshe announces that “everyone” is involved and included, from the tribal chiefs to the simple water fetchers, everyone was included, and NO ONE was excluded. He goes on to say; “I am making this covenant and this oath with those who are here today and with those who are NOT here today….” Who are the ones that were NOT here! Why you and me of course! We weren’t around back then. Who knows, perhaps we were just souls in heaven awaiting future bodies to inhabit. Moshe had US in mind, YHVH knew that one day, we would be here and this covenant was for us too, the “covenant renewed” is our covenant, a covenant of faith which unites us with YHVH through Yeshua, which brings us YESHUAH (salvation)
Now, does this do away with the Torah (instruction) of Adonai? Never! In Yeshua’s own words; “I come not to abolish the Torah, but to Fulfill the Torah” (or render a perfect interpretation of it) He fulfilled it with his own blood. The commandments are for our edification and our blessings, the blood of Yeshua is for our “Salvation!”
Moshe goes on to say that no one should ever think that one can live anyway one pleases, sinning here and there, living like the devil himself and still say, “I have peace, everything is OK!” That is NEVER the case, that person will be reaping curses and destruction.
29:30 says; “The secret things belong to YHVH Eloheinu (Our God) but the things revealed belong to us and our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this Torah!” So, what are the “secret things?” perhaps things in scripture that we haven’t figured out yet, things like, what were the “Urim and Thumim” really? One can suggest, but no one really knows for sure. There are many more things that, to us, are “secret” (known only to God) like things in the universe, far away galaxies, life out there in those galaxies that might have planets with life, where every single diamond, emerald, and ruby is located, where all the “buried treasure” is located, perhaps even the secret of “time travel” which, in theory exists, but not possible by modern technology.
God only knows the disaster that would follow “time-travelers” if they could go back and “change history” so these things “remain secret” or at least, for the time being. Yet things that were considered “secret” hundreds of years ago, are now “known” But let us concern ourselves with the things that YHVH has revealed to us through HIS Word, and let us occupy ourselves in following HIS Word and living a “kadosh” life style.
Moshe also establishes “Yehoshuah” as his successor, He knows his death is near, and he knows that Israel will fall away from God, it has been revealed to him by God himself, there is no other explanation. HOWEVER, he also says that “when they repent, YHVH will bring them back to the land” this is happening already, Israel was re-established as a nation in 1948, and His people are coming back! “Yehoshuah” is another way of spelling “Yeshua” It is fitting that “Yehoshuah” leads the people to the “promised land” just as our LORD and Savior “Yeshua HaMashiach” has lead us to the “salvation” experience, and is awaiting us in “His Promised Land” (The New Jerusalem) our Heavenly home!

ISAIAH 61:10-63:9

The prophet Yeshayahu sees the future glory of Israel, “He has clothed me in garments of YESHUAH (salvation) and has wrapped me with a robe of “righteousness” (Tzedek). It is fitting that the two go together, when we accept Yeshua as our LORD and Savior, we receive “righteousness” through our faith in HIM. We come under a “right-relationship” with him now, where before we were “unrighteous” living in sin, now, we are in right-standing with Him, and therefore, we are “Tzadikim” (righteous ones). Even though we still have our sin nature, God still looks on us as “righteous”.
“Say to the daughter of Zion, “Lo, your YESHUAH comes” (62:11) Yeshua came to Zion, but many in Zion did not receive him, yet He will return in the future, and then, ALL Zion will receive him. The future is bright for Israel, and we will be a part of that future, keep praying for the peace of Yerushalayim, but real, permanent peace will only come when Yeshua returns. He will return to his people to conquer his enemies, rescue his bride, and reign for one-thousand years, and then more. Seems like a very good future.

JOHN 16:1-17:26

Yeshua promised his “Ruach HaKodesh” (his holy Spirit) He was the “sent one” by the Father, yet he also promised another “sent one”. The difference between Yeshua and the Ruach HaKodesh is that when Yeshua was on earth, he could only be in one place at one time, while the Ruach HaKodesh, is EVERYWHERE, ALL THE TIME.
This is the “comforter” that was promised. Yes, his followers would be persecuted, cast out of churches and synagogues, and this continues today. To be a believer, is to be “persona non-grata” in some places. Can we endure this? Another title for the Holy Spirit is “Ruach HaEmet” (The Spirit of Truth) since it was also one of the titles of Yeshua, the WAY the TRUTH and the LIFE, (HaDerech, HaEmet, HaChai)
Are we following the Spirit of Truth as he leads us through the Written Truth? He is here to guide us through.

Shabbat Shalom Rabbi Ben Avraham**

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHAH:* “HaAzinu” (Give ear)
*
Torah:* DEUT 32:1-52…*

Prophets: 2 SAM 22:1-51… HOSEA 14:2-10… MICAH 7:18-20… JOEL 2:15-27…*

New Covenant: *JOHN 20:26-21:25…*


*** “Give ear!” I am sure that we don’t hear that expression very often today, but in the times of Yeshua, it was like saying today; “Yo, listen up dudes!” “Will ya listen t’me already?” or “Hey, listen, I have something important to say!”*
**** This is Moshe’s last speech, and he wants all of Israel to pay attention, He is looking into the future, and sadly, he sees the nation of Israel in apostasy, going against the commandments of YHVH, going after strange gods and heading to corruption. *He calls all of Heaven and earth as witnesses.* We can be assured that the angels of heaven heard this speech, and “His” people who were on earth also heard, they were right there.
**** “I will proclaim the name YHVH, and the greatness of Eloheinu” Here Moshe mentions two of the many names of God, the most holy, “Yod Hey Vav Hey” When we look at these letters from the ancient Hebraic aspect we get “behold the hand, behold the nail” this takes us direct to Calvary and imagine Mashiach hanging there by the nails in his hands (wrists).* The name “Eloheinu” is the “behold the God who leads (us) and connects (us) to life through his hands” when we go to the ancient Hebraic symbolism of the letters.
**** “The ROCK, His work is perfect!* Here is another name of God, “The ROCK” (HaTzur) from the letter “Tz” which symbolizes “Tzadik” (one who is righteous) and the word “Perfect” (Tamim) from “Tamei” which is “clean and pure” we have heard of God being called the “Rock of Ages” the “Solid Rock”
**** Moshe is saying all of this through the Holy Spirit so that the people can understand that THEY are the problem, not God.* In all this song (Shir) he lets Israel know that they will be “doing wrong” and “have been wrong” Moshe is like a father speaking to his children to change their ways, or curses will follow.* All this time, YHVH has provided for their needs, giving them water from the ROCK, and when Israel goes into the promised land, they will “wax fat” they will receive blessings from their cattle and crops, YHVH refers to Israel as “Yeshurun” which is the ancient name for “Yerushalayim” it was the ROCK (YHVH) who begot thee! Says Moshe, referring to Elohim as their “father” so why go against Him?
**** It also says that he will “rouse them to jealousy with a no-people and a vile nation” because they provoked YHVH with a “no-god” the “no-people” and “vile nation” could be the pagan nations outside of Israel.* At that time, all the nations outside of Israel were pagan, idolatrous nations, worshiping false gods.* Adonai has “called” those nations to worship and recognize HIM as God, in a way, He is saying; “OK, you want to go after false gods, OK, I will look for worshipers in other places, I will accept other “peoples” to become part of my “called out ones”.* Not that HE rejected Israel as his people, NEVER! He just “added” more people, (the gentile nations) to become part of his “called out family”.* We must remember that Abraham was from Mesopotamia! A pagan nation, and he responded to the “call”.*
**** “For YHVH will judge his people” (vs 36) and Yes, he DID, and still does.* The word “judge” has two meanings, one is “taking counsel to take certain kind of action either for or against” and the other meaning is “condemn, or sentence” Israel sowed corruption and chased after false gods, and reaped the whirlwind! YET, YHVH is a God of forgiveness and love.
**** (vs 43) “Sing aloud all ye nations of His People” (Goyim Amo!) This verse sees the nations as part of HIS PEOPLE, being grafted into the olive tree, peoples outside of Israel, who have accepted the atonement of Yeshua for their sins, become part of “Am Yisrael” and YHVH will avenge the “blood of his servants” We are all part of HIS PEOPLE, He loves us and has blessings instore for us, whether we were born in Israel or not, it doesn’t matter.* His people started with 12 tribes, and has extended to the whole world. *

2 SAM 22:1-51; HOSEA 14:2-10; MICAH 7:18-20; JOEL 2:15-27*

*** YHVH is my ROCK (Tzuri) and my fortress, and my deliverer; “Elohei Tzuri” (My God) in who I will take refuge.* My shield and horn of YESHUATI.* (2 Sam) The Spirit of God is speaking, again, using the name ROCK and ELOHEI TZURI , (the God who leads who is my righteousness) We see the name YESHUA,…my “Hightower”(hey, the name of my high school!) and my refuge.* We take refuge in HIM because he has provided us with salvation, eternal life, a “hightower” is a look-out tower in a fortress where the guards can see the enemy coming.* Through Yeshua, the enemy has been beaten.
**** Vs 32; “Who is God save YHVH and who is a ROCK save our God?” again, the names TZUR-ELOHEINU
Also, in Hosea 14, the prophet tells Israel “Return to YHVH your Elohim, for you have stumbled by your wickedness… for the ways of YHVH are straight and the righteous walk in them! (vs 9).* The Prophet Micah also says; “He shall turn back, and have compassion on us, He shall trample upon our wickedness.* And you shall throw all our sins into the depths of the sea” (Micah 7:19) It is not surprising that this verse is read just a week before Yom Kippur.* A Yom Kippur tradition is taking bread crumbs and going to a flowing body of water, throwing the bread crumbs into it.* This tradition is known as “tashlich” the bread crumbs symbolize our sins, and the body of flowing water, the sea!
**** Joel says;* “And you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I AM YHVH your Elohim, and there is no one else” (Joel 2:27)
*
JOHN 20:26-21:25
*
**** A very interesting reading, as Yeshua appears to his talmidim after his resurrection, and meets them by the Sea of Galilee, or Tiberias, as it is sometimes called.* Since he knew that they were fishermen, he decided to help them out again, since they caught no fish during the night.*
**** “Throw you net over the right side of the boat” and they caught 153 fish.* Yes, then they realized, “it is Mashiach Yeshua!’* it is also interesting that the number 153 is symbolic as well.* The words, “Ani Elohim” (I am God) sums up in Hebrew gematria to “153” (Ani = 61) (Elohim = 92)*** 61+92=153
**** Yeshua also has a talk with Kefa, “Do you love me?” then…feed my lambs, shepherd my sheep, feed my sheep” three times he asked, “do you love me?”* the answer came back, feed and shepherd the lambs and the sheep.*
What is the difference between a lamb and a sheep? A lamb is a very young sheep, up to one-year old.* So, what is Yeshua telling us here? If we love the LORD, then, as believers and followers, we are to teach, and guide both young and old believers, believers who are at different stages in their spiritual walk.*
**** Just ask the LORD of opportunities, there are a lot out there, believers who are willing to learn and be guided.*

Shabbat Shalom…..rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

A MESSAGE FOR YOM KIPPUR:*
Scripture portions to read and meditate on;*


TORAH:* Lev 16:1-34 ; Lev 18:1-30 ; Num 29:7-11
PROPHETS:* Isa 57:14-58:14 ; Jonah ; Micah 7:18-20 ; Joel 2:12-14
BRIT HaDASHAH:* Rom 3:21-26 ; Heb 10:1-14

