Bereshit- "In the Beginning"

Well, my one year project has now gone full circle:
We have completed the entire Torah Cycle, and as we dawn on the new Torah Cycle, we look with anticipation upon the year before us. Again, much thanks is given to Rabbi Jack in Toronto who has faithfully supplied comments for this. Again, I have another post from him and thanks to those who have logged in and read. God's continued grace to you and yours, Brad

"הוכחה ניצחת"
"I Rest My Case"



Parashat HaShavua BeReshit / In The Beginning

This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 1:1-6:8
Yeshayahu / Isaiah 42:5-43:10
Yochanan / John 1:1-5


Bereshit {1:1} In the beginning G-D created the heavens and the earth. {1:2} Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. G-D's Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

Ever since Darwin came up with his teaching on “The Origin of Species” around 1884, better know today as “The Theory of Evolution” , the understanding of creation has been under fire. The belief in a Creator of the heavens and the earth along with everything that is in them, including man, has been relentlessly contested ever since. Now, even though Darwin’s theory has never been proven correct and even though Darwin himself repudiated his theory on his death bed, “The Theory of Evolution” has managed to survive, prosper and even thrive. It is now being taught almost universally as fact in most public schools around the world.

All of this is despite the fact that Darwin's “Theory of Evolution” is actually a theory in crisis. It is in crisis in light of the tremendous advances we have made in molecular biology, biochemistry and genetics over the past fifty years. However, all of this man-revealed evidence is secondary when you consider the amount of prophetic biblical evidence that proclaims that G-d truly is heaven and earth’s Creator. I offer, as evidence, this passage from the prophet Yeshayahu (Isaiah), the same prophet that prophesied the birth of Yeshua HaMashiach.

Yeshayahu {40:1} “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your G-d. {40:2} “Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of HaShem’s hand double for all her sins.” {40:3} A voice is calling, “Clear the way for HaShem in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a highway for our G-d.” {40:4} Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; and let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley; {40:5} Then the glory of HaShem will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together; for the mouth of HaShem has spoken. {40:6} A voice says, “Call out.” Then he answered, “What shall I call out?” All flesh is grass, and all its loveliness is like the flower of the field. {40:7} The grass withers, the flower fades, when the breath of HaShem blows upon it; surely the people are grass. {40:8} The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our G-d stands forever. {40:9} Get yourself up on a high mountain, O Tzion (Zion), bearer of good news, lift up your voice mightily, O Yerushalayim (Jerusalem), bearer of good news; lift it up, do not fear. Say to the cities of Y’huda (Judah), “Here is your G-d!” {40:10} Behold, the L-rd G-D will come with might, with His arm ruling for Him. Behold, His reward is with Him, and His recompense before Him. {40:11} Like a shepherd He will tend His flock, in His arm He will gather the lambs, and carry them in His bosom; He will gently lead the nursing ewes. {40:12} Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand, and marked off the heavens by the span, and calculated the dust of the earth by the measure, and weighed the mountains in a balance, and the hills in a pair of scales? {40:13} Who has directed the Spirit of HaShem, or as His counsellor has informed Him? {40:14} With whom did He consult and who gave Him understanding? And who taught Him in the path of justice and taught Him knowledge, and informed Him of the way of understanding? {40:15} Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are regarded as a speck of dust on the scales; behold, He lifts up the islands like fine dust. {40:16} Even Lebanon is not enough to burn, nor its beasts enough for a burnt offering. {40:17} All the nations are as nothing before Him, they are regarded by Him as less than nothing and meaningless. {40:18} To whom then will you liken G-d? Or what likeness will you compare with Him? {40:19} As for the idol, a craftsman casts it, a goldsmith plates it with gold, and a silversmith fashions chains of silver. {40:20} He who is too impoverished for such an offering selects a tree that does not rot; He seeks out for himself a skilful craftsman to prepare an idol that will not totter. {40:21} Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been declared to you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? {40:22} It is He who sits above the vault of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, who stretches out the heavens like a curtain and spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. {40:23} He it is who reduces rulers to nothing, who makes the judges of the earth meaningless. {40:24} Scarcely have they been planted, Scarcely have they been sown, Scarcely has their stock taken root in the earth, but He merely blows on them, and they wither, and the storm carries them away like stubble. {40:25} “To whom then will you liken Me that I should be his equal?” says the Holy One. {40:26} Lift up your eyes on high and see who has created these stars, the One who leads forth their host by number, He calls them all by name; because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power not one of them is missing. {40:27} Why do you say, O Ya’acov (Jacob), and assert, O Yisrael (Israel), “My way is hidden from HaShem, and the justice due me escapes the notice of my G-d"? {40:28} Do you not know? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, HaShem, the Creator of the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired. His understanding is inscrutable. {40:29} He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power. {40:30} Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, {40:31} Yet those who wait for HaShem will gain new strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.

