The Sabbatical Year makes Eretz Yisrael to His Land HaAretz

This week we again have a double Torah portion. In the first part, “BeHar – At the mount (Sinai),” God’s appointed times of rest are stressed.
God ordered resting times for mankind and for nature, which He connected with the number seven (sheva). In Hebrew, a week is called shavua because of its seven days. The shabbat, the seventh day, is the holy resting day for all mankind, even gentiles (see Isaiah 66).

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Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem:
“G-d commands the children of Israel to observe the sabbatical year by letting the land of Israel rest. This act of sanctifying the land by placing our total faith in G-d, grants us the peace we so fervently desire.” Watch Video-Commentary here ▼

Nor was nature forgotten. According to our reading, the land should rest every seven years (the Sh’mita Year).
Additionally, the Seventh Millenium – according to the Jewish calender we are ending the 6000 years! The Mishna refers to this when it calls the Shabbat, the seventh day, a “foretaste of the World-to-Come.”

Seven, as we can see, is a number of fullness and completion (shalem), which has the same root of the word for peace (shalom).
In the second part of our double portion, beginning from chapter 26, the topic is that of blessing and curse. When we serve God with joy and walk in His paths, He showers/overwhelms us with His blessings, and keeps us away from any curse.

Shabbat Shalom!

“This week we are reading the parashat Emor. And the parasha begins, that HaShem says to Moshe: Say to the Cohanim, the sons of Aharon, and tell them each of you shall not render himself impure … And the Cohanim were instructed, were responsible to bring down the blessings into the world, they can’t be like other people, they can’t react in the same way… The first word of our parasha Emor is used in Hebrew speak, speak to the Cohanim and this speaking conveys a sense of speaking very quietly, whispering…”

Watch the entire video commentary of
Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute:

Shabbat Shalom

Abstract of the Commentary by Michael Schneider, Jerusalem:
Our weekly Torah portion continues with additional rules and guidelines for the children of Israel, this week, how to live Holy and pure lives before the LORD.

In chapter 16 it begins by telling us about two goats, “one lot for the LORD and the other lot for the scapegoat”. But before this passage, the passage emphasizes that a priest is not allowed to enter the Holy sanctuary “at any time,” but only when he approaches with the right attitude, clothing and time – after he had cleansed himself through sacrifice.

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(Lev. 19) “Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy”.
“We (Jews?)” asks Noa in this song:

In our (Ashkenasim) Haftara God asks: “Have not I brought up Israel out of the land of Egypt?” The destruction of the modern temples of God and all what is holy – especially the change of all concerning the God of the First Commandment “Israel out of the land of Egypt” – had been commanded by Martin Luther in the 16th Century:
„Firstly, that their synagogues or schools be set on fire and, what may not burn, be heaped over with earth, so that no human being could see a stone or cinder for ever. And such should be done to honour our Lord and Christianity, so that God may see that we are Christians.”
Read the following call for help from Germany:
Luther’s above-mentioned call to burn the synagogues and the Jews, was implemented by the Germans on Luther’s birthday in his honor in order to unite all Lutherans in this aim. That night in 1938 was celebrated as Kristallnacht (November 9 to 10, Luther’s birthday). But we Americans have decided to burn all the books of Luther with Jews devastating content in Germany of 1945 – such as a.m. On the Jews and Their Lies. Why? Thus the American Lutherans were able to continue to believe in their beloved Luther.
For our own peace will we Americans have helped Germany to again be able to believe in the most honourableness, one of the worst criminals in human history, Martin Luther. Is it now not up to us to prevent the → Luther Decade … that the German Lutheran history and the follow will not be repeated? Rise up, America! Threaten with the withdrawal of the ambassador and all diplomatic relations to Germany if they will not stop the Luther Decade … and such should be done to honour our Lord, so that God may see that we are Americans. God bless America.

Never ever forget that Pogromnacht was the night of 9th on the 10th of November – Martin Luther’s birthday! Please help the Germans since they will never change without your help, America! Stop the Luther Decade from America’s side!

We too can learn a lesson of how we are to enter the House of God today.

Priestly purification rituals became an introduction to entering the Tabernacle and Temple during Yom Kippur or the Day of Atonement, which became a “permanent statute” (16:29).

In chapter 17 we read, “No person among you may eat blood, nor may any alien who sojourns among you eat blood” (17:12). This was what the apostle Paul commanded from the gentiles who believe in the Messiah of Israel, Yeshua in Acts 15:20. This has come to be known as one of the Seven Commandments of Noah (for the gentile).