* * *“Stop, Think, and Turn” are three good words to use for this year’s “Yom Kippur”.* It is a day for “afflicting one’s soul”.* A time to “stop” and search one’s self and ask the question;
* * *“Where Am I in my relation to God”
* * *Adam was asked the same question when he and Eve were in the garden of Eden, hiding after they had sinned. God asked him;
* * *“Adam, where are you?”
* * *Was it that He didn’t know where he was?* Of course, He did, He knows ALL THINGS, so, perhaps the question is a little deeper than meets the eye.* We could add to the question asking;
* * *“Where are you in your relationship with me?”*
* * *We all enter this world as sinners, born with the sin nature. Now here are some interesting ways to remember the three classes of “disobedience” “SIN” = missing the mark, disconnected, doing your own “thing” and not God’s “thing”.* “INIQUITY” = perversion, twisting something the wrong way, cutting off the flow, taking God’s Word and making it what you want it to mean, and not what God means it to mean.* “TRANSGRESSION” = open opposition, rebellion, “I don’t care what the Torah says, I’m doing it anyway, just because I want to!”
* * * There comes a time when each and every person will be accountable for his or her sin nature.* In the Old Testament times, the animal sacrificial system was instituted to “cover” sin.* The word “cover” is “Kafar” from this we get, “Kippur” so the words, “Yom Kippur” mean, “Day of Covering”.* We also have “Yom HaKipurim” of “day of Coverings” This was because during this time when the Cohen HaGadol went into the “Holy of Holies”, he had to sprinkle the blood of a bull, a ram, 7 lambs, and a goat on the “Kaporet” (the covering of the Ark of the Covenant).*
* * *Yet these “coverings” did not really “atone” sin forever, it was something temporary, only for a year until the next “Yom Kippur”.* Would there be anything better?* YES, our heavenly father looked into the future since the time of creation, and planned something special.* HE, HIMSELF would come to earth in human form and HE would be the atoning sacrifice that would “forgive” and “atone for sin completely, forever”
* * *When we read Hebrews 10:4-12, we learn that the “blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin” but that through the body of Mashiach Yeshua, we are made “Kadosh” (Holy) once, and for all time! (vs 10) That is why YHVH “took away the first to establish the second” (vs 9) The old covenant sacrificial system was done away with, in order to establish the New Covenant blood sacrifice of Yeshua HaMashiach, ONCE and only ONCE, good for ALL TIME.* No wonder the “New” is better than the “Old”
* * *All the animal sacrifices in the Old Covenant pointed to Yeshua’s sacrifice (that would come, if we are looking from the past towards the future).* People were still saved by faith even before Yeshua’s time.* They illustrated their faith by presenting the animal sacrifices which pointed to HIM!* We must remember that the animals did not nor did ever save them, it was always their FAITH which saved them.*
* * *During the Yom Kippur ceremony in ancient times, two goats were used.* One was selected for the sacrifice, the other, titled AZAZEL, was led off into the wilderness and, according to tradition, pushed off a cliff. “Azazel” is made up of two words; “az” = goat, and “azel” = go away, so, we can say that the word is the “goat which goes away”.* The high priest used to tie a crimson cloth on one of the horns of the goat, and a similar cloth was tied on the door of the Holy Temple in Yerushalayim, the day after Yom Kippur, the cloth changed color to “white” this symbolized that YHVH had accepted the sacrifice, and that the sins of Israel were covered for another year
* * *When Yeshua paid the price for our sins, all changed.* The cloth no longer turned white, it remained crimson color, indicating that YHVH no longer accepted the sacrifice of the goat.* Why not? Because YESHUA had made the ultimate sacrifice, and that NOW, all of our sins are completely atoned for.
While one goat was sacrificed and the other was sent away, we have two examples in scripture that illustrate the concept of “sacrifice and sent away”.* Yosef Ben Ya’akov, (Joseph, the son of Jacob) was sold by his brothers for 20 pieces of silver.* Yosef was “sent away” to Egypt, and in his place, a goat was killed by his brothers and the blood sprinkled upon Yosef’s garments.* The blood symbolized the blood of Yosef to deceive his father Jacob.
* * *Another example is during the trial of Yeshua by Pontius Pilatus.* Yeshua was sacrificed on the Cross of Calvary, while Bar-Abbas was sent away free!* This time, Yeshua’s blood atoned not only for the sins of Bar-Abbas, but for ALL sins!
* * *We ask, where does the word “Atonement” come from.* We know from the Hebrew text, the word is “Kaphar” which means “to cover, to purge, to make reconciliation, to cover with pitch” It is interesting that the word “pitch” is the word “Kaphar”.* We remember that Noah covered the ark with pitch, to make it waterproof.* Noah’s ark was seen as protection against the waters of judgment which destroyed the world.* The “pitch” made the ark waterproof and kept everyone inside the ark safe and dry while going through the judgment.* The ark is seen as salvation “Yeshuah” from judgment.
* * *The blood atonement of Yeshua brought to us “salvation” from the judgment of sin.* The word “Atonement” at one time, meant: “At-One-Ment” which was first used in the English Bible in the 1500s.* The word means to be “at-one” with God, through the substitutionary death of Mashiach Yeshua on our behalf.* *
* * *So, in conclusion, we need to “Stop and think” where are we in our relationship with God? We are all guilty of sin, sins that we commit in ignorance and knowingly.* We need to “return” to HIM through confession and repentance, with a change of mind.* We can do this 24-7, 365 days in the year, but this time of year is when we should be more conscience of our sin, let’s get back to Adonai.*
* * If we cry out, and turn from our sins, then, HE who is on high will listen, and forgive our iniquities.
*
* * * * * * “Even now, declares YHVH, turn to me with all your heart
* * * * * * *And with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning,
* * * * * * *And tear your heart and not your garments, and turn back
* * * * * * *To YHVH your Elohim, for He shows favor and is full of
* * * * * * *Compassion, patient, and of great kindness, and he shall
* * * * * * *Relent concerning evil.* Who knows, he might turn and
* * * * * * *Relent, and leave a blessing behind Him…”* * Joel 2:12-14
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

A MESSAGE FOR SUKKOT

Scripture portions to read and meditate on:

TORAH: Lev 22:6 – 23:44; Num 29:12-16; Exodus 33:12 – 34:26; 1 Chronicles 24:10
PROPHETS: Zech 14:1-21; Ecclesiastes; Ezekiel 38:18-39:16; 1 Kings 8:2; Jeremiah 10:2-4
BRIT HaDASHAH: Rev 22:104; 1 Thes. 5:1-11; Luke 1:1-80

This is the most joyous of all the High Holy Days. While Yom Terah and Yom Kippur remind us of repentance, and judgment, Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles reminds us of YHVH’s provision for His people in the desert for 40 years. All their needs were provided for, their clothing did not wear out, they had food every day, even though many complained of this “same Manna day after day”, well, it is better than starving. Adonai provided water from the ROCK, not only for the people but for their cattle, sheep, and goats as well.

It also reminds us of YHVH coming to dwell among his people in a tent, (Ohel) also called the “Mishkan” or “Tabernacle”. A “sukkah” is a temporary dwelling. Adonai described in detail the plans for the tabernacle to Moshe while he was on Sinai. The whole Tabernacle reminds us and points us to Yeshua. When it was finished, the “Shekinah” came down to dwell there in the HOLY of Holies. In the day, the presence of Adonai took form as a cloud, and at night, as a column of fire.

Today, the presence of the Holy Spirit is within each and every born-again believer. Our own bodies are the “sukkot” of the Spirit of God. The presence of Elohim is also in every congregation of believers that get together on the sabbath and on Sundays to celebrate and study his WORD, and worship, praise, and glorify the LIVING WORD.

In Biblical times, many animals were sacrificed during the seven days of celebration. The sacrifices offered during this time amounted to 189 animals. Even here, we see the symbolism of “Yeshua HaEmet” (Yeshua the Truth). The word EMET, (truth) in Hebrew gematria totals 1+40+400 = 441, then, 4+4+1 = 9, When we add the numbers 189, we get 1+8+9 = 18, then, 1+8 = 9. One part of the sacrifice was to offer, during these days, a total of 70 bulls. The 70 bulls symbolize the 70 original nations that came forth from the three sons of Noah.

Yeshua gave his life not only for His Jewish people, but also for the other nations of the world. He told his own talmidim (disciples) “I have other sheep that are not of this fold” (John 10:16) meaning that his plan was to send his followers to minister to those nations, as we remember, Rav Shaul was a missionary to those “sheep of another fold” and also, the “displaced sheep” that left Israel and went to other nations to live.

During the seven days of Sukkot, there is one extra day, “Hoshanah Raba” and we celebrate it as “Simchat Torah” (The Joy of the Torah). During this day, there was a great ceremony of waving the “Lulav” consisting of 4 species of plants. Each one has a spiritual meaning;

The ETROG which is similar to a lemon, and it symbolizes the heart of man, and our “faith” (Emunah) “repentance” (T’shuvah) “Healing” (r’fuah) and “redemption” (g’ulah)
The LULAV (Palm fronds) the word is similar to “Lo Lev” (to him, heart) to HIM we give our HEART. The lulav symbolizes our “backbone” or “spiritual strength”
The HADAS (myrtle branches) these are similar to “eyes” which symbolize “spiritual insight”
The ARAVAH (willow branches) which grow near water. These symbolize the humbleness of the believer and victory over our enemies. These 4 species are beaten on the ground in the Sukkot ceremony and also waved towards the North, South, East, and West, up and down. Some synagogues do this ceremony during the week of Sukkot, and some on the last day, the 8th day.

YHVH, so far, as come and has revealed himself three times! He has “dwelt” among men these “three times”. When were these three times you might ask?

The first time He came down to dwell with His people was when the Mishkan was finished as we know. The second time was when He came down in the person of Yeshua. God-Man, and lived among his people for 30 some years, teaching the Torah, healing the sick, raising the dead, and to die for our sins. The third time He came down was on the day of Shavuot, or “Pentecost”. God came down as the Ruach HaKodesh on that day, and the Holy Spirit is HIS presence today in ALL believers. Yes, God has revealed himself many more times to different individuals, but I am speaking as a “whole people at once”

Yeshua will come a fourth time in the future, when he returns to “tabernacle” among us on this planet called earth. He will touch down on the Mt. of Olives, and reign for one thousand years, in peace and Holy Rulership, Baruch HaShem! We will be part of that rule. In the prayer book, there is a prayer that says; “In the end, He will reign alone!” Oh, how wrong that statement is. Can you imagine reigning alone? Imagine yourself assigned to rule an island in the ocean, and when you get there, there is no one there. You are there by yourself.

Yeshua will reign, and we will reign with him, and his holy angels will also be present. But now, I’d like to touch on the first physical appearance of Yeshua, and this is where a few might get offended because I am attacking Christmas. Sometimes, the truth hurts and interferes with tradition and custom.

It is believed and it can be proven by mathematics that Yeshua was born around the time of Sukkot, not in December on Christmas day. In Christendom, we hear it said;

“But no one knows when Jesus was born, that’s why, by tradition, we take the day, the 25th of December to celebrate his birth. It is the event and not the date that matters.”

Well, I can understand that…yet…Adonai HAS revealed the time of his birth, in a round-about way. It’s like this, If someone wanted to celebrate my birthday and didn’t know that I was born on February the 9th, and decided to celebrate it on, let’s say, May 1st, to remember the “event of my birth” would I be offended? I would say No, I wouldn’t be, I’d understand, however, if I sent a message revealing when I was born, and people continued to celebrate my birthday on May 1st, well, then perhaps I’d be a bit sad. They know the truth yet they still want to keep “tradition”.

Let’s take December 25th. It is the date of the Winter Solstes that the Romans celebrated. They celebrated the birth of all of their pagan gods on that date. They celebrated getting drunk and had sexual orgies. They hung “mistletoe” on the ceiling as decoration for their “sex” capades. Constantine, in his effort to “Christianize” Rome, decided to put “Yeshua’s” birthday with the other “gods”. He thought it would be easier for Rome to accept Christianity if he would mix it with a little bit of paganism. So, if not the 25th of December, then when?