I rest my case! The “Theory of Evolution” is not only a theory -- it is a form of idolatry. It denies the existence of a Creator and calls His creation pure chance. May G-d have mercy on the souls of those that believe it and teach it!

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber

Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!

V'Zot HaBrachah "And This is the Blessing"

Another contribution from rabbi Jack. Thank as always, Brad

Parashat HaShavua V'Zot HaBrachah / And This Is The Blessing



This Week's Reading List:
Devarim / Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12
Yohoshua / Joshua 1:1-18
Tesolonikim Alef / 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11


Devarim {33:29} Happy are you, Yisrael (Israel) : Who is like you, a people saved by HaShem, the shield of your help, the sword of your excellency! Your enemies shall submit themselves to you; you shall tread on their high places.

This is quite the prophecy Moshe (Moses) gave to Yisrael prior to his death. I like the part where he says Yisrael’s enemies shall submit themselves to her and that she will tread on their high places (meaning their idolatries). It is amazing how signicant this passage is today, especially considering that Yisrael’s enemies are arming themselves to the teeth and her new greatest enemy (Iran) is coveting nuclear weapons. However, before I get into commenting on this week’s Parasha there are a number of Scriptures I would like to us to read:

Devarim {21:15} If an ish (man) have two wives, the one beloved, and the other hated, and they have borne him children, both the beloved and the hated; and if the firstborn son be hers who was hated; {21:16} then it shall be, in the day that he causes his sons to inherit that which he has, that he may not make the ben (son) the beloved the firstborn before the ben (son) the hated, who is the firstborn: {21:17} but he shall acknowledge the firstborn, the ben the hated, by giving him a double portion of all that he has; for he is the beginning of his strength; the right of the firstborn is his.

Shemot (Exodus) {4:22} "Then you shall say to Pharaoh, Thus says HaShem, Yisrael is My son, My firstborn...”

So here we have it! Yisrael is HaShem’s firstborn, and just as we read even if the firstborn is from the hated wife he must be acknowledged as the firstborn and, therefore, must still be given the right of a firstborn, which includes, as we find in Scripture, family headship and a double portion of the inheritance.

From the beginning Yisrael has not exactly been a model son. He was conceived to be a representation of the living G-d to the Goyim (Nations), a task which he failed miserably at. Instead he grew up to reject his Father and as a result HaShem disciplined him by scattered him throughout the world and turning his Promise Land into a wasteland.

In 1948, against all odds, Yisrael was reborn into the Promise Land and was repatriated. However, he was reborn as a secular nation and Yisrael is perhaps worse today then he was when he was exiled. Since Yisrael’s inception abortions have killed more Jews than Hitler, gays have the right to marry and are openly parading in Jerusalem. Pig farms have sprung up around the country and pork can be purchased from butcher shops in many major cities. The Dome of the Rock dominates the skyline of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) while a Bahai Temple dominates the skyline of Haifa. Worse yet God has been reduced to tradition. Add to this the fact that Yisrael’s enemies are growing stronger and more numerous and you have what adds up to a not very pretty picture for Yisrael.

Yet we read in this week’s Parasha that Yisrael’s enemies will submit themselves to her and that she shall tread on their idolatrous practices. How can this be, considering the present situation?

I am not going to make any prophetic predictions, but if I would I would predict that Hamas, Hezbullah, Iran and all the other nations that are secretly or openly supporting or helping these nations will not prosper.

