SABBATH SERVICES IN FEBRUARY
Sabbath February 5th 2:00-6:00PM, Hillsdale Location - This Sabbath was spent studiously poring over the last sections of the Living Israeli Hebrew Program booklet and CD. We Read a portion from Bereshite, and also learned some common phrases such as "Ma Nish Ma?" - what's up? As well as many others. Some of the material we repeated form last week just so we had a much more solid grasp of it. Dinner was served (special thanks to sister Judith for the Lamb roast and many fixings). Mote Judah teaching on Galatians after the Oneg. The Galatians teaching dealt with the problem of perception in regards to Paul's letters. Paul, who was Pro-Torah was battling a specific issues within the community, which centered around the so called believing Pharisees who were infiltrating Paul's synagogues and causing many believers to come under the Takanot and Ma'asim commands of the Pharisees. The primary difference can be summed up in the dichotomy of salvation by faith, or salvation by works of the Torah. Paul, who professing being sent by Elohim himself, had to deal with wrong ideas being spread about his background and his interrelations with the other apostles. Paul, affirming over and again that Torah is not above Messiah, but that Messiah is above Torah, continued to try to free the assemblies in Galatia from the wrong teachings of the "concision." Paul was the most balanced in racial affairs between gentiles and Jews and continued to be an advocate for non-Jewish peoples who wanted to come to the faith. Does justification come by a list of do's and don'ts? Paul says "no." Paul lived and preached the true Torah message, including the most emphasized teaching "remember the poor."
Sabbath Feb. 12th - Sabbath Study Cancelled due to multiple illness issues. We hope to meet again next week.
Sabbath, February 19th 2:00-7:00PM, Hillsdale Location - This Shul was spent going over the first few Hebrew prayers. We read the Hebrew Script, and allowed the CD to give us the proper pronunciation for every word. The prayers we covered were the prayers upon waking in the morning, and the prayers upon donning the Tallit. Many of the words in this book were recognizable. When we finished with the Hebrew studies, we enjoyed Dinner (special thanks to sister Judith for the kosher soup, salad, and fixings!) . We then decided to move catch up on the torah portions we have been missing and we listened to the Monte Judah torah portion Shemoth 13:17-17:16. The portion was titled "When they were let go." It dealt with the Israelites flight from Egypt away from what might have been thought as the "best way" to get out of Egypt, but rather into the wilderness in the Sinai Peninsula. There, the Israelites were trapped by the mountains and the Red Sea. This alternate route was taken, according to the command of YHWH because YHWH needed to forge trust in the people and reliance upon Him and Pharaoh needed to be punished for standing against YHWH. A little about the geography was discussed such as the straits of Turin, and the land bridge that is seen by aerial photographs across the Red Sea. Also, the idea that it might have been the "Reed Sea" was discussed and discounted because no matter how you look at it, either the Egyptian army was drowned in the Red sea after YHWH raised the walls of water, OR the Egyptian army was drowned in 8 inches of water in the Reed Sea. Either way it is a miracle. However we believe the inspired record , that it was indeed the Red Sea. The battle that ensued there was to get Israel character formed such that they would no longer "fear" these many enemies, but would rely upon YHWH. The Talmudic story was shared regarding Nashon, from the tribe of Judah, who jumped in without hesitation upon the command to enter into the Red Sea by Moses. It is because of this, according to the sages, that the tribe of Judah is given the honor of VANGUARD into all their battles both in their immediate future and in the future to come. The Passage of the return and battle to ensue around Jerusalem in the last days was discussed from the Book of Joel, where these prophecies can be found, and the victorious song of Moses, is the salute to the King of kings, who has delivered both the ancient Israelites, and Israelites today, who trust in the Name of YHWH.
Sabbath, February 26th 2:00-6:00PM Hillsdale Location - This Sabbath we started more studies into the First Steps in Hebrew Prayer CD and Book set. We are learning more than just Hebrew from this book. Dinner was authentic middle eastern Kashi, Falafel, and other fixings (special thanks to sister Judith for her meal preps) The Torah portion was taken from Exodus 30:11 - 34:35 and was another Monte Judah Torah portion series. Before listening to the portion, we read the entire section ourselves. The ransom shequel which every male was to offer was discussed, as well as the symbolisms for the metals of gold, silver, and precious gems. Gold usually characterizes our personal relationship with YHWH, while silver characterizes the work of redemption and precious gems have to do with individuals. Many of the priestly duties were mentioned, as well as the golden calf incident, whereby tradition states that Hur, the grandfather of Bezaleel stood against the rebellion and lost his life as a result. The Sabbath commandments came up and the scripture which details the Sabbath as a "sign" was was found in Exodus 31:13. Additionally, the Lord's day is also the Sabbath. Noticed was that the tablets that Moses brought down from the mountain were written upon all side, including the backs, making the symbolic number of four sides important to the event. Exodus 34:6,7 was given as a scripture that proves the tri-unity of Elohim. 3 types of wrong doing were discussed, of which all of them YHWH forgives upon repentance, inclusive of iniquity which is filthiness or evil, transgression which is willfully breaking a commandment, and sin, which is to make a mistake, or a goof, without knowledge. Exodus 34:9 was the sinner's prayer in the Torah. The warnings not to enter a covenant with pagan peoples was reiterated and some parallels with the modern state of Israel and how they are mishandling the Palestinian problem were given.