We have to go back and look at John the Baptist. John was Yeshua’s cousin, and he was six months older than Yeshua, so if we know when John was born, we can figure out when Yeshua was born.

We need to understand that the Jewish calendar was divided into 12 lunar months. King David had divided the priesthood into 24 service periods. We can figure that each priest, according to his period of service, served a two-week period in the temple, either offering incense or sacrifices.

Now Zachariah was John’s father. He was a priest, and his turn of service came under the order of “Abias”
“Abias” family would serve a two-week period in the 8th order. (1 Chronicles 24:10) Remember that the Jewish year begins in the month of Nissan, which is equivalent to our March-April calendar month. The 8th turn came between the months of June/July

After performing the service of priest for his two-week period, Zachariah went home, between July and August, Elizabeth became pregnant with John. In the 6th month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, which would have been between December and January, The Angel Gabriel announces to Miriam (Mary) that she would become pregnant by the Spirit of Elohim at that time, which would have been probably in January, so from January to February, one can count the first month of pregnancy, February to March: second month, March to April: third month, from April to May; fourth month, from May to June; fifth month; from June to July; sixth month, from July to August; seventh month, from August to September; eighth month; from September to October; ninth month!

Yeshua then would have been born sometime in October, what a better time to be born than during this last High Holy Day, the time of “Sukkot” meaning; “God comes to live among men” and walk with men and women in human form, fulfilling all the prophecies, being born in “Beit-Lechem” (The House of Bread) It is only fitting that the “Bread of Life” would be born in the “House of Bread”. So, we can say with fair certainty that we know the time of the birth of Yeshua, during the month of October, although we don’t know the exact day nor time, but we can assume that because the Feast of Sukkot symbolizes, “God coming to dwell among men” what better time would be possible for Mashiach to be born?

There are also customs and traditions related to Christmas, that for centuries, have existed. Not to get into every one of them, because that would take many pages, I’d like to consider one aspect, the “Christmas Tree!”
Is it really good to put one up? We can say,

“Doesn’t it look beautiful, with all the decorations? With the ornaments and the gold and silver tinsel hanging? It looks so “Christmassy!” now all we need to do is to put the gifts under the tree and tell the kids that Santa C came down the chimney and… (need I say more?) well…it’s all “Mashugganah! (a Yiddish expression for “nonsense”) but we need to go to God’s Word for the answer. Where did this custom come from? Let’s look at Jeremiah 10:2 -4;

“Learn not the way of the goyim (the pagan nations) and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed by them (talking about astrology and the zodiac signs), For the customs of the people are vain; for one cutteth a tree out of the forest, the work of the hands of the workman, with the axe. They deck it with silver and with gold; they fasten it with nails and with hammers, that it moves not…”

Even though the Christmas trees look nice, even the fake ones, with all the décor and lights, etc.…it comes from paganism, and as born-again believers, we should NOT practice these customs. So, you might say, what do we say to the kids? Do we cancel Christmas? NO, tell the kids the truth, get rid of the “santa claus” garbage and explain the meaning of Sukkot, one can move the celebration back two months. Get the kids gifts and give them the gifts during the 8 days of Sukkot.

We need to remember finally that these High Holy Days are not “Jewish High Holy days” they are “GODish High Holy Days! Given to ALL believers to celebrate. It just so happened that the People of Israel received them first, and as the “Commonwealth of Israel” grew, and many more peoples or “sheep of other flocks” were grafted in, the blessing of the Torah was passed on to them. Including the High Holy days.

So, now the decision is yours, what to do with the tree, the ornaments, the whole “Christmas in December” deal. That has to be your decision. What does your heart tell you? What does scripture say? What does Jeremiah the Prophet say being directed through the Holy Spirit? “Learn not the way of the pagans!” enough said.

I am sending off this Parashah a little early, since this year, the first day of Sukkot is on Thursday, I will try and send this Wednesday evening during “Erev Sukkot” that way, you have a whole week to plan and celebrate the true “Christmas” time.

Hag Sameach Sukkot

Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

Parasha: B'reisheet (Genesis)

[JacobBenAvraham]

SIMCHAT TORAH V’B’REISHEET “The Joy of the Torah and Genesis” (starting from the beginning)


The Feast of Tabernacles is the last of the “High Holy Days” which ends on the 8th day, on the 22nd of Tishrei. It is a special day which is called “Simchat Torah” or “Joy of the Torah”. We rejoice because we have the WORD of God in our midst. It is His complete word, complete revelation comprised of 66 books, divided up in three parts; The Torah, “Genesis through Deuteronomy” the Prophets and Hebrew poetry, and the Brit HaDashah, “New Testament” or “Covenant”
Some would like to challenge the word “New” or “Renewed”, since we are not governed by the Old Covenant. True, we are not under the Old Covenant, based on animal sacrifices, yet the covenant basically is the same; it is a “Blood Covenant”. The way that it is “new” is that it is based on the blood of “Yeshua” our Messiah and LORD, and NOT on the blood of animals. Scripture tells us that the blood of animals had no power to atone for sins by getting rid of them, or abolishing them, or erasing them. The blood of animals only “covered” sins for one year during the time of Yom Kippur, yet through the sacrificial death of Yeshua, our sins were “atoned for” once and for ever, for all time.
Let’s just talk about the word “Torah” for a moment. It has been mistranslated in Bibles as the word “law” which comes from the Latin “Legis” Something legalistic. Yet the word in the original Hebrew “Torah” means “instruction”, so, everyplace in the Bible where the word “law” is found should really be translated as “instruction” (from our LORD and God YHVH). Once we get this word in right perspective, then, a lot of misunderstandings can be corrected.
So, how many “Torahs” are there? One? Two? Three? If we investigate way back going about six-thousand years. We come to the creation of this world. Up to the time of Moshe (Moses), YHVH spoke verbally to the patriarchs, starting from Adam and Chavah (Eve). They passed on the words of Elohim to their children, and their children to their children and so-forth. One could say that this was the first “Oral Torah”. Finally, we come to Moshe and YHVH speaks to him in person. Moshe writes down everything the Adonai tells him and thus, we have the first five books of the Bible.
The prophets follow writing down the words of God, continued by a few kings, namely David and Solomon.
Then we come to the New Covenant letters, and books comprised by Yeshua’s talmidim (disciples) and followers. They were all inspired by the Ruach HaKodesh (The Holy Spirit) as to what to write. They wrote down Adonai’s words in Hebrew and in Greek, since the world was dominated by the Greeks. The best way to reach the nations was to write in Greek. From Greek the Bible was translated into Latin and then to all the languages of the world.
The WORD of God is correct is every detail, there are NO contradictions in it. If there were, that would mean that YHVH is a God of error, and this is not so. Those who say that there are contradictions, do not understand the original words and their meanings, therefore, it is a good thing to have a basic knowledge of Hebrew and Greek. Why did YHVH give us HIS complete and Holy WORD?
First, He is a perfect and Holy God, whose most holy name is Yod Hey Vav Hey (YHVH). Written with the ancient paleo-Hebrew letters, the letters symbolize “Behold the hand, behold the nail”. A perfect revelation of Messiah Yeshua on Calvary’s cross, receiving in his hands, the nails that held him fast to the crucifixion stake. There he paid for all of our sins, past, present, and future.
Second, the Bible was written to humanity because in the fallen state caused by sin, man had to be re-directed back to YHVH, through Yeshua. In this way, mankind could have a renewed covenant relationship with his creator. Yeshua described it as the “New Birth” in John 3:3.
Once man has a renewed relationship with YHVH, he is directed towards a holy, sanctified living through following the commandments which were written down by Moshe. Yeshua also fulfilled the commandments by giving a correct interpretation of them and how they applied to our lives. Even though there are 613 commandments (mitzvoth) in all. Not all apply to us today, since we are not under the Levitical priesthood, nor are we under the animal sacrificial system. Still, many DO apply to us, and that is the reason for Bible/Torah study.
Today, we have “commentaries” on God’s word, or, “Midrashim”. About 400 years after Yeshua, the rabbis and sages compiled the “Talmud” which are commentaries over the Torah, written by the rabbis of old. These are books, articles, writings, that rabbis have written, giving THEIR interpretation of what the Torah means, but, it is only “commentary”. Is it good to read and study the Talmud? I would say it is good to read ALL things related to God’s Word, BUT, we should always compare commentary to the written WORD of God. If it lines up with what the Bible teaches, it is a good thing, if not, as I said, it is just, “commentary” the opinion of someone who is not God.
As one rabbi said, “Reading commentary is like eating a bony fish. Throw away the bones and digest the meat!”
The following are “Torah Parashot” or “Portions from the Torah” which are read and studied every week for one year. A “Torah portion” is a “Parashah” and it consists of readings from the five books that Moshe penned down, readings from the Prophets, and readings from the Brit HaDashah, “The New Covenant”. The readings start on the Day of Simchat Torah. On this day, we start from the “beginning” which is a perfect place to start any reading……SO…...let’s start from….




PARASHAH: “B’reisheet” (In the Beginning)