Iran, of late, is touting is new weapon dubbing it “the ambassador of death.” However, Yisrael has a more powerful weapon and that is the G-d of Yisrael who happens also to be the G-d of all heaven and earth and He has said:

Yeshayahu (Isaiah) {44:2} Thus says HaShem who made you and formed you from the womb, who will help you, “Do not fear, O (Ya’acov) Jacob My servant; and you Jeshurun (Jerusalem) whom I have chosen...” {54:17} “No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of HaShem, and their vindication is from Me,” declares HaShem.

Yisrael is HaShem’s firstborn, his heritage, His inheritance. As stated above, Yisrael will not be defeated. Nor can Yisrael be replace or disinherited, as many churches and pastors are teaching. Yisrael can not be forgotten or abandoned. G-d’s firstborn son will not be destroyed!

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber

Yom Kippur message

Another message from Rabbi Jack in Toronto. Thanks as always, Brad


Parashat HaShavua Yom Kippur / Day Of Atonement

This Week's Reading List:
VaYikra / Leviticus 16:1-34
Bamidbar / Numbers 29:7-11
Yeshayahu / Isaiah 57:14-58:14
Romim / Romans 3:21-26


Vayikra {16:1} HaShem spoke to Moshe (Moses), after the death of the two sons of Aharon (Aaron), when they drew near before HaShem, and died; {16:2} and HaShem said to Moshe, Speak to Aharon your brother, that he does not come at all times into HaKodesh (the holy / the separate) place within the veil, before the Kaporet (Ark-cover) seat which is on the Aron (Ark) ; that he not die: for I will appear in the cloud on the mercy seat. {16:3} Herewith shall Aharon come into HaKodesh place: with a young bull for a sin-offering, and a ram for an olah (whole burnt) offering.

It is not often that Yom Kippur falls on a Shabbat, but when it does the above Parasha in Vayikra read.

What intrigues me is that this Parasha begins with the death of Aharon’s two sons. What does this have to do with Yom Kippur and its theme as “The Day of Atonement?” Well, I believe that this portion begins with the death of Aharon’s two sons because it is telling us that we all have something to atone for -- the sin of disobedience! This sin of disobedience is what resulted in the deaths of Aharon’s two sons and, sadly, it is not restricted to them alone. We are all disobedient to G-d in some way or another and, therefore, we all need atonement. Disobedience to G-d is idolatry; disobedience is placing self-will ahead of G-d’s Will, and that is a major sin. In fact this is what Scripture has to say about someone who sins:

Yechekiel (Ezekiel) {18:4} "Behold, all souls are Mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is Mine. The soul who sins will die.

Is that not what happened to Aharon’s sons, did they not die? With this in mind, this beginning passage in our Parasha really pronounces what our etiquette and our attitude needs to be towards G-d as well as the atonement process so that G-d’s people will not die as a result of their sin:

Vayikra {16:7} He shall take the two goats, and set them before HaShem at the door of the Ohel Moed (Tent of Meeting). {16:8} Aharon shall cast lots on the two goats; one lot for HaShem, and the other lot for Azazel (goat-of-departure). {16:9} Aharon shall present the goat on which the lot fell for HaShem, and offer him for a sin-offering. {16:10} But the goat, on which the lot fell for Azazel, shall be set alive before HaShem, to make kappar (atonement) for him, to send him away for Azazel into the wilderness.

Seeing as every one of us are sinners and the soul that sins will die, because of HaShem’s justice no human would eventually remain alive on the earth. Therefore, HaShem provided His people with a way of atonement, as we read above.

Two goats were to take our place on Yom Kippur - this special day set aside for atonement. One goat was slaughtered as the required blood atonement for the sins that were committed by the people, it was their death substitute. This was an innocent animal that died in the place of the people. The second goat, called the “Scapegoat,” was sent away into the wilderness and signified that the sins of the people had departed from them and were forgiven, forgotten and banished far away from them. The process is also described to us in this Scripture:

Micah {7:19} He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.

So we can now easily see the Yom Kippur process. We are all sinners and deserve to die; however, HaShem provides us with a pathway to atonement. Once the atonement is accomplished He then promises to never remember those sins or hold them against us ever again.

As we move into the Brit Chadasha (Renewed Covenant) we see that nothing has changed, the process of atonement is still the same:

Romim (Romans) {6:23} For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of G-d is eternal life through Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah) our L-rd.

