Vayishlach 2015 (and he left)

Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4 through Genesis 36:43
Haftarah: Hosea 11:7 through Hosea 12:12 or Obadiah 1:1-21
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Rev 7:1-7

This week Jacob returns home to Canaan after 20 years toil in Laban’s house where Jacob’s children were born in the midst of fierce competition between his wives.  Sage Iben Ezra estimates Reuben to be 12 years of age at the time of Jacob’s departure for Israel.  Jacob’s return to the land portends much for the return of his children at the end of days.

Chai Sarah [Life of Sarah] 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 23:1 through Gen 25:18
Haftarah: 1Kings 1:1-31, 46
New Testament: Mat. 13: 24-50, John 4:35, Heb 11:6-19, Heb 13:6

Though our portion this week is entitled “Life of Sarah,” it curiously records both her’s and Abraham’s death, though, in actuality, he lives another 38 years. Scripture inserts the death of the saints in the narrative when their mission is complete. Like Noah and Shem before him, Abraham remains alive in the background to influence and intercede for his descendants.

Vayera [ and He Appeared] 2015

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1 through Gen 22:24
Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37
New Testament: Acts 7:2-3, John 8:28-59, Jude 1:1-8, James 1:2-6

Returning to our quest to understand what caused God to passionately pursue Abraham. Thus far, we note the following:

VAYISHLACH – AND HE SENT

Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4 through Genesis 36:43
Haftarah: Hosea 11:7 through Hosea 12:12 or Obadiah 1:1-21
New Testament: 1 Corinthians 5:1-13, Rev 7:1-7

Jacob and his family return to his father’s house.

This week we will see Jacob return to the land of Israel after an absence of 34 years.  Fourteen of these years are unaccounted for in Scripture and the sages of Israel surmise they were wisely spent in Eber’s house of study.  The remaining 20 years were spent in toil in Laban’s house, where Jacob’s children were born in the midst of fierce competition between his wives.  Sage Iben Ezra estimates Reuben to be 12 years of age at the time of Jacob’s departure for Israel.  Jacob’s return to the land portends much for the return of his children at the end of days.

Chai Sarah – Life of Sarah

Torah Portion: Genesis 23:1 through Gen 25:18
Haftarah: 1Kings 1:1-31, 46
New Testament: Mat. 13: 24-50, John 4:35, Heb 11:6-19, Heb 13:6

Though our portion this week is curiously titled “Life of Sarah,” it gives few details other than her age at death in regard to the circumstances.  In Hebrew, the text reads that Sarah lived 100 years, 20 years, and 7 years.  The sages have deduced that at age 100 she was as beautiful as a 20-year-old and as innocent as a 7-year-old. In addition, over the centuries they invested much thought to the obvious question, how did Sarah die?  Because Sarah’s demise follows on the heels of the akeida [binding of Isaac], most believe that Sarah’s death was somehow attributed to it.

Vayera – He Appeared

Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1 through Gen 22:24
Haftarah: 2 Kings 4:1-37
New Testament: Acts 7:2-3, John 8:28-59, Jude 1:1-8, James 1:2-6

My spiritual children have wrestled this week with health issues, been harassed by neighbors, faced economic distress, and been interrupted and forced to intervene on behalf of family who have acted in ignorance.  If you have likewise been tested and tried this week, welcome to parsha Vayera!  But, the good news is, that in every instance, Vayera!   God was faithful, and “He appeared”!

Lech Lecha – Go for yourself!

Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1 through 17:27
Haftarah Portion: Isaiah 40:27 through 41:16
New Testament Portion: Mat. 8:21-22, Acts 7:2-6, Romans 11:24-26, 1 Peter 3:5-6, Rev. 7:9-10

In the span of two weeks, we have traversed the first 2000 years of human history in which the world was created in seven days, Adam and Eve succumbed to the guile of Satan and were exiled from the Garden of Eden, the world became so wicked that the Creator repented that He had made humans, and sent a worldwide flood from which only Noah and his family were saved.