GENESIS 1:1-6:8…………………ISAIAH 42:5-43:10……………MATTHEW 1:1-2:23


During Simchat Torah, we begin in Genesis…But…Some have the tradition of reading last few verses of Deuteronomy, (34:10-12) “And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moshe……..and in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moshe shewed in the sight of all Israel.”
Interesting that the very last word in Deuteronomy is “Israel”. We read verses 10 through 12 and in the same breath, continue with Genesis 1:1. Meaning that the Torah is a continuous book, like a circle.
The very first line in Genesis, the very first line in the Torah has so much meaning; “B’reisheet bara Elohim ET haShamayim v’et haAretz” (In the beginning, Elohim created the heavens and the earth). One thing to point out, in many English Bibles, the word “heaven” is singular and should be “heavens” (plural), because in Hebrew, “HaShamayim” is “heavens”. Also, in the words; “B’reisheet Bara Elohim” (In the beginning, Elohim created) we find the mixed letters that spell out “Israel” also. So, the Torah begins with “Israel” and ends with “Israel”. If we look at the Hebrew letters that spell out “B’reisheet Bara Elohim” we find “Israel” how? Well let’s see;……. Beit, Resh, Aleph, Shin, Yod, tav……beit, resh, aleph…..aleph, Lamed, hey, yod, mem sofit. Then we pick out the letters that form “Israel” Yod, Shin, Resh, Aleph, Lamed. What can this tell us? That from the “Beginning” Elohim had Israel in mind! This is just one way one could look at this.
If we count the Hebrew words, we have “7” words in the first verse. “7” is the perfect number of YHVH. If we take the seven words, and take the middle word “ET” and take this word “ET” and draw a vertical line from it, we can make a “Menorah” three lines from the middle line connected to “ET” to the other words in this first verse. The word “ET” has not literal translation, yet it points to a specific object which is very important. “ET” in the ancient Hebrew letters are the “Alef and the Tav” or in Greek, the “Alpha and Omega”
Or…. the “God of the Covenant”. So, every time we see “ET” in the original Hebrew, we are reminded of “YHVH, the God of the Covenant”
Why does the Bible start with the letter “Beit” or “B”? why not with “Alef” or “A”. Isn’t the “Alef” the symbol for “God”? There is a story about the letters “Alef” and “Beit” who are having an argument as to who would be first. They both came to Elohim and presented their case. Elohim-YHVH said, “Alef”, you are very important as you represent who I AM. You will be the third letter in the Bible, because “3” symbolizes “Elohim” because we are united as Father, Son, and Spirit, three entities in one “Echad” being.
“As for you, letter “Beit” you will be first because you symbolize the “house” which I will make for mankind, for the plants, trees, and flowers, and for all the beasts which I will create. This house will be called “earth”. This perfect planet will be a “B’rakhah” a “Blessing” to my creation, therefore, the Torah must start with “B”
Also, the letter “Beit” is closed on three sides, yet open on one, the left side. This means that before the “beginning” there was nothing, only Elohim, and revelation starts with “B” going towards the “left” as the Hebrew is written.”
So therefore, the Alef and the Beit left, both satisfied with the verdict from Elohim-YHVH. We also see in the first line, the creation of the three basic elements of the universe; “space” (the heavens) “time” (in the beginning) and “matter” (the earth). We have an infinite God that comes out of infinity past and speaks and creates a finite earth. Creates matter. The first law of Thermodynamics states that; “All matter has been created and that there is no more matter being created” what we do see is that “matter changes states” (from liquid to solid, = water to ice) or from liquid to gas = water vapor.
We can also see today the effects of the “2nd law of thermodynamics, that shows that everything in the material world is on a downward spiral, from order to disorder, from composition to decomposition, from perfection to imperfection, why? Because of sin! The wages of sin is death, and therefore, not only in the world of the living, but also, in the material world, everything is “dying”
Elohim looked upon the earth he was forming, which was then, a lot of water and earth-elements, and then spoke in verse 3 saying; “Haya haOr” (let there be light) “V’yahi or” (and there was light). And Elohim saw that the light was good, and He separated the light from the darkness” (vs 4) There are 4 levels of Torah understanding which are “Peshat” (literal), “Derash” (moral and spiritual), “Remez” (Symbolic), and “Sod” (hidden), (this is when we use gematria, or numbers with math to come to different revelations, mind you this is NOT numerology!)
There was the physical light, the light we can see, and also, the WORD of God which is looked upon as “light” YESHUA also is referred to the “Light of the World” light is also “sinless perfection” and the “darkness” is also the physical darkness, which is needed, for us to rest at night, so that the flowers can close up and sleep. I can also refer to the “spiritual darkness” which is “evil” or “sin”. SO… there is a separation between what is holy and what is not holy, between sin and perfection, between evil and good. Between our “daylight” and our “night time” (taking it literally).
Now, if I were going to study every verse, this first parashah would be perhaps ten pages long, so, we are going to jump a bit. Elohim created all that this earth contains in 6 literal days, of 24-hour periods. Now, there are some SSs (silly scientists) that say, “the six days are considered a period of four-billion years!” really? Really? Well, if we look at verse 12 it says that Elohim created the plants, trees, grass, etc, then in verse 14 it says that Elohim created the lights in the heavens, which include the sun, moon, and the stars. Well, if each “day” consisted of, let’s say 600,000,000 years, then, how would the plants and trees, and life itself survive without sunlight for this amount of time?
Many times, we just have to take God’s word literally. “Let us make man in our image, according to our likeness…and Elohim created the man and the woman in His own image” (vs 26-27). What does this mean, in HIS own image? What is the IMAGE of ELOHIM? One could say that the image of Elohim is complete holiness and perfection! Sinlessness! That was how the first couple were made. The earth was “created” without any previous existing matter, yet man and woman were “created” using “already existing matter” namely,” the dust of the earth (adamah).
The name “Elohim” shows the “plural unity (Echad)” of God, and just as Elohim consists of the Father, the Son, and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) so man and woman were also joined “Echad” with Elohim in mind, soul, and spirit. What is man? What is woman? But a soul and spirit inhabiting a flesh and bone body. Bodies that will one day (because of sin) deteriorate and cease to function and return to the earth.
Elohim loved his creation of man and woman. He placed them in a perfect paradise home, a garden full of trees that produced fruit, nuts, flowers, clean water, animals that were friendly. The only prohibition was the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. But…as we know the story, HaSatan, tricked them into eating the forbidden fruit. As soon as Adam and Eve ate the fruit (and nowhere does it say that it was an apple) the Word says that they “realized that they were naked” (3:7) but weren’t they already naked? I mean, they weren’t created wearing Levis! however...remember the word “light” the words “light” and “skin” are written almost the same way in Hebrew, the only difference is the first letter, “skin” is “OR” written with the letter “ayin” which symbolizes “eye” and OR (light) is written with an “aleph”
It is possible, and probable that Adam and Eve were created with a covering of “light” When Moses came down from Mt. Sinai after being with God for 40 days, he was “glowing” with light, the Shekinah light, and Moses was a sinner, imagine Adam and Eve who were sinless, their light covering would have been permanent had they not sinned (and would still be alive today). When they disobeyed and ate the forbidden fruit, the light covering must of vanished, THEN…they saw that they were NAKED, without the light, which served, one could say as, “a skin of light over the skin of flesh”
The sin of eating the forbidden fruit shows the following; the LUST OF THE FLESH, THE LUST OF THE EYES, AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE. Eve was hungry, she “saw” that it looked really delicious, and, she “thought” it would make her “wise” as the serpent lied to her saying the same. Sin today is the same, it is a mix of all three things, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life
“and YHVH Elohim made coats of skins for the man and for the woman and dressed them” (3:21) This is the very first blood sacrifice in the Bible. YHVH had to sacrifice one or two innocent animals, perhaps two lambs or goats, to “cover” Adam and Eve. This is a reminder of Yom Kippur, where the blood of animals covered the sins of Israel for one year. This would be a reminder to Adam and Eve of their sin. Their sin caused an innocent, blameless animal to lose its life.
The Word of God does not say, but we can imagine that YHVH told Adam and Eve that they would have to sacrifice a lamb, or a goat, or another kosher animal every day, to remind them of their sin. We look towards the cross of Calvary and we see YESHUA the LAMB of God who offered himself up as a blood sacrifice for our sins, once and forever, not just to cover, but to erase.
In chapter 4 we see the birth of Kayin and Hevel (Cain and Abel) They were born with the sin nature, and we see in both boys, the direction of the world that would follow; some would choose holiness and all that is good and others would choose the unholy and all that is evil. There came a time when they both had to offer sacrifices (that is why I said that Adam and Eve must have taught them to do the same). Hebel chose to obey and Kayin chose to disobey. Kayin offered a sacrifice, but it was not a blood sacrifice, rather it was a “grain offering” nothing wrong with a grain offering, but a blood sacrifice was needed. Therefore, it was rejected.
Hebel however, offered the correct sacrifice, a blood sacrifice, and it was accepted. This caused anger and jealously in Kayin and we know the story, Kayin rose up and murdered his brother Hebel. Yet YHVH Elohim still offers him an opportunity to repent and confess his sin, but Kayin does not. Then YHVH Elohim says;
“The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to me from the ground” (4:10) the Hebrew word is “damei” or “bloods” it is written in the plural. But why is this. This is eluded to the idea (which is written in the Talmud) that “he who saves the life of one person is as if he has saved a whole nation, and he who takes a life of another, is as if he has murdered a whole nation.” It is as if the souls of all the “would have been” descendants of Hebel were crying out for vengeance because they would not be permitted to be born. “the voice of thy brother’s bloods cries out…” the many “bloods” cry out in “one voice” so it seems.
Hebel is slain, his blood is sacrificed, and Kayin goes away, runs away to the land of wandering (Nod) and becomes a vagabond, just wandering, living off the fruit of trees and whatever grows of its self, since now, his farming days are over, YHVH curses the land he farmed as punishment.
We can see here again a shadow of Yom Kippur. In Yom Kippur, two goats were selected, one was sacrificed and the other was “sent away” Here, Innocent and righteous Hebel is sacrificed, and Kayin “goes away” yet this “going away” is in the negative light, he “goes away” from the presence of Adonai, while Hebel goes “into the presence of Adonai”
There is a saying that goes like this; “you can mix good apples with bad apples, and the good will never correct the bad, rather the bad-rotten apples will corrupt the good ones. Well, that is the way the “world turned” way back then, as the years pass, the descendants of Kayin mixed with the descendants of Seth, (who was born after the death of Hebel.
“and it came to be that when men began to increase on the face of the earth, and daughters were born to them, that the sons of Elohim saw the daughters of men that they were fair, and they wives for themselves of all whom they chose. And YHVH said ‘My Ruach will not strive with mankind forever in his going astray. He is flesh, and his days shall be 120. The Nephilim (in some translations, the giants) were on the earth in those days and when the sons of Elohim came in to the daughters of men, they bore children to them. Those were the mighty men of old, men of name(fame). 6:1-4
There are two schools of thought when the issue of “B’nei Elohim” comes up. Some believe that it refers to the godly line of Seth mixing with the ungodly line of Kayin. The other school of thought which is more probable is that the “sons of God” refer to the fallen angels that were kicked out of heaven together with HaSatan. These “b’nei Elohim” somehow and someway transformed themselves into flesh and blood, and the offspring of those “demon-human” relationships were born “giants”. The word “Nephilim” means “fallen ones”. It does not mean “giants” …however…those “mighty men of old” many were “giants” we have examples; Goliath of Gath, Og, king of Bashan.
There is archeological and paleontological evidence of a race of giants in the pre-diluvial world. Many fossil skeletons have been found some 20 some 30 feet tall. The Indians of the South-West claim that there was a race of red-haired giants who were cannibals, they could run after a herd of buffalo, catch one and bite off a leg and eat it on the run.
These giants were destroyed during the flood, however, their DNA still survived. “His days shall be 120”
What is it saying here? YHVH has decided to destroy and cleanse the earth by a universal flood, and Noah and his family were found to be the only righteous people around. Noah will receive instructions to build an ark, and it will take him 120 years, so, the people will have 120 years to repent, which they did not. This was a very short time being that thousands of years ago, people lived 800 or 900 years. 120 years would be like a week in our times. Noah was a “Tzadik” a “righteous person”. He went “against the flow”. Imagine a school of fish going in one direction, and you are going in the opposite direction.
How about you? If the world is going down the tubes, headed for destruction, will you follow the world? Or will you remain with Yeshua and go HIS way? The choice is yours. The only way we can be a true “Tzadik Ben Elohim” (a righteous child of God) is through faith in Yeshua HaMashiach/ Jesus the Christ, through faith in HIM trusting in HIS one-time atonement for sin.


ISAIAH 42:5-43:10


The prophet speaks through the Spirit of YHVH saying: “I, YHVH, have called you in righteousness, and I take hold of your hand and guard you, and give you for a Brit (covenant) to a people, for a Light to the gentiles, to open blind eyes, to bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house” 42:6,7
Some say that this is referring to the prophet himself? Really? Was Yeshayahu called to be a “covenant?” to open blind eyes? To set the prisoners free? Yet re-arrange the letters in the name “Yeshayahu” and we get Y-E-S-H-U-A-H! it was HE who the prophet was talking about. His name means “Salvation” and He came as a ‘blood-covenant” that would not simply cover for a year, but to get rid of, wipe out, the sin we inherited. He came not only to his own Jewish people, but also for the peoples of the nations outside of Israel.
He not only opened the eyes of the physically blind, but also for those who were spiritually blind. Once we did not understand the Bible, or we could have cared less for the Bible, but since we have accepted Yeshua as Messiah and LORD, now we have the Holy Spirit to help us understand the Torah. Once we lived in spiritual darkness, in the prison of HaSatan, called the “lost world” but we have been freed to follow HIM who set us free.
“And I shall lead the blind by a way they have not known, in paths they have not known. I lead them. I make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight” (42:16)
The new paths are the Torah paths, David wrote; “thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path”
By allowing God’s Word to take root in our lives, our paths are made straight, we know now how to tell the difference between the Holy and unholy, between the clean and the unclean. The WORD which is taught to us through the Ruach HaKodesh, using God’s chosen teachers is His gift to us, as born-again believers, it is our duty to stay on the right path.
There are “blind people” who have eyes, yet do not see, they may see physically, but they do not see spiritually, God’s Word can change all that (43:8)