Shaul (Paul) is explaining in this passage that Yeshua HaMashiach is our Yom Kippur atonement. What a relief and blessing especially considering that there is no longer a Bet HaMikdash (Temple) in which to offer up the two goats.

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber

Ha'Azinu -Give Ear Deut 32:1-52

Another contribution from Rabbi Jack, thanks as always

Parashat HaShavua Ha'Azinu / Give Ear



This Week's Reading List:
Devarim / Deuteronomy 32:1-52
Hoshea / Hosea 14:2-10
Yoel / Joel 2:11-27
Micha / Micah 7:18-20
Romim / Romans 10:14-11:12


Devarim {32:1} Give ear, you heavens, and I will speak; Let the earth hear the words of my mouth. {32:2} My doctrine shall drop as the rain; My speech shall condense as the dew, As the small rain on the tender grass, As the showers on the herb. {32:3} For I will proclaim the Name of HaShem: Ascribe you greatness to our G-D. {32:4} The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice: A G-D of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He.

Do you think Moshe (Moses) is trying to tell us something here? What an Awesome G-d we serve! Moshe is giving us what I think is the most accurate description anyone could ever give of our G-d. In fact Moshe is saying that the description he is giving of our G-d should be to us as refreshing as rain (something that is very precious in a dry and dusty land like Yisrael (Israel), as vivifying as dew (something Yisrael relies upon for moisture during the dry season) and as welcome as showers on growing herbs.

Why does Moshe start this song with a vivid description of who G-d is? He does this because most people do not truly know their G-d. Many people view G-d, who throughout Scripture is called our Farther, in relation to how they view their earthly father. If, therefore, they had a negative relationship with their earthly father, then this negativity is transferred unto how they view their heavenly Father. Moshe here is clarifying to us that, without a doubt, our heavenly Father is nothing like our earthly father or anyone or anything else that we can possibly imagine – even in our best dreams. The Shaliach (Apostle) Shaul (Paul) express that sentiment exactly when he writes:

Korintim Alef (1 Corinthians) {2:9} However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what G-d has prepared for those who love Him.

If we want to continue on in faith in a world wrought with violence and godlessness, then we have to Ha’azinu (Give Ear) to what Moshe is telling us. The world will try to convince us that there is no G-d. You may even be tempted when you are ill or in some other dire circumstance to say, “If G-d loves me, then why is He allowing this to happen?” However, the fact is that there is a G-d, and He allows things to happen to us for any number of reasons.

Romim (Romans) {11:34} For who has known the mind of the L-rd, or who became His counsellor?

This is the point Moshe is trying to get across to bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel). In last week’s Parasha Moshe told bnei Yisrael that they were going to become an apostate nation, yet here in this weeks Parasha he drives home the fact that no matter what happens to bnei Yisrael in the future that they are to first and foremost remember G-d’s love for them and then they need to remember the following:

Devarim {32:4} The Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice: A G-D of faithfulness and without iniquity, Just and right is He.

How many of us need to know this very same thing. G-d is good! He is all the things Moshe described Him to be and more. Yet, how many of us have doubted Him? That doubt is in and of itself sin, which leads us into even more sin. In response to our lack of faith Moshe reminds us of G-d’s justice. Moshe then goes on to give us another accurate description. This description is of bnei Yisrael and really of us as well, and it’s not a very pleasant one.

Devarim {32:5} They have dealt corruptly with Him, they are not His children, it is their blemish; They are a perverse and crooked generation. {32:6} Do you thus repay HaShem, foolish people and unwise? Is not He your 'Ab (Father) who has bought you? He has made you, and established you.

We need to place ourselves into this verse. Why, because we too are a perverse and crooked generation. Instead of repaying HaShem for His love, kindness, generosity and mercy towards us with our obedience, we repay Him with rebellion. Sadly the results for us will be the same as for bnei Yisrael if we rely on ourselves, anyone or anything other than G-d for help.

