Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Shemini – EighthTorah: vaYikra 9:1 – 11:47 ** Moshe had just completed the erection and purification of the Tent of Meeting as well as the inauguration of the Levitical priesthood which included Aharon as the high priest and Aharon’s four sons as regular priests. The process took seven days to complete and the Tabernacle and the Priesthood were ready to begin serving the Children of Israel. This eighth day was a big deal. If all went well, Avinu would appear in … [Read more...] about The Eight Day
Bread and Wine in the Old Covenant
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Tzav – CommandTorah: VaYikra 6:8 – 8:36 With Pesach being ten days away, I have been thinking about the role that bread and wine played in the “old covenant sacrificial system”. Here are a couple of Scriptures that helps us to understand the significant role of these two elements in their system and in ours. *** 14 And this is the law of the grain offering (v’zot torat mincha): the sons of Aharon shall offer it before Avinu, before the altar. 15 And … [Read more...] about Bread and Wine in the Old Covenant
Getting Close
Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Va Yikra "And He Called"Torah: Va Yikra 1:1 - 6:7 After the Tabernacle was erected on the 1st of Aviv, 2449, Avinu called Moshe into the Tabernacle and began instructing him regarding the procedures for the sacrifices. There are four broad categories of sacrifices: ascent-offerings, Wholeness-offerings, sin-offerings, and guilt-offerings. Avinu first taught Moshe the procedures for ascent-offerings. *** “And Avinu said to Moshe, “When someone brings a … [Read more...] about Getting Close
Rosh Chodesh Aviv
At sundown, Wednesday, 3/25/2020, the month of Adar comes to its end and Rosh Chodesh Aviv begins. Rosh Chodesh is not a prescribed monthly Shabbat but it is commanded to be “observed”. In 1 Samuel 20, we see that particular Rosh Chodesh was being observed for two days . Some use this recorded biblical event as proof that the current calendar based method of determining the arrival of Rosh Chodesh today was in use earlier than the construction of the first Temple. This two day observance is … [Read more...] about Rosh Chodesh Aviv
Who Built The Tent of Meeting?
Weekly Torah Lesson 2 Parasha: P'kudei "Accountings of"Torah: Shemot 38:21 - 40:38 (end of Exodus) ** In this final parsha (Torah portion) for the book of Shemot (Exodus), There is a general accounting of the materials that were used in the building of The Tent of Meeting. The names of two men also emerge as master craftsmen who are to lead the building of the structure. Shemot 38:21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according … [Read more...] about Who Built The Tent of Meeting?
The Golden Altar of Incense
Weekly Torah Lesson 1Parasha Va yakhel - and he assembledTorah: Shemot 35:1 – 38:20 ** While Aharon was alive, he was commanded to enter The Holy Place in the late afternoon and early in the morning. The Holy Place was the first ‘space’ in the Tent of Meeting. Aharon’s duties were to dress and light The Golden Candlestick and to burn incense on The Golden Altar. At this time, Aharon was The High Priest. However, in later mentions of The priest who offered The Incense, it was not The High … [Read more...] about The Golden Altar of Incense