MATT 3:1-4:25; JOHN 1:1


We read the ancestry of Messiah Yeshua, his birth during one of the evenings of Sukkot, and his escape with his parents to Egypt when Herod sought to kill him. Later, YHVH “brought up HIS SON out of Egypt” Adonai saw his children go into Egypt through Jacob, and they also came out of Egypt through Moshe, Adonai led HIS SON down to Egypt with Miriam and Yosef, and Yosef and Miriam led him BACK to Israel.
Now, Yeshua, HIS Son leads us ALL out of the Egypt of this world through a relationship with HIM, In John 1:1 it says; “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with YHVH, and YHVH was the WORD” In this we see that Yeshua took part in the creation of this world, as “The WORD” this is the essence of the name “Elohim” the plural G-d who is “Three” yet “One” like; 1 x 1 x 1 = 1


Hag Sameach Simchat Torah! Rabbi Ben Avraham

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHAT;* “Noach”*

GENESIS 6:9-11:32………………….ISAIAH 54:1-55:5………………..MATT 3:1-4:25*

**** The Torah says;* “Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generation, and Noah walked with Elohim”
Noah was a “tzadik” a righteous man.* This is a powerful statement since in his days, the whole populated earth was corrupt, yet he and his family decided against “going with the flow” and decided to follow YHVH in His ways.*

**** We know the story, it is one of the most popular stories from the Bible.* Elohim decides to destroy the world with a flood of waters, saving only Noah and his family, and representatives of the animal kinds.* He is commanded to build an ark, a “floating barge” a rectangular box-car type of vessel.* In feet it measured 450 feet long, by 75 feet wide, and 45 feet high.* It had rooms or animal stalls, three floors, a door in the side, and ventilation all around.*

**** Using biblical measurements, it was 300 cubits long, 50 cubits wide, and 30 cubits high.* A cubit is about 18 inches, in would be from a man’s elbow to the tip of his middle finger (more or less).* The total was 380 cubits, length + width + height = 380.* In Hebrew letters, this sum would equal “Sheen + Pey” with the symbolism of “The all-consuming fire speaks” Elohim is about to judge and tear up the world with a watery judgment, and he speaks to Noah, who is the only one faithful to HIM.*

**** He also says to seal it within and without with “pitch” or “tar” which would make it water-proof.* It is interesting that the Hebrew word is “K’fer” very similar to “Kafar” which is “covering” this word is used during “Yom Kippur”.* During Yom Kippur, the blood of the animals “covered” the sins of the people for one year.* This “covering” on the ark would also “seal” Noah and his family inside the ark for the same amount of time, for a year.*

**** The world would perish under the water judgment, yet YHVH would make a “brit” (covenant) with Noach and his family.* They would be safe and sound, and of course dry inside the ark for a year.* The word for “ark” in Hebrew is “Teivah” it has three Hebrew letters; “Tav” “Beit” and “Hey”.* The ancient Hebrew meaning of these letters together would be “behold the house of the covenant” The ark would be their house for one year a temporary house that was under God’s “covenant”.
*
**** Inside the ark, the DNA for all humankind would be safe.* Had not YHVH chosen to save Noah and his family, and instead, destroy all of humankind, today, we would probably be plants, trees, or flowers. *Also remember that in the days before the flood, it never rained from the sky, but from under the ground.* When the rains finally came, the people outside the ark probably freaked out big time!

**** We read that animal representatives of each animal kind entered the ark.* Two of each “unclean” kind came into the ark, and fourteen of the “clean” animals, such as sheep, goats, cows, bulls, buffalo, deer, moose, elk, etc.* or seven pairs of each.* Later on, we find out why? They would be used for eating purposes and for sacrifices, so, there would have to be a lot of them on the earth.* Dinosaurs? Yes, they came on board, probably the young ones that were still babies.* The word “dinosaur” is a modern word, back then the word “dragon” was used for dinos.

**** We read that when Noah finished building the ark, which took 120 years, he took enough food to last a year, and when the animals got on board they settled down.* Some might have gone into hibernation status. Then, after a period of seven days of waiting, 7:16 says “and YHVH shut him in” This means that “God himself shut the outside door”.* The period of grace was over, death and judgment would begin.*

**** Every human being on this earth is under a period of grace when we can come into the presence of Adonai and enter into the “ark of salvation” which is Yeshua.* After our physical death, our fate is sealed, judgment will fall.* Eternal condemnation in the lake of fire for the lost, and for believers, our “works” will be judged where we will either receive or lose rewards, yet we ourselves will inherit eternal life with the King of Kings, and LORD of Lords.

**** The WORD says that it rained for 40 days and nights. “40” is the number of “judgment and testing” it says that the waters rose above the highest mountains 22 feet.* This proves that it was a “universal flood” not a local flood.* During this time, there was a lot of seismic activity, shifting of the earths continents, creating new mountain chains and ridges.* We have no idea how the pre-diluvian earth looked like, but after the flood, Noach and his family stepped out into a strange and different world.*

**** The flood waters were upon the earth for a year, and the Word says that in the seventh month and on the seventeenth day of that month (Tishrei) the ark rested on the mountains of Ararat.* Isn’t it surprising that the ark came to rest on dry land during the third day of Sukkot!* Noah’s “Sukkah” received “shalom” and on the first day of the first month “Nissan” “New Year’s Day” the waters had completely dried up on the earth.

**** This is very significant because the whole earth is starting anew, a new year for a renewed earth. So, Noah and his family leave the ark and start life anew.* About 4000 years later, a Turkish countryman and his son, and later the Tzar’s army soldiers found the ark halfway sticking out of an ice glacier on Mt. Ararat.* They took measurements and explored it, so, Yes, it was found.

**** Noah and his family left the ark, and the first thing Noah did was to build an altar and sacrifice clean animals.* Here again is the burnt offering to remind us of our sin nature. After the flood was when God gave permission to eat the flesh of clean animals, before, mankind was vegetarian. *Yes, Noah was a Tzadik, a righteous man yet he still had his sin nature.* He planted a vineyard and got drunk from the wine he made.*

**** Ham, one of the sons of Noah saw his father naked inside his tent.* We do not know what happened, if he just saw him naked, or…perhaps…committed some kind of perverse sexual thing on Noah, we only know that the Torah says that when Noah awakened from his drunkenness he discovered what his son had “done unto him”(9:24) implying that something was “done” Ham did not just “see” his father naked.* Result is that Noah was angry and cursed “Canaan” Ham’s son.

**** Now, we don’t understand why the grandson had to suffer for what his father had done.* Doesn’t seem fair, well, life ISN’T fair, never has been.* We’re living in a lost and dying world, a world that is going down the tubes.* One thing is that Noah had already blessed his sons, and being blessed, you cannot take the blessing from them.* Are there any Canaanites alive today? I would say not.* They ended up being a perverse, vial people.

**** Now the world becomes populated again.* People start moving around from the three sons of Noah; Shem, Ham, and Japheth.* From these three sons, we get the three main people groups of the world.* “Shem” the Semites, “Ham” the Hamites which went down toward Africa, and “Japheth” who brought about the European peoples.* One of the popular names from Japheth is “Ashkenaz” who was the father, one could say, of the Ashkenazim East European Jews later on. “Tubal” = Tobolsk (in Russia) “Meshek” = Moscow (Russia)

*** Another name is “Nimrod” who came from “Ham” and also “Mizraim” (Egypt) and “Cush” (Ethiopia, Sudan) Nimrod founded Babylon.* From here we get the division of the world languages.* At that time, the descendants of Noah spoke only one language, probably Hebrew, The people under Nimrod contracted a bad disease, namely “US-itess”* “Let US build US a city let US make US a name least WE be scattered abroad the earth” (11:4) the direct opposite of what YHVH ordered them to do, to “multiply and fill the earth again with people! The flood taught them nothing! They continued to rebel.
*
* ***The Torah says that YHVH gave them new languages.* According to scholars, from one language came 70 languages then, and 70 people groups. So, they left Babel and went off into different directions to repopulate the earth, so that is how languages started.* They were complete with grammar, syntax, many even with written words.

**** Today, there are lot more than 70 languages, but no matter what language a person speaks, YHVH knows his name in ALL languages, and ALL who call upon the NAME of the LORD will be saved!* When a person prays to receive Yeshua as LORD and Savior, no matter what the language is, HE will HEAR and come into that person’s life! Remember, HE is the author of ALL languages of the world.*

ISAIAH 54:1-55:5*

**** Am Yisrael is compared to the “sands of the sea” and the “dust of the earth” and the “Stars of heaven” The prophet Yeshayahu in these verses are comforting Israel that they will be blessed, with descendants, even though at the time they might be going through some rough times, always, when people go away from the LORD, and follow other gods, then judgment will follow, and suffering will follow, however, YHVH will never reject his people…and…He will increase their numbers.

**** In spite of HaSatan trying to wipe the Jewish people from existence through the holocaust, pogroms, etc.* The people will continue to exist.* Why is Israel compared to the “sands of the sea?” because, who can count each and every grain of sand?* Why is Israel compared to the “dust of the earth?” One walks on the dust, and Israel has been trampled on, like dust, but dust is enduring.* Leave a car outside in the desert, in the dust, for perhaps one-hundred years.* At the end, the car will no longer exist, it will have been wasted away, yet the dust will continue to exist, forever.

**** Why “the stars of heaven?” because Israel will “shine” like the stars, because, the Mashiach came from Israel, and He shines, as everlasting light.* Israel will be a light to the nations, and will teach the nations of ONE GOD “Echad”*

MATTHEW 3:1-4:25*

**** Yochanan the Baptizer is in the Jordan, baptizing the people, getting them ready to meet their Mashiach, his cousin, his LORD.* We need to get our hearts and minds right, a need to change is necessary, to leave the lost world behind and embrace the things of the LORD.*

**** Yeshua is baptized, goes into the wilderness, fasts for 40 days, getting ready for his ministry and teaching, healing, and finally, dying for our sins.* 40 is the number for testing and judgment.* “Man shall not live by bread alone, but from every word that proceeds from the mouth of Adonai”.* Yes, physical food is necessary, and it feeds the physical body, yet the WORD of God feeds our spirit man/woman.* There needs to be a balance of the two.* Good, healthy, kosher food which Adonai gave us, and HIS WORD, which is the living manna.*

**** Yeshua settles in Capernaum, or in Hebrew “K’far Naum” the “Covering of Naum”.* I have been there, to Capernaum, and the synagogue that Yeshua visited is still there, although it was torn down a rebuilt a few times, the floor is the same.* It was an honor to physically “walk” where Yeshua walked and taught Torah.* The remains of Peter’s house is also there.*

**** Let’s walk the way Yeshua walked, let’s keep on preparing our hearts, and minds, and our lives. The Kingdom of Heaven IS here, it IS at hand.* The “Kingdom of God” is HIS activity here on earth.*

*
Shabbat Shalom…………. Rabbi Ben Avraham*

[JacobBenAvraham]

PARASHAH: “Lech Lecha” (go forth yourself)