Devarim {32:37} He will say, Where are their gods, The rock in which they took refuge; {32:38} Which ate the fat of their sacrifices, And drank the wine of their drink-offering? Let them rise up and help you, Let them be your shomer (guardian). {32:39} See now that I, even I, am He, There is no G-D with Me: I kill, and I make alive; I wound, and I heal; There is none who can deliver out of My hand.

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber

L'Shanah Tova

Fall Holiday blessing from Rabbi Jack in Toronto



Did you know there is a special day once a year where HaShem (G-d) requires that a trumpet or shofar (a ram’s horn) be blown? This special day is called "Yom Teruah" (Hebrew for Day of Sounding the Shofar) or it is also known as "Feast of Trumpets". In the Bible in VaYikra / Leviticus 23:23 we read, "HaShem said to Moshe (Moses), "Tell the people of Israel in the 7th month, the 1st of the month (Hebrew month "Tishrei") is to be for you a day of complete rest for remembering, a holy convocation announced with blasts on the shofar. Do not do any kind of ordinary work and bring an offering (BaMidbar / Numbers 29:2-6) made by fire to HaShem."

G-d has special appointed times in the year when He wants to meet with us. G-d gave this commandment (mitzvah) to Moses approximately 4, 000 years ago! How neat that, even to this day, the shofar is still being blown on G-d’s appointed time throughout synagogues and messianic congregations throughout the world! Remember -- we are to rest on this day! It is a Shabbat (a day of rest), so you can clean your room another day!

Apples are dipped in honey and eaten at this time of year to wish for a "sweet new year". Do you know what is sweeter than honey? G-d’s Word! "The rulings of HaShem are true. They are righteous altogether... also sweeter than honey". Psalm 19:9-10. If you really want a sweet new year, try to "eat" G-d’s Word every day!

The common greeting on Rosh HaShana is "L’shana tova" (for a good year). Jewish tradition says, but more importantly the Bible tells us that there is a Book in heaven with the names of those who get to spend eternity with G-d. In Hitgalut it is called "The Lamb’s Book of Life" (Hitgalut / Revelation 20:12). So how do you get your name in this very important Book? Well there is only one way, and it’s all about what’s been done FOR you. G-d gave a beautiful gift to the world and all you have to do is receive this gift. "For G-d so loved the world (that’s you!) that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life" (Yochanan / John 3:16). His name is Yeshua (Jesus) and He is the Lamb of G-d who takes away the sins of the world.

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber

Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!

Parashat HaShavua Nitzavim-VaYelech / You Are Standing-And He Went

"ניצבים-וילך"
Connection


Another contribution from Rabbi Jack, thanks again, Bradley Avi

Parashat HaShavua Nitzavim-VaYelech / You Are Standing-And He Went

This Week's Reading List:
Devarim / Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30
Yeshayahu / Isaiah 61:10-63:9
Romim / Romans 7:7-12


Devarim {29:10} You stand this day all of you before HaShem your G-D; your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers, even all the men of Yisrael, {29:11} your little ones, your wives, and your sojourner who is in the midst of your camps, from the one who cuts your wood to the one who draws your water; {29:12} that you may enter into the brit (covenant) of HaShem your G-D, and into His oath, which HaShem your G-D makes with you this day; {29:13} that He may establish you this day to Himself for a people, and that He may be to you a G-D, as He spoke to you, and as He swore to your avot (fathers), to Avraham (Abraham), to Yitzchak (Isaac), and to Ya'akov (Jacob). {29:14} Neither with you only do I make this brit and this oath, {29:15} but with him who stands here with us this day before HaShem our G-D, and also with him who is not here with us this day {29:16} (for you know how we lived in the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt), and how we came through the midst of the goyim through which you passed; {29:17} and you have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them) ; {29:18} lest there should be among youish (man), or ishah (woman), or family, or tribe, whose heart turns away this day from HaShem our G-D, to go to serve the gods of those nations; lest there should be among you a root that bears gall and wormwood;

If you are a Born Again Believer in Yeshua HaMashiach then you are connected to the covenant made by HaShem to Avraham, Yitzchak and Ya’acov. Since you are connected to the covenant you are also connected to the people and the land of Yisrael (Israel). As Believers our home is in Heaven, but our homeland is Yisrael. Why is Yisrael our homeland? It is because Yeshua HaMashiach is going to rule and reign from Yisrael for one thousand years, and we are told that wherever He is we will be also.

