Al McCarn: Dilemna of the Ger

Return of the Prodigal Son by James Tissot

by Al McCarn, The Barking Fox

The Torah Awakening among Christians is creating something the world has not seen for two thousand years:  a growing body of non-Jewish people who are doing the best they can to live by God’s eternal standards (His Torah – Law, Teaching, Commandments), but who do not intend to convert to Judaism.

What is the world to do with such people?  Perhaps the more immediate question is, what are the Jewish people and the State of Israel to do with such people?

Rabbi Kisses Jacob’s Sheep

Whew!!! This report and photo from Breaking Israel News takes my breath away!  This dear rabbi’s action is prophetic of brother Judah welcoming home the lost tribes of Israel,  the Northern Kingdom, “the House of Israel”, a.k.a. Ephraim, which was taken into captivity around 720 BCE by the mighty war machine of Assyria.

Noach (Noah)

Torah Portion:  Genesis 6:9–11:32 Haftarah Portion:  Isaiah 54:1–55:5 New Testament Portion:  Luke 17:26-27, Hebrews 11:7, 1Peter 3:20, 2Peter 2:5, 3:9-14

The concluding words of last week’s Torah portion read “but Noah found grace in the eyes of Yahweh.” (Gen 6:8)  We arrive this week at the building of the ark and the salvation of one family from a worldwide calamity.  Encompassed in the “secret place of the Most High. . . in the shadow of the Almighty,” Noah’s family rode out the mother of all storms. 

Ha’azinu – Give ear, Listen

Torah portion: Deut. chapter 32
Haftarah: Hosea 14:2–10, Micah 7:18–20, Joel 2:15–27
[when occurring on Sabbath before Yom Kippur]
On regular years: 2 Samuel chapter 22
New Testament: Rev. chapters 14 and 15

This week’s torah portion is very interesting for a number of reasons. For one thing, the words themselves are written on the leaves of the Torah scroll in an odd manner. Instead of a single line of text running across the page, the Song of Moses is separated into two neat columns. Each stanza on the right side of the page is counter-balanced by one opposite it in poetic rhythm.

Ki Tetze – When You Go Out

Torah Portion: Deut 21:10-25:19 August 6, 2014
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:10 (suggest beginning at 52:13)
New Testament: Mark 10:2-12, Luke 15: 11-20:27-38

Last week’s parsha was Shoftim, or “Judges.” This week Abba’s instructions to the judges continues. One of the laws most often brought up by people who claim the Torah has been done away with or nailed to the cross is in this week’s lesson, the law of the rebellious son.