GENESIS 12:1-17:27……………………...ISAIAH 40:27-41:16……………MATTHEW 5:1-48


“Now YHVH said unto Abram: Get thee out of thy country and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will show thee” these are the opening words that YHVH speaks unto Abram. Now we might ask, “why did YHVH choose Abram to begin his chosen people?” No one really knows the “why?” only that he DID choose him. Perhaps he had a curious and searching mind, searching for the real and true God.
We must remember that there was no such person as a “Jew” back then. Abram was a Mesopotamian, from the Chaldean city of “Ur” similar to the Hebrew “Ir” which means “city”. He was raised as an idol worshipper, and his family’s business, according to the rabbis, was making and selling idols.
We only know that YHVH chose Abram, and he accepted and obeyed the voice of YHVH. Here is a commandment and the blessings of obeying the commandment. “Leave your father’s house and go to land which I will show you.” We see that G-d wanted Abram to distance himself from idol worshipping and everything connected with the such. Once he obeyed the voice of HaShem, THEN… the blessings would come;
“I will make of thee a great nation” , “I will bless thee and make thy name great (shem gadol) and be thou a blessing” , “I will bless them that bless thee and curse them that curse thee” , “In thee shall all the families of the world be blessed” we later see that under “being a great nation” we could add the promise; “Your seed will be like the dust of the earth” and also “like the stars of heaven” What do these promises involve?
Once that Abram obey the voice of YHVH, and he arrived in the land of C’anaan, then came the testings.
We see that Adonai wanted to test his faith, like he tests us all in many different ways. Yes, we all want blessings, but at times, blessings come with a price.
“Am gadol” a great nation, or a great people. It started with Yitzchak, the first and only son of Abram and Sarah. From him we know the story; Yitzchak > Ya’akov > 12 tribes > multitudes! As a sign, YHVH changed the name of Abram to Abraham. If we look at the paleo Hebrew symbolism in the name “Abram” we see “Alef” “beit” “resh” “mem”. 4 letters, “4” symbolized the 4 corners of the earth. The descendants of Abraham are in all 4 corners of the earth. But we can see these letters meaning or symbolizing “the father who is the head of a multitude”. Also, we can read this as; God blesses the first house with a multitude”.
Later, YHVH changes his name by adding the letter “hey” (h). Now it is “abraHam”. What is the significance of the “H”? Well, one way we can look at it is that the “hey” (h) is the only letter in the Hebrew Alef-bet that is pronounced with one “breathing out air”. When you pronounce “h” we send out a puff of air from our mouth. We can also say “wind” in Hebrew; “Ruach” it also means “spirit”. SO…we can say that “YHVH sent out the “spirit of life” into the womb of Sarah through the seed of Abraham. Also, the ancient meaning of the letter “hey” is “Behold!” so, we can say “Behold, a multitude is coming from Abraham and Sarah!” starting with Yitzchak.
Yet we cannot forget about Ishmael, who was the son of Abraham and Hagar, the Egyptian. The promise extended to him too, although this was not part of God’s “perfect” will. He “permitted” the union between Abraham and Hagar, yet with consequences; the Arab nations who are the enemies of Israel. “Ishmael” means “God listens (to man)” “Ish+shema+El. (reading right to left) HOWEVER if we read from left to right we get “Man listens to God” and every man that listens to God, in obedience, whether Arab or any other ethnic identity, that man will be blessed also.
Adonai stated also that “in thee, all of the families of the world would be blessed”. The greatest blessing is in Yeshua HaMashiach. From the seed of Abraham, came the nation of Israel, and we know that Mary and Joseph, the guardians of Yeshua were of the seed of Abraham, and more closely, the seed of David. We need to look not so much at physical blessings, nor biological/genealogical blessings. We might be of Jewish ancestry, but that does not secure for us salvation, we need to look at Yeshua our Messiah, who is our “Yeshuateinu” (our salvation)
Now we look at Lot, Abraham’s nephew, if only Abraham had left him behind! But he didn’t. Didn’t YHVH state specifically, “Leave your father’s house and your KINDRED!” isn’t Lot kin folk? Lot started arguing over land for cattle. So, Abraham says for him to select one area and he would go in the other direction. So, Lot chose “Sodom!” the land around it looked very fertile. That is the way the land of sin appears to people. It looks attractive. So, Lot pitched his tent TOWARDS Sodom…then…he actually enters and LIVES in Sodom. And so, it is with sin. We might get attracted to it, get closer to it, and finally, indulge in it! So, be careful!
There were three promises made to Abraham. His seed would be like the dust of the earth. His seed would be like the stars of heaven, his seed would be like the sands of the sea. Can you count the stars? Can you count the grains of sand on the beach? Can you count dust? Here is something to think about. We walk on dust, we trample it under foot. Israel has been trampled underfoot and has been looked down upon by many nations, yet, the dust still lasts, it will always be. Leave a car out in the desert for 50 years, and the dust will wear it away into rusted metal, yet the “dust” will always be, and so will Israel.
Circumcision! This is an important area, but some make it TOO important. YHVH instructed Abraham to be circumcised and that every male should also be circumcised. This was and is a mark of the covenant. But what about today? Is it still important? Yes, it is, but in the physical aspect of the same. For male health and cleanliness, it is good for every baby boy be circumcised. YHVH is more concerned in our heart condition. Moshe stated that the “foreskin of our hearts should be circumcised”. Spiritually speaking, the “foreskin” of our hearts is the carnal ways that we all have, being that we are a fallen race and have the inbred original sin.
“So circumcise your heart and stiffen your neck no longer” (Deut 10:16)

ISAIAH 40:27-41:16

The prophet is encouraging Israel saying that YHVH will support them, will protect them. Israel has been through a lot, they are weary of being persecuted, well, they went away from the LORD, and went after false gods, yet, when the repent, YHVH will be there.
They are weary, weak, tired. Yes, when we do it in our own strength, yet when we go in the strength of YHVH, HE is our strength. We are not talking about physical strength, but spiritual strength. The physical is and always be physical. We can be strong physically by eat right, exercise, etc.…but we can be spiritually strong through prayer, reading God’s word, and just trusting in HIM for our needs.
“Thou art my servant, I have chosen thee and not cast thee away, fear not, for I am with thee, be not dismayed for I am thy God, I strengthen thee, help thee, uphold thee… (41:10)
What better promise from God do we have? He has chosen us as HIS people, through Yeshua, we become an active part of the commonwealth of Israel, and, as our LORD, and Master, He will provide.



MATT 5:1-48

There is a lot of meat in this chapter, besides the Beatitudes, which are “blessed are the…” poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek (or humble) etc.… these we can understand, Yeshua is explaining this quite clearly. But there is another part which needs explanation. 5:17-18
“Think not that I am come to destroy the law or the prophets. I am not come to destroy but to fulfill. For verily I say unto thee, till heaven and earth pass, not one yod or tittle shall in no wise pass from the law till all be fulfilled”
This has been a misunderstood verse in many if not all Bible churches today. What is “Law?” in the Latin we have the word “legis” which when translated into English, we get “law”. The problem is when we go into the original Hebrew the word in “Torah” which means “instruction, teaching". When translated correctly into Latin, it would have been; “disciplinam” , “educatio” “instructio” “mandatum” Any of these words would have been better than “legis”
In the ancient Hebrew, when worded “destroy” and “fulfill” meant that “destroying” is “erroneous interpretation” and “fulfilling” meant “correctly interpreting”. Yeshua did indeed “fulfill” the Torah, the biggest and most important fulfillment was dying for our sins. He fulfilled the Old Testament sacrificial system of animal blood, using his own blood.
The Torah consists of commandments, 613 to be exact. If we say, “we no longer have to live by those old-fashioned laws, the “law” is over, finished, ended, then…why don’t we go out to rob a house, to take your neighbor’s wife, to murder someone you don’t like? Those commandments are part of the “law”, aren’t they? So, if it is over with, well, why not? Because Yeshua himself said so! That he didn’t come to “end “or “get rid of, or “abrogate” as some translations have.
Of course, many of the 613 commandments are not for today, since there is no more animal sacrifice nor Levitical priesthood, but many are STILL for today. That is the reason for Bible study, which ones are or not.
As our rabbi (now in heaven) once said; “Let’s not throw the baby out with the bathwater” Now, someone is going to write a comment saying; “But doesn’t the Word say if we break one commandment it is like breaking them all?” we are guilty then of breaking the entire “law”
The answer is that if one is trusting in obedience to the commandments as our method of gaining eternal life and acceptance by God, then, YES, we are guilty, since YHVH demands PERFECT holiness, Yet, our salvation does NOT depend on our obedience to the commandments, but in accepting Yeshua’s sacrifice, and trusting HIM as LORD and Savior. Our obedience to the commandments comes AS A RESULT OF our renewed relationship with YHVH through Yeshua
Are the heavens passed away yet? NO! is the earth still here? YES, is the WORD of God still here in our midst? YES, is the LIVING WORD in our hearts? YES! Have a blessed Sabbath.



****

[JacobBenAvraham]

ECHAD or YACHID, WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE...? ECHAD is the word for ONE, yet it is the UNITY OF ONE, and YACHID, is the word for ONE, but it is the "uniqueness of ONE" how would we apply this?

SHEMA ISRAEL, ADONAI (YHVH) ELOHEINU , ADONAI ECHAD (Deut 6)

YHVH is used as the most sacred name of God from the word "HAVAYAH" meaning "to exist" yet YHVH exists in three entities, YHVH is Spirit, yet He came to earth as YESHUA (the Son) to pay the price for our sin, to teach the Torah, to heal the sick, raise the dead, and to die for our sins. This is a basic belief in Judeo-Christianity, in Messianic Judaism,

YHVH as Spirit created the Heavens and the earth, YESHUA came to die for our sins, and later, returned as the HOLY SPIRIT (Ruach HaKodesh) In Christianity, the word is TRINITY, yet this word does not exist in the Bible, yet it is inferred in the word ECHAD. we could also say "Tri-Unity"

YACHID on the other hand is ONE in UNIQUENESS, like ONE unique thing, that is special, no other thing like that thing. There might be similarities, but that "Thing" is unique.

YESHUA is YACHID as well as ECHAD. He is God's UNIQUE (only) SON, who paid our sin debt completely, there is no one else like him. Yes, we are all "B'nei Elohim" (sons of God) through Yeshua, we are all "Echad" united in fellowship, ONE (echad) BODY of believers, all united in HIM, yet Yeshua will always be ECHAD, and also YACHID.

[JacobBenAvraham]