Hitgalut (Revelation) {20:6} Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of G-d and of Mashiach and will reign with Him for a thousand years.

It does not matter what country in the world you are now living in. Every time you read the Torah (the first five books of Moshe) and apply it to yourself as applicable in your life today you are reminded of your connection with the covenant, people and land of Yisrael. Yisrael is your homeland! Today you may not be welcome to settle there if you are not Jewish or if you are a Jewish Believer in Yeshua HaMashiach, but that will all change when Mashiach Yeshua returns.

We are connected with the covenant because we were standing there with bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel) when they received the divine covenant from G-d at Mount Sinai as described above. We are connected with the people because either you are Jewish and have a direct connection or as a non-Jew you will be able to one day pick which tribe we want to belong to and receive an inheritance in that tribe:

Yechekiel Ezekiel {47:23} "And it will come about that in the tribe with which the alien stays, there you shall give him his inheritance," declares the L-rd G-D.

Lastly, we are connected with the land because of the passage in Hitgalut 20:6 that states that we will be ruling and reigning with Him for a thousand years I Yerushalyim (Jerusalem).

Devarim {31:28} Assemble to me all the elders of your tribes, and your officers, that I may speak these words in their ears, and call heaven and earth to witness against them. {31:29} For I know that after my death you will utterly corrupt yourselves, and turn aside from the way which I have commanded you; and evil will befall you in the latter days; because you will do that which is evil in the sight of HaShem, to provoke Him to anger through the work of your hands. {31:30} Moshe spoke in the ears of all the assembly of Yisrael the words of this shir (song), until they were finished.

I can just feel the pain in Moshe’s heart as he spoke and wrote these words. He was going to die and HaShem allowed him to know that bnei Yisrael (children of Israel) was going to become an apostate nation after his death. Moshe fought long and heard to keep bnei Yisrael on track and I am sure that he spent many sleepless night praying for them and interceding on their behalf with G-d. Now it was over and he was told that everything he did, all the prayers, all the teaching, and all the bargaining with G-d was going to end in bnei Yisrael apostatising. What a discouragement that must have been to him.

Yeshua, known to us as the second Moshe, experienced something very similar with those into whom He poured His life:

Mattityahu (Matthew) {26:31} Then Yeshua said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night, for it is written, 'I will strike down the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered. ' {26:32} "But after I have been raised, I will go before you to Galilee." {26:33} But Kefa (Peter) answered and said to Him, "Even though all may fall away because of You, I will never fall away." {26:34} Yeshua said to him, "Truly I say to you that this very night, before a cock crows, you shall deny Me three times."

I suppose that this is true when any leader dies or leaves. There is never really a seamless transition of authority; however, Moshe did get to see the advent of Yeshua, the seed of the restoration of Yisrael.

Man fails, but G-d never fails!

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber

Torah Passage Ki Tova "When You Enter"

Another set of thoughts from Rabbi Jack, Thanks as always, -Brother Bradley Avi

"לתת מתוך הכרת טובה או מאשמה"
"Giving With Gratitude Or Guilt"

Parashat HaShavua Ki Tavo / When You Enter In



This Week's Reading List:
Devarim / Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8
Yeshayahu / Isaiah 60:1-22
Ma'asei Talmidim / Acts 7:30-36


Devarim {26:1} It shall be, when you have come in to the land which HaShem your G-D gives you for an inheritance, and possess it, and dwell therein, {26:2} that you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you shall bring in from your land that HaShem your G-D gives you; and you shall put it in a basket, and shall go to the place which HaShem your G-D shall choose, to cause His name to dwell there. {26:3} You shall come to the cohen (priest) who shall be in those days, and tell him, “I profess this day to HaShem your G-D, that I have come to the land which HaShem swore to our avot (fathers) to give us.” {26:4} The cohen shall take the basket out of your hand, and set it down before the mitzbe’ach (altar) of HaShem your G-D. {26:5} You shall answer and say before HaShem your G-D, “A Syrian ready to perish was my 'ab (father) ; and he went down into Mitzrayim (Egypt), and sojourned there, few in number; and he became there a nation, great, mighty, and populous. {26:6} The Mitzrim (Egyptians) dealt ill with us, and afflicted us, and laid on us hard bondage: {26:7} and we cried to HaShem, the G-D of our avot, and HaShem heard our voice, and saw our affliction, and our toil, and our oppression; {26:8} and HaShem brought us forth out of Mitzrayim with a mighty hand, and with an outstretched arm, and with great terror, and with signs, and with wonders; {26:9} and he has brought us into this place, and has given us this land, a land flowing with milk and honey. {26:10} Now, behold, I have brought the first of the fruit of the ground, which you, HaShem, has given me.” You shall set it down before HaShem your G-D, and worship before HaShem your G-D:

Is your giving meaningless? Do you give out of guilt or out of gratitude? Sadly, when we give, most of us we give out of guilt. G-d commanded us to give, so we give expecting, of course, to be blessed in return. However, we can see from our Scripture passage this week that we are to give out of gratitude not guilt. It is out of our appreciation for what HaShem has done for us that we are to give, and give generously for that matter.

HaShem has done so much for us. He redeemed us from the slavery of sin to be free to worship Him and follow His commandments through Yeshua HaMashiach. He heard our cries, He saw our tears and He witnessed our sleepless nights. HaShem grieved at how HaSatan’s (the devil’s) oppressed us and He redeemed us with His mighty hand. Yet most of us still tithe because we feel obligated to.

HaShem has brought us into His Kingdom. It is truly a place of blessing. The Kingdom is not somewhere off in our distant future. It is right here, right now living -- within us. We, believers in Yeshua HaMashiach, are the Kingdom of G-d. Therefore, we contain in ourselves the Kingdom qualities, of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are the fruits of the Ruach (Spirit), G-d’s Ruach that took up residence inside of us upon salvation. Therefore, G-d’s Kingdom is alive and well living here on earth and we are it.

One day, some time after the return of Yeshua HaMashiach, there will be a judgement of the wicked. Those found to be unworthy will be consigned to a place of spiritual darkness, a place of hopelessness -- a place without G-d. However, those judged to be righteous will be saved and become part of the Kingdom of G-d. At that time the Kingdom will encompass the entire earth. Until that time, however, it is limited to those of us who believe. We owe tremendous gratitude to HaShem for all He has done for us and He has told us in His Word:

Devarim {8:11} Beware lest you forget HaShem your G-D, in not keeping His mitzvoth (commandments), and His chukim (judgements), and His statutes, which I command you this day: {8:12} lest, when you have eaten and are full, and have built goodly houses, and lived therein; {8:13} and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and your gold is multiplied, and all that you have is multiplied; {8:14} then your heart be lifted up, and you forget HaShem your G-D, who brought you forth out of the land of Mitzrayim, out of the house of bondage; {8:15} who led you through the great and terrible wilderness, [in which were] fiery serpents and scorpions, and thirsty ground where was no water; who brought you forth water out of the rock of flint; {8:16} who fed you in the wilderness with manna, which your avot did not know; that He might humble you, and that He might prove you, to do you good at your latter end: {8:17} and [lest] you say in your heart, “My power and the might of my hand has gotten me this wealth.” {8:18} But you shall remember HaShem your G-D, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth; that He may establish His brit (covenant) which he swore to your avot, as at this day.

I think we need to examine our hearts as we bring our tithes and offerings to the L-rd. In fact perhaps we should modify and personalize these portions of Scripture quoted from our Parasha this week and determine to repeat it every time we give. Here is a suggestion:

“I was a debtor in bondage to sin. Sin dealt with me and afflicted me and laid hard bondage on me and I cried to the G-d of our forefathers and HaShem heard my voice and saw my affliction and my toil and oppression and HaShem brought me out of it by the blood of Yeshua HaMashiach shed for me at Calvary. He has brought into a place of joy and peace. Now, I have brought the first fruit of my labour which you, HaShem have given to me, as a token of thanksgiving and appreciation.”

So next time you give unto the HaShem, instead of just throwing you gift into the collection basket or placing it into the Tzadaka Box (as we do here at Melech Yisrael), recite the above as you bring your first fruits to HaShem. What a difference it will make.

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Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber

Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!