Chapter 18 follows with a list of abominable sins, especially those of a sexual nature. They were instructed to never adopt the customs of sin from the places they had been “brought out.”

Sadly, today, sick and dirty fashions are entering the Land through TV and the Internet. God desires for His Land and people to be Holy, especially from within. We are called to be separated from the lusts of the world. God intended for sex to be good, but man has distorted God’s design and purposes.

“Do not defile yourselves by any of these things; for by all these the nations which I am casting out before you have become defile” (18:24).

In chapter 19, God addresses treatment of people like the poor or “You shall not curse a deaf man, nor place a stumbling block before the blind” (19:14). What can be concluded is given to us in the following verse with the second greatest commandment, which was reiterated by Yeshua, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (19:18).

The very wise Jewish scholar, Hillel once said, “Do not do unto others what you do not want others to do unto you. This is the entire Torah. Everything else in the Torah is merely commentary on this mitzvah.”

My advice to you is read through the commandments on holiness and compare yourself to them! “So we will be holy like He is!” (20:7-8 and 26) He wants us to be set apart, departed and “called out” from the world (20:24). Yes, holiness is separation! Because only through holiness can we inherit the Promised Land.

Shabbat Shalom

Abstract of the Commmentary by Michael Schneider, Jerusalem:
In last week’s Torah portion we learned about clean and unclean animals, this week’s reading begins with, “when a woman gives birth (tazria).” When a child is born, it is the beginning of all things. Also, in this reading we are shown that purity standards were given and at a time when the children of Israel were in the desert. Included in this passage, were also the differences in giving birth to a boy and a girl.

Later we read about the leper (metzora), who was healed through true humility. A classic example we find is in our Torah portion on the prophets. In II Kings 5, we read about Naaman, a prideful Syrian General, who first needed a godly lesson of humility by dipping seven times in the dirty Jordan River. This is what the prophet Elisha commanded him to do, as it is written in Leviticus 14:7. Before he could be healed he had to immerse and cleanse himself, not only physically, but also spiritually. –That’s real Godly Healing.

Shabbat Shalom

Abstract of the Commentary by Michael Schneider, Jerusalem:
This week’s parasha discusses two main issues: The first, the dedication of the Mishkan (tabernacle), which included sacrifices and the cleansing of the priests. In the midst of the “festivities” we read of the sudden death of Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu after offering a “strange fire” before the LORD.

The second part of the parasha speaks about the animals the Israelites were forbidden to eat (11:1–28). One of these animals is the pig, strictly forbidden according to the Word of God. Isaiah also writes of such foods in his chapters of end-time prophecy.

Video Commentary by Rabbi Richman, Temple Institute, Jerusalem:

“Those who consecrate and purify themselves to go into the gardens (of idol temples), following the one in the midst of those who eat the flesh of pigs and rats and other abominable things—they will meet their end together,’ declares the LORD” (66:17).

We read of a number of contrasts throughout our Torah portions, including holy and unholy, clean and unclean, atoned and those “atonement less”. Our reading concludes with the godly command, “Be holy because I am holy”. It’s our decision will we obey?

The end of this week’s portion found in II Samuel shows us how King David decided that there would be a House of God.

“How can I live in a Villa out of ceders and the ark of God is in a tent?”

We should ask ourselves, how much room are we giving God in our life? Is it worth it? The answer is the same the prophet Nathan gave David.

“Do what your hearts tells you and go for it, because the LORD will be with you!”

Shabbat Shalom!

Commentary:
The Shabbat before Passover is called “The Great Shabbat” because we end our Torah Portion with Malachi 4:5, which says, “See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great (gadol) and dreadful (nora) day of the LORD comes.”

In this passage, which is the last prophecy in the Bible, we are shown a glimpse of the greater Passover redemption: Judaism – Expectation of the Messiah, Christianity – The Return of Messiah Yeshua.

The messenger (forerunner) to the Messiah was Elijah. As a
symbol of this prophecy, we pour an additional cup of wine during our
Passover Seder (on the 8th April eve).

The prophet Malachi, whose name means angel or messenger, prophesy’s of Israel’s final redemption at the end of time. During the end of days the cycle of God’s salvation plan for Israel draws to a close. It began with Israel’s exodus from Egypt and ends with Israel recognizing her Messiah in the final redemption.

The Jewish sages said just like the first redemption occurred during the Jewish month of Nissan so the final redemption will happen during
Nissan!

Further, there is a belief that as the message of the redemption was
given on the Sabbath before Passover / Exodus, likewise on a Sabbath before the final end-time redemption comes THE message will be heard!

Hag Sameach / Happy Passover and Shabbat Shalom!

