Today is 8 March 2014, Gregorian. Our reading comes from
Annual Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-5:26
Triennial Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-2:6
Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23
After reading this portion of Torah today and listening to Rabbi Mecklenberger last night at Erev Shabbos services, I became aware of something that I had not thought about for a while; mainly that we can be forgive through sacrifices. Christians teach that we cannot be forgiven through the sacrifice of blood from bulls, goats, sheep and pigeons, but Torah teaches that not only can we be forgive through the blood of those animals but, if we are too poor to sacrifice even an pigeon, then we can be forgive through the sacrifice of a fine meal offering with oil and frankincense.
The poor should not sacrifice even a pigeon if they cannot afford it. And the rich cannot sacrifice a pigeon if they can afford a sheep or bull. HaShem is most merciful for He has made it possible for us to live a life that might have some sins BUT when we become aware of those sins the we should atone for them according to Torah. Today, we give money to a Temple fund of some kind rather than sacrificing an animal or bird or a fine flour offering. (This is because we no longer have a Temple and a sacrificial altar. When the Temple is restored, then we will return to a sacrificial offering system - or so I have been told.)
Anyway, for many years I was taught that the Christ was necessary because the blood of bulls and goats could not atone for our sins. But, HaShem says in his Torah that our sins WOULD be forgiven if we offered our proper sacrifice. I have to believe Torah, not the preaching of some Christian pastors and evangelists. So should we all.
Not only that, but if we defraud another person, or deal deceitfully with another person, or rob another person, we are to restore all of what was lost PLUS a 20% penalty. Then we have to go to HaShem and offer a sin sacrifice in addition to that restoration. There is no mention of jail time. His plan is that we restore what we did wrong. As soon as we are made aware of our sin.
Truly, the Jews are called to a higher level of behavior than the rest of the world. And truly we are not only a Chosen People, but we are a Holy People, called out of the world to to the will of HaShem. May HaShem forgive us should we forget His Torah (Law) and His Mitzvot (commandments.)
Until next week,
Shalom
PS: I might change some things later but this is the posting as of 8 March 2014 - 6 Adar II 5774.
Saturday, March 8, 2014
Haftarah- 5774, 6 Adar II
Today is 8 March 2014, Gregorian. Our reading comes from
Annual Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-5:26
Triennial Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-2:6
Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23
Is 44:24,25p "You have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities. It is I, I who - for My own sake - wipe your transgressions away and remember your sins no more."
This goes along with the Torah reading for today. HaShem wipes away our sins, as far as the East is from the West, and remembers them no more.
Is 44:6 "Thus said HaShem, the King of Israel, their Redeemer, HaShem of Hosts: I am the first and I am the last, and there is no god but me."
Is 43:10,11 "Before Me no god was formed and after Me none shall exist. None but me, HaShem. Beside Me, none can grant triumph."
This is like unto the Shemah: "Hear, O Israel! HaShem is our God. HaShem is One."
There is but one HaShem, one God. And He is ONE GOD, not two, not three, not five. This is something that has sustained the Jews for many centuries. HaShem is our God, and He has give us His Torah, his Law, for all time. It is through His Torah that we strive for perfection, which we can never have, but we strive for it. And when we fail, he forgives us. Our hope is in HaShem, not in the blood of bulls, goats and pigeons and not in a fine flour offering. It is in HaShem who forgives us because he wants to forgive us. All we have to do is ask. We do not need anyone else to forgive us.
Until next week,
Shalom
PS: I might change some things later but this is the posting as of 8 March 2014 - 6 Adar II 5774.
Annual Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-5:26
Triennial Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-2:6
Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21-44:23
Is 44:24,25p "You have burdened Me with your sins, you have wearied Me with your iniquities. It is I, I who - for My own sake - wipe your transgressions away and remember your sins no more."
This goes along with the Torah reading for today. HaShem wipes away our sins, as far as the East is from the West, and remembers them no more.
Is 44:6 "Thus said HaShem, the King of Israel, their Redeemer, HaShem of Hosts: I am the first and I am the last, and there is no god but me."
Is 43:10,11 "Before Me no god was formed and after Me none shall exist. None but me, HaShem. Beside Me, none can grant triumph."
This is like unto the Shemah: "Hear, O Israel! HaShem is our God. HaShem is One."
There is but one HaShem, one God. And He is ONE GOD, not two, not three, not five. This is something that has sustained the Jews for many centuries. HaShem is our God, and He has give us His Torah, his Law, for all time. It is through His Torah that we strive for perfection, which we can never have, but we strive for it. And when we fail, he forgives us. Our hope is in HaShem, not in the blood of bulls, goats and pigeons and not in a fine flour offering. It is in HaShem who forgives us because he wants to forgive us. All we have to do is ask. We do not need anyone else to forgive us.
Until next week,
Shalom
PS: I might change some things later but this is the posting as of 8 March 2014 - 6 Adar II 5774.
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