Teachings
Below are the teachings from our weekly Torah Studies. If you would like to join us, please email us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. so we can let you know where and when we meet.
Mishpatim (Rulings) Shemot (Exodus) 21
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- Created on Saturday, 18 February 2012 14:17
Torah Portion: Mishpatim (Rulings) Shemot (Exodus) 21:1-24:18
HafTorah: Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26
New Testament: Matt. 5:38-42, 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23; Acts 23:1-11; Hebrews 9:15-22; 10:28-29
This week we look at the continuation of G-d law. This Torah section begins with two Hebrew words, “ve’elli” which means in English, “and these” indicating that the words following are to be seen as part of the revelation from Sinai. The first verses up until Shemot 21:27 mainly deals with slavery and how to treat slaves. This seems difficult to us today. Why didn’t G-d just say do not have slaves? That would have been it and then go on.
Yitro (Jethro) Exodus 18
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- Created on Saturday, 11 February 2012 15:27
Torah Portion: Yitro (Jethro) Shemot (Exodus) 18:1-20:26
HafTorah: Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6:7
New Testament: Matt. 5:21-30, 15:1-11; 19:16-30; Mark 7:5-15; Mark 10: 17-31; Luke 18:18-30; Acts 6:1-7; Romans 2:17-29; 7:7-12; 13:8-10; Eph. 6:1-3; 1Timothy 3:1-14; 2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 12:18-29; James 2:8-13; I Peter 2:9-10
Tonight we look at, I think, the only Torah portion named for a non-Jew. Why do you think Jethro was given this honor? Torah tells us that he heard of all that G-d had done for Israel. It seems he wanted to know more. So, the sages say he was honored for his search for the truth. I pray that this can also be said for each of us when we come together each week – that we are seeking the truth. In chapter 19, verse one of Shemot we read where the people came to the mountain in the third month after they had come out of Egypt. As we read on in chapter 19 we see G-d instructing Moses on what to tell the people. He was to tell them how He cared for them, bore them up on eagle’s wings and brought them to Himself at Sinai, and there He proposed to them as a groom does to his bride.
B'Shallach Exodus 13
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- Created on Saturday, 04 February 2012 19:04
Torah Portion: B’Shallach Exodus 13:17-17:16
HafTorah: Judges 4:4-5:31
New Testament: Luke 2:22-24; John 6:25-35; 19:31-37; 1Cor. 10:1-13; II Cor. 8:1-15; Revelations 15:1-4
In this weeks Torah section we see Israel enter a state much like a prior time in man’s history. What was it? It was the time of the Garden of Eden. Here in Sinai they did not have to work for their daily bread and G-d was constantly among them. They went through the redemption from slavery and entered, in some ways, a Garden of Eden. How can we compare this to our state spiritually? We too have been set free. G-d has said He is always with us and never leaves us. He provides us daily with our spiritual food. It is up to us to go and gather it but it is there for our gathering.