This week we entered the Hebrew month Nisan that according to the Bible is the first month of the year. Meaning that we had this week the Biblical New Year, and unfortunetly not from many it is noticed because the Jews today are going after the rabbinical tradition and celebrating New Year at the 1st Tishrei, Rosh HaShana (original Feast of the sound of the trumpets).

In the word “Nisan” we find the Hebrew word “Nes” which means “miracle”. Indeed, this is a special month in which the greatest of all miracles took place for the Jewish people: the freedom and redemption of the Jewish people from slavery in Egypt – that’s why we remember it even more than 3300 years later throu the feast of Passover. May this “Nisan” truly be a month of miracles for everyone in all aspects of life.

Not only had we started a new month and year but also a new book of the Torah: Leviticus that is called also the “Torat Cohanim” the Law of the Priests where we find all the strict ordinaces of services at the temple, sanctuary (tabernacle) and sacrifies.

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The destruction of the modern temples of God had been commanded by Martin Luther in the 16th Century:
„Firstly, that their synagogues or schools be set on fire and, what may not burn, be heaped over with earth, so that no human being could see a stone or cinder for ever. And such should be done to honour our Lord and Christianity, so that God may see that we are Christians.”
Read the following call for help from Germany:

Luther’s above-mentioned call to burn the synagogues and the Jews, was implemented by the Germans on Luther’s birthday in his honor in order to unite all Lutherans in this aim. That night in 1938 was celebrated as Kristallnacht (November 9 to 10, Luther’s birthday). But we Americans have decided to burn all the books of Luther with Jews devastating content in Germany of 1945 – such as a.m. On the Jews and Their Lies. Why? Thus the American Lutherans were able to continue to believe in their beloved Luther.
For our own peace will we Americans have helped Germany to again be able to believe in the most honourableness, one of the worst criminals in human history, Martin Luther. Is it now not up to us to prevent the → Luther Decade … that the German Lutheran history and the follow will not be repeated? Rise up, America! Threaten with the withdrawal of the ambassador and all diplomatic relations to Germany if they will not stop the Luther Decade … and such should be done to honour our Lord, so that God may see that we are Americans. God bless America.

Never ever forget that Pogromnacht was the night of 9th on the 10th of November – Martin Luther’s birthday! Please help the Germans since they will never change without your help, America! Stop the Luther Decade from America’s side!

Although it is a not-easy book, and even some will say an irrelevant because we don’t have a temple and sacrifies ritual anymore, I urge all Believers to read it in a spiritual sense. Is our body not His sanctuary and temple? Should it and our life not be a living sacrifice to our LORD?

Shabbat Shalom

Abstract of the Commentary by Michael Schneider, Jerusalem:
This weekly portion (parashat) begins with ransom (kofer nefesh) and atonement money (kessef kippurim) in the value of “half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary” for every man over 20. “The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.” (30:15).

In chapter 31, we read about God’s Calling to Bezalel (in God’s shadow) from the tribe Judah. He was a man with the Spirit of God with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Bezalel Ben-Uri was anointed by the Almighty to design His sanctuary – what a privilege! He was a skilled, inspired craftsman. (The art academy today in Jerusalem is named after him, Bezalel – and is located across the street where the ISRAEL TODAY offices are).

In chapter 32, we read about the building of the Golden Calf.

That is what happens when spiritual leadership is missing! Moses, the mediator between man and God, was on Mount Sinai for 40 days….

The Lord warns: “They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them…” (32:8).

Here we have the true test of a man of God: The Lord said to Moses: “… I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation” (32:9-10). God wanted to destroy this rebellious people and bless Moses with a nation through him.

But Moses, a true leader, spoke to the heart of God and pled for his people. He asked God to reconsider, wondering what the nations, especially Egypt, would think of the mighty God of Israel who had delivered them from Egypt just “to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth” (32:12)?
Second try: Moses reminded the Lord of His eternal Covenant with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

After seeing the golden calf, Moses broke the two tablets of the 10 commandments and then the golden idol was burn. He said: “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!” (32:26; which, by the way, is an election slogan for the ultra-Orthodox Shas party today). Following that, 3,000 people were killed in punishment.

After the punishment, Moses approached God for the third time to intercede for forgiveness on behalf of his people. Moses was ready to lay down his life for the sake of his people: “But now, if You will, forgive their sin–and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!” (32:32; also the first hint that there is a Book of Life in heaven)

So God sent “His angel” who walked with the people (verse 34).

Moses wanted to see more of God: “I pray You, show me Your glory!”
But not all the Lord has shown Moses, saying: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”
…“you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen” (verse 23).