“The Faces of God” (Panim el Panim) GEN 32:30*

(a last-minute thought on Parashah VaYishlach)
*
**** Jacob finds himself alone, facing, as he thinks, eminent danger from being slaughtered by his brother Esau, He puts his family in hiding, he sends gifts of cattle to Esau to maybe “soften him up” he might think.* Now comes a wrestling match.* Jacob is at his wits ends, it is only he and Elohim.* Elohim comes to visit him in form of the “Angel of YHVH” the Torah says that he “wrestled with a man all night” and Jacob did not relent, he did not give up the wrestling match until the Angel touched his thigh, thus wounding him.* Then comes the interesting part, the Angel gives him a blessing, he changes his name from “Jacob” to “Israel”
**** From “trickster, deceiver” to “straight to G-d” When we see the name “Yisrael” it can be divided into two parts; “Yasher- El” (straight to G-d) the name “Yisrael” also contains the acronyms of the patriarchs and matriarchs who played a part in forming the nation of Israel; “YI” Yitzchak “S” Sarah “R” Rachel and Riv’kah* “AE”* Abraham* “L” Leah.* The gematria for the word “Yisrael” (Yod, Sheen, resh, aleph, lamed) adds up to 541, when we add together 5+4+1 = 10.* “10” symbolizes the Torah, it was to the nation of Israel that the 10 Commandments were given as a “wedding contract” or “contract of nationhood”
**** Israel now says something interesting; “Vayikra Ya’akov shem haMakom Peniel Ki ra’iti Elohim Panim Et Panim” (and Jacob called the name of that place “Peniel” (face of God) for I have seen Elohim “faces to faces”.
What is interesting is that here, the word “face” is used in the singular and in the plural.* Peni-el, (face of God) in the ancient paleo-Hebrew letters, the word is symbolized as “mouth, life, action, God, Leader” in gematria, the word “Peniel” adds up to 171, (the unique, one (echad) G-d is perfect) when we add 1+7+1 = 9.* “9” is the number of “emet” (truth) and “Yeshua” also has that title.*
**** But “Panim El Panim” (faces to faces) is somewhat strange, or is it? How many faces does God have? Or does he even have a face, since he is “spirit”.* In one way, he “has a face” in physical form as the “Angel of YHVH, Jacob saw him, Abraham also saw him. But now “faces?” what could that mean?* Here is one idea;*
**** I am sure you can remember as a child, making “funny faces” in the mirror.* You might have seen in elementary school, school work papers that have different “faces” and you have to guess what they are.* A “sad” face, a “happy” face, an “angry” face, etc.* do the “faces” describe the person? Or are “faces” an indication of the person’s internal being?* I am sure you can remember your mother or father’s face when you disobeyed or goofed up something, you knew you “were in trouble” just by looking at their face.* Just as our parents had their “faces” which illustrated what was going on inside their soul and being, so our Heavenly Father has different attributes, personalities, feelings, attitudes, etc. that “could” be compared with “Panim” (faces).*
**** He has the “Panim Rachamim” (faces of Mercy) or “mercies” (endless mercy!”) He has the “face of forgiveness” the “face of longsuffering” the “face of patience” yet the faces of “punishment” “chastisement” “judgement and condemnation” for unrepentant sinners, the faces of “joy” and “wrath” of “happiness and sadness” “approval and disappointment” the face of a “God who listens and responds” the list could go on.*
**** We can just imagine the “face” of God when he sees us doing certain things, both “kosher” and “un-kosher”
If we can imagine his faces, then, we can imagine how he is feeling inside when we are in obedience or disobedience.* Another way of seeing “Panim El Panim” is “Faces God Faces” because “El” is one of G-d’s names. (the shortest one)
**** Can we say that during that night of ordeal, when Jacob wrestled with the “Malach Elohim” he saw the different “faces” of G-d? perhaps he saw in the “Panim Elohim” the future of his descendants, his 12 sons! It is something to think about!**
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PARASHA:* “VaYeshev”* (and he settled)*
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GENESIS 37:1-1-40:23..................AMOS 2:6-3:8................MATT 14:1-15:39, JOHN 10:22-23
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**** In this study, the focus in on Yosef, who is going to be in the lime-light of God.* Things seem to be going from bad to worse for this young teen-ager. But it wasn't all his fault we could say.* His father Jacob held him high up on a pedestal, “Papa's favorite”.* Always when there is family favoritism among sons and daughters, there is bound to be trouble, especially from the other siblings who are the “less preferred”
**** Papa Jacob makes him a “coat of many colors” This coat was a symbol of leadership, this is like getting a kid a three-piece suit made of fine silk, and then sending out to the fields where his brothers are wearing overalls and straw hats.* This is going to get jealousy aroused.* These brothers are boiling mad, and to make matters worse, Yosef is given dreams by YHVH and he doesn't keep them to himself, he shares them.* He shares them not to be haughty, but just to let his family know what is happening, or rather, what is “going to happen” in the future.* But I don't think that at that time, Yosef understood the meaning of the dreams.*
**** To make a long story short, he gets out to the fields, the brothers strip him of his coat, rip it, dip it in goat's blood, plan to kill him, Judah talks them out of it, and instead, throw him in an empty well, wait until a group of Ishmaelite traders come by, they sell him to the buyers for 20 pieces of silver , and that is that, they are rid of brother Yosef, “daddy's boy” the dreamer, yet unknowingly, they are playing right into the perfect plan of YHVH, they are “investing” in their own future welfare.*
**** But let's go back to the events.* How do these events symbolize, compare with Messiah Yeshua?* We do not see any blemish on Yosef, as if he is “perfect and righteous” as Yeshua was/is “Tzadik kadosh” (Righteous and Holy” Yosef is the “victim” of his own people (his brothers).* As Yeshua was given up to the Roman governor, by a group of religious leaders.*
*** The brothers striped Yosef of his coat, the coat was dipped in goat's blood.* Yeshua was stripped of his clothing, and was beaten, his flesh “ripped” by a Roman whip, until the blood poured out.* The “goat's blood” reminds us of “Yom Kippur” where goats were sacrificed and one was “set free” the blood of the goat reminds us of our sins “covered by the blood” (back then) but now, our sins are “erased” by the blood of “God's chosen LAMB” the “Lamb of God” which taketh away the sins of the world.*
**** Yosef was thrown into a pit, an empty cistern, void of water.* Scripture doesn't say, but I imagine that his brothers tied him up with a rope and lowered him into the pit by the rope.* A “water well” symbolizes “Life” but when it is empty, it can symbolize “death”.* Just try to climb out a deep pit with dirt sides without anything, you can't, might as well be dead.* Yosef being lower into the pit can symbolize Yeshua's death, and his descent into “Sheol” yet when the Midianites came by, the brothers pulled him “out” of the pit, it could symbolize Yeshua's “resurrection unto life”.* Before the pit, Yosef was part of his immediate family, after the incident of the pit, he is on his way to a “new life”, with trials, testings, troubles, suffering, and finally, rewards! Doesn't that sound like our life today?
**** Yosef was sold for “20 pieces of silver” by “Y'hudah Ben Ya'akov” (Judah son of Jacob)
**** Yeshua was sold for “30” pieces of silver by “Y'hudah Ish Kariot” (Judah, a man from the region of Kariot)
Y'hudah Ben Ya'akov was part of Jacob's family, whose name changed to Israel.* Y'hudah Ish Kariot was part of Yeshua's family of talmidim (disciples) by “name only” not spiritually.* The name “Israel” comes from “Yasher-El” (straight to God) “Yeshua” relationship is “straight to God”.* The difference between 30 pieces of silver and 20 pieces of silver is “10” the number of “Torah”.* ALL is recorded and written down in the Torah, and Yeshua is the “Living Torah”*
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AMOS 2:6-3:8**
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The prophet preaches “judgment on Israel” (because they sell the righteous for silver), and for many more evil deeds, they have turned away from God and are behaving like the heathen, that know not the LORD.* Yosef was righteous, and he sold for 20 pieces of silver, Yeshua was / is righteous, and was sold for 30 pieces of silver.* Israel has traded a “Torah” (30-20=10) walk for an “unrighteous” walk and lifestyle, trouble is ahead, judgment is coming, and it came, God used Babylon, Greece, Antiochus, Rome, as instruments of judgment, yet Israel prevailed, through YHVH's grace, goodness, righteousness, and through a “few gallant men” who fought the fight of freedom.*
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MATT 14:1-15:39 and JOHN 10:22-23
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“Yeshua blesses the crowd” we see that Yeshua went to a place alone, perhaps to mourn the death of his cousin, Yochanan the Baptist, yet the crowd found him, he had compassion and healed the sick, he fed them when he multiplied the 5 loaves and 2 fish.* Interesting enough, when we add 5 and 2 we get “7” the perfect number, the number of Holiness, we have the “Bread (loaves) of Life” and he who makes “fishers of men” (fish). Also, the symbol of the “fish” was used in early messianic believers.**
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In John, we see that Yeshua attends the Feast of Hanukkah, the “dedication” and takes this opportunity to tell the Jews, “I AM the Messiah....yet you do not believe” the choice to believe, is always OURS.** Shabbat Shalom
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Rabbi Ben Avraham
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[JacobBenAvraham]

********************** A* BRIEF STUDY ON HANUKKAH, WHAT IS IT ALL ABOUT?*

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**** “And it was at Jerusalem the Feast of the Dedication (Hanukkah), and it was winter, and Yeshua (Jesus) walked in the temple in Solomon's porch” (John 10:22,23) the chapter goes on to say that the Jews gathered around him, asking him to tell them plainly if he was the Messiah.*
**** Hanukkah was an important festival, important enough for our Messiah to be at the temple and answer questions.* The meaning of the word “Hanukkah” means “dedication”.* In order to understand this better, we need to go back and read 2 Chronicles 7:8-10.* King Solomon finished building the first temple, and he celebrated with the people in having a big sacrifice, sacrificing thousands of bulls and sheep, he invited the people and they shared in the festivity.* He celebrated for 8 days, during the time of Sukkot, (Feast of Tabernacles) on the 8th day, “Hoshanah Raba” he blessed the people and sent them home.* A lot happened after that time, the priests and much of the people took their eyes off the LORD, and went into idolatry.
**** Years later, the Prophet Malachi prophesied that YHVH would punish the people, and the end result would be that the temple would be desecrated, the “seed” of Israel would be “contaminated”.* You can read this in Malachi 1:6; 2:1,2,8,9.* The Prophet Daniel was more precise.* He had visions of what would happen in the future.*
**** The visions of Daniel in chapter 8 had to do with “two” end time periods.* One, the end time before the first coming of Messiah Yeshua, and the second, the end time before the second coming of Messiah, which is still in the future.* In Chapter 8:5 the prophet sees a “he goat” (Greece) and a “ram” (Persia).* This is when Alexander the Great went forth to conquer many nations, he traveled very fast (touched not the ground).* This happened around 330 B.C. He went from West (Greece) towards the East (nations East of Greece) these nations included Persia, Egypt, Syria, and Israel (Judea).*
**** The prophet mentions the “horn that was broken” (Alexander's death) and from that, 4 other horns came out (four generals took over).* (Daniel 8:8).* “Ptolemy” took control of Egypt, that is why we see the dynasty of “Ptolemy pharaohs” Queen Cleopatra was a “Ptolemy”.* Seleucid took control over Syria.* From Seleucid, came the “little horn that waxed great”.* This was the rise of Antiochus (Daniel 8:9).* First there was Antiochus III, and afterward, Antiochus IV (Epiphanes).* It was Antiochus Epiphanes who wreaked Havoc in Judea, was a tyrant, a murderer who was satanically controlled.* He proclaimed himself “Zeus incarnate” thus the title “Epiphanes” An epiphany is a carnal likeness of a god.* But what happened to Judea before the rise of Antiochus?
**** Alexander had introduced “Hellenism” to the conquered world.* Judea could either accept the new Greek ways or reject them.* Most Israelites rejected them, they stayed Torah observant and worshiped YHVH.* Some accepted the new Greek ways, new Greek style clothing, music, philosophy, gymnastics, drama, language, etc...
Under Alexander, and even under the first Antiochus (III) Judeans had a choice, either accept or reject, it didn't really matter, but when Antiochus III died and his son Antiochus IV came to power, all changed.*
**** Everyone had to convert to Hellenism, accept Antiochus as supreme ruler and “god” manifested in human form, or die.* No longer could they study Torah, the scrolls were destroyed, circumcision of males was a capital offense, when Israelite women married, a Greek soldier would be the first to physically “lay” with the new wife.
So life was “hell” for all of Israel that did not convert or accept Hellenism, and accept Antiochus as “Zeus incarnate”.*
**** On the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, 167 B.C, Antiochus invades the temple in Jerusalem and desecrates it.* He sets up a statue of Zeus and to celebrate, he sacrifices pigs on the sacred altar in the temple, he then takes all the temple furniture made of gold and silver, including the Menorah, and takes them to Syria.* The temple is now bare, and desecrated, and now dedicated to Zeus and pagan sacrifices.* (Daniel 8:11-12).
**** The next thing that Antiochus did was to replace the Judean “Onias” the high priest and put his own brother “Jason” as priest instead of Onias.* Jason started promoting “Zeus worship, and pig sacrifices” throughout Judea.* He went to the city of Modin, where the priest Mattathias lived with his five sons; John, Jonathan, Judah, Simon, and Eleazar.* This is where the resistance started.
**** Jason had sent an officer to offer Mattathias riches and honor, if only he would set the example and offer pig sacrifices to Zeus.* The officer was not prepared for the reaction of Mattathias.* With a loud voice he responded;
**** “Though all the nations that are under the king's dominion obey him and fall away everyone from the religion of their fathers, and give consent to his commandments, yet will I and my sons and my brethren walk in the covenant of our fathers.* God forbid that we should forsake the Torah and the ordinances.* We will not harken to the king's words to go from our religion, either on the right hand or the left!” (1st Book of Maccabees)
***** After hearing these words, another priest standing nearby offered to sacrifice, in exchange for gold and silver.* When the priest tried to go forward, Mattathias took a sword and slew him there, and also slew the officer in charge.* Now, Mattathias and his sons were wanted criminals in the eyes of Antiochus. Mattathias and his sons had to flee the city and they went into the hills of Judea to hide.*
**** Other faithful Judeans heard what Mattathias had done, and went out to be with him and his sons, thus, forming a small army.* Yet what did they have, but perhaps wooden spears, a few knives, pitchforks, and not many swords.* Judeans from all classes in society went to join him and his sons.* There out in the wilderness, they prepared for battle.* They would strike out against Antiochus and his trained Greek-Syrian forces.* They would fight with guerrilla-warfare tactics.* They knew the terrain, the Greeks didn't.
**** This reminds us of the revolutionary war in the United States, when the 13 colonies were under British rule. George Washington (America's Mattathias and Judah the Maccabee) took untrained colonists and fought against the well trained British troops, they fought long and hard, but finally gained independence from Great Britain.
**** Antiochus now knew that Mattathias and his small army were serious.* Mattathias was old and he died during this war.* He left his eldest son, Judah, to take command.* His sur-name “Maccabee” comes from the Hebrew/Aramaic word “Makabah” which means “Hammer” so his whole name in Hebrew “Y'hudah Makavi” is telling us “My God YAH is my hammer”.* With the strength and blessings of God, Y'hudah and his army went forth to fight against Antiochus and his armies.* Antiochus sent out four generals; Apollonius, Georgias, Seron, and Nicanor.* The strength of these armies was probably 100,000 or more.* Yet Judah fought them all, (guerrilla style strike and run, strike and hide, ambush, etc...) As these armies were vanquished, Judah and his armies captured their swords, spears, shields, etc... and now they were well equipped.*
**** Needless to say, Judah pushed forward and finally drove the Greek-Syrians out of Judea.* He and his army re-took Jerusalem.* The temple was in a shamble, the altar desecrated with swine blood and guts, the Temple emptied of its treasures.* Judah and his men got to work, they tore down the pagan altar and built an altar to YHVH.* He went and “brought in new vessels, the candlestick (Menorah) the table of Shewbread, and the altar of incense, which were made of gold” (Josephus, the complete works, pg. 393) they went to work and made the temple like new again, re-lit the menorah, and made a “feast of dedication” for 8 days, just like in the days of Solomon, when he dedicated the first temple for eight days.* Judah offered sacrifices on the newly built brazen altar just like Solomon did.* This also happened on the same day, 25th of Kislev, 164 B.C. three years after it had been desecrated.
**** Today, we still celebrate this time of year.* Many people have a special 9 branch menorah called a “Hanukkah”. This is used especially for this time.* The middle branch is called the “Shamash” (the helper) from this middle branch which holds and candle or oil with a wick, the other candles are lit each night for 8 nights.* As Messianic Jewish believers, we see the symbolism in the middle branch as “Yeshua” who is the “Light of the World” and we are the “little lights” we get our light from Messiah Yeshua.* He even said, “Ye are the light of the world.*
**** We can see 9 aspects of the faith in each of the 9 branches of the special Hanukkah menorah; “Teshuvah” (repentance) “Tzedakah” (charity and giving) “Mitzvot” (good works) “Emunah” (faith) “Yeshua” (Salvation)
“Mishpochah” (family) “Ahavah” (love) “HaTorah” (God's Word) “Israel” (the Holy Land) are all inter-related
and we can also add “Chen” (faith) because by “faith” we are saved, not of works least any man should boast.*
**** Many also “spin the dreidel” which is a four-sided top, with the letters N, G, H, S, (but in Hebrew) which symbolize, “Nez, Gadol, Haya, Sham,” (A great miracle happened there).* What was the miracle? That a small army of about 10,000 men fought against a superior army of 100,000 or more, yet not through the might of swords and spears, but through the might and power of YHVH, they won and achieved victory.
**** These 4 letters when added up in gematria, = 358, the word “Mashiach” (Messiah) also adds up to the sum of 358.* Mashiach gave the victory.* He also gives us the victory in our lives against sin.* We can think of “Dedication” at this time of year to re-dedicate our lives to Messiah Yeshua, to serve him, and keep on serving him, and to be “lights” in dark places.* Our work and service in Messiah Yeshua ends on earth when we are called home, and even in heaven, we will continue to serve, and see His LIGHT forever.
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[JacobBenAvraham]

