Messianic Lite: Eikev, “Because”
This week’s Torah portion covers Deuteronomy 7:12 to 11:25. The Israelites are still camped on the opposite side of Jordan, poised for entrance into the land. But these are Moses’ last moments with his people; these are his last words, his parting wisdom. Moses summarizes the last forty years, all of their highs and lows.…
Messianic Lite: Beha’alotcha, “When You Set up”
This week’s Torah portion covers Numbers 8:1 to 12:16. It begins with divine instructions on how to care for the Tabernacle’s golden seven-branched lampstand, maintaining its everlasting light. It continues with guidelines for consecrating the Levites. At this point in Numbers, it has been exactly a year since the former slaves left Egypt so they…
The Golan Heights: History and Biblical significance
By Victor Sharpe— Britain gave away the Golan (Biblical Bashan) to France’s Syrian colony in 1923. Syria attacked Israel in 1967 and lost the Golan. Syria had occupied it for 44 years. Israel’s liberation of the Golan has lasted 51 years plus. Who has possessed the Golan the longest? Even as modern day Syria is…
Messianic Lite: Emor, “Speak”
This week our Torah portion covers Leviticus 21:1 to 24:23. The section is called “emor” which means “speak.” The Bible moves from the sanctification of the people to the sanctification of time. The chapter lays out the appointed festivals, the rhythm that would sustain Jewish memory for the rest of time. The sacred calendar includes…
Messianic Lite: Vayak’hel, “And he Assembled”
This week marks our 22nd Torah portion in the annual reading cycle. The text covers Exodus 35:1 to the end of the book. The portion is almost a copy of what we already read back in Exodus 25. Both sections expound on the minutia of the Tabernacle structure and its furnishings. The main difference is…