SIMCHAT TORAH ( The Joy of the BIBLE) So, what's it all about?


This is the time of year that we take to remember the Word of Adonai to all mankind. He gave us his Torah, his teaching, guidance, instruction which is so important in a sin-filled world. He gave it to fallen mankind to give him direction to “Yeshuah” (Salvation) a reconciliation between fallen man and a Holy and Supreme, Perfect God, through “Teshuvah” a “turning around and change of mind and direction” and turn to follow our One and Only Supreme and Holy God.
Torah also teaches us that G-d himself came to earth as man and yet as God, to be our mediator. Yeshua, our mediator is the only way of reconciliation between sinful man and Adonai who is Holy. The animal sacrifices illustrated the necessity of blood, yet the only blood that got rid of the curse of sin was the blood of Yeshua. This is the most important teaching of the Torah, the way back to Adonai through Yeshua our Messiah and Redeemer.
The word “Torah” comes from “Yarah” which means “to point to” or “to direct towards” like an arrow that is headed towards the bulls-eye of a target. So, we ask, where did it all start? We might say that it all began with Moshe who wrote down all the words of Adonai while in the desert, starting with the Ten Commandments (Which were written by G-d himself) and compiled all together, 613 mitzvoth, which were written down in 5 scrolls.
However, the Word of G-d, His Torah was even before that time. It was the time of the Oral Torah. I don’t mean the Talmud, it was way before the Talmud. The Oral Torah was the instruction that Elohim gave to Adam verbally, who passed that instruction down to Kayin and Chevel and later on to Seth, who passed it down to his descendants, and finally reached Noach, and Noach passed down the teaching to his sons, Shem, Ham, and Yafeth, who passed down the teachings to Terah, and from the there to Abraham, and then to his sons, to the sons of Israel, and from there to Moshe, who finally wrote down the instructions by the verbal commandments of Adonai.
Adam sacrificed to Adonai, and so did Chevel, (Abel) a burnt offering. How did they learn about that if not through the spoken words of G-d? How did Noach know about the clean and unclean animals to put aboard the ark, unless God told him about those kinds of animals since the clean and unclean commandments of Kashrut didn’t appear until Leviticus 11, which was way after the time of Noach.
So now we have the written Torah in our midst, and we ought to be thankful that we have it with us, and in some homes, probably quite a few copies of the Bible, which is the Greek word “Biblios” which means “books”
So, what does the Torah consist of? How many books? Manuscripts? Well that depends on what one considers the complete “Torah”
In today’s Judaism, we see quite a few denominations, just like in Christianity, we see quite a few denominations. We have Ultra-Orthodox, Orthodox, Chasidim, Reformed, Conservative, and Messianic (those who believe and accept Yeshua as Messiah and Redeemer. As we are all part of the great International Community of Israel, or the Commonwealth of Israel, consisting of those born and raised in Israel as well as those born outside of Israel. Even those who have lost their contact with the faith through pogroms, persecution, accepting other faiths, many have returned to the faith of Abraham and have recognized their Jewish heritage, even if it came from great ancestors.
We must be tolerant one with the other, listening to one anther’s views open-mindedly, not in a condemning manner. We can look at the schools of Shammai and Hillel and see their examples. A student once had a question concerning an aspect of the Torah, and went to the school of Shammai and ask the sage the question.
“It means this-and-that” and he continued. He later went to the school of Hillel and asked the same question about the Torah. Hillel asked the student; “What did Shammai say?” the student said, “He said, this-and-that”. “Well” stated Hillel, “ I’ll give you our view” and he told the student their view. Afterward, he said, “now consider the view of Shammai and our view and come to your own conclusion, what does the Spirit of God tell you?”
So, just like the schools of Shammai and Hillel had their views on the Torah, so must we also listen to those who perhaps have different views, whether the person is conservative, orthodox, Messianic, or another denomination. After all, we are ALL people of the Torah, and if terrorists come and wish to murder us all, they will not come up to ask us what we believe, whether or not we believe that Yeshua is Messiah or whether we keep Kosher or not, all they will look for will be kippahs on our heads and Tzitziot hanging from our undershirts or belts, we will all die together as “Am Y’hudim v’Israelim”
Some believe that the Torah consists of only the 5 books of Moshe, Genesis to Deuteronomy. Others accept also the Nevi’im and Ketuvim (the Prophets and the Writings) up to Malachi, while Messianic believers also embrace and accept the gospels of the Brit HaDASHAH, up to Revelation.
One thing that is certain, ALL is Torah, The Instruction of a ONE and Holy God (Echad) through his chosen writers, through a period of two thousand years.
What does Torah teach us? It teaches us that G-d is Perfect, Holy (Tamim v’Kadosh) and that He made man in His holy image, yet man was tempted by HaSatan and thus broke fellowship with his creator. Adonai reached down and sent his prophets his words to bring fallen mankind back into a right relationship with Him again, using His spoken and written word, He directed us to a ‘Yeshuah” (salvation) experience and thus, bringing us back into a right relationship with Him again.
The Torah is a continuous book of reading and studying. It is ALL related, just as a circle has no beginning nor end, so the Torah is continuous, and every part is connected to the next part. Here are some examples.
The custom of Simchat Torah is to begin reading from Genesis 1:1; “B’reisheet Bara Elohim…” (In the beginning, Elohim….) yet many begin by reading the last verse in Deuteronomy 34:12. And in the same breath continue with Genesis 1:1. How do these verses relate?
The last word in Deuteronomy is “Israel” the first word in Genesis is “B’reisheet” (In the beginning) If we take this a step into the Derashic level of understanding, one could say, “even in the beginning, God had Israel in his mind and heart!” If we take it even a step further, the last letter in Deuteronomy is “L” (Lamed) and the first letter in the Torah is “B” (beit) if we put “lamed and beit” together we get the word “Lev” (heart) thus getting the understanding that “In the beginning, Israel was in the heart of Elohim”
Let’s take a step further, the last word in Malachi is “Cherem” (curse or destruction) and the first word in Genesis is “B’reisheet” (in the beginning) how do these words relate? In the beginning, Elohim created a perfect world which was “destroyed” by the “curse” bringing sin into the world. The last letter in Malachi is a “Mem” sofit. The letter “Mem” (M) symbolizes “chaos, water, multitudes”, while the letter “Beit” (B) symbolizes “house” or “household”. What is the relation? In the beginning, chaos was introduced into the multitudes (people) through the curse of the original sin, and the world was destroyed by water (The Genesis Flood).
Let’s go a step further, for those who are of the Messianic belief. The last book in the Bible is Revelation. The last word in the Book of Revelation is “Amen” and the first word in the Bible is “B’reisheet” “Amen” means “So be it” or “Let it be so”. We can see that “In the beginning, Elohim created the Heavens and the earth, “Let it be so” (amen) The last letter in “amen” is the letter “Nun” (N) which symbolizes “life” and of course, the “Beit” symbolizes “House” so one could say, “In the beginning, God’s household was full of life! Life, happiness, joy, bliss, in Gan Eden, (In the Garden of Eden) up until the time of sin…then…all changed. And we all know the rest. We are all reaping the whirlwind.
The Torah gives us the way of righteous living before a Holy God and before mankind. Following and living the mitzvoth of Adonai. They direct us toward the right path to “Yeshuah” (salvation) by faith. In the following weeks, I will present a series of Torah portions with Midrashim so that all who would like to read and follow the weekly Torah cycle, can do so.

Hag Sameach Simchat Torah

Rabbi Ben Avraham