Oct 30, 2008
Posted on Oct 30, 2008 in FFOZ, Miscellaneous, Parashah, Torah | 0 comments
FFOZ’s new online resource—TorahPortions.org—is now live. It is going to be a really great resource for weekly Bible study.
At a glance, you can see the weekly reading from the Torah, the Prophets and the Gospels, as well as:
- A topical outline for the current readings
- A summary of the weekly Torah reading
- Messianic commentary with insights on the weekly reading
- A preview of next week’s reading
- Any specific weekly reading throughout the year
- Downloadables & resources with more to come
Be sure to check it out and pass it along to anyone who you think would appreciate it. We really want to get the word out on this valuable online tool.
May 4, 2008
Posted on May 4, 2008 in Parashah, Torah | 0 comments
While I was searching through some of my emails and such that I had sent to a few men that I am challenging in Torah, I came across a some notes that I had written back in January that corresponds really well to my thoughts on this week’s Parasha (Emor) from last year. It’s a little rough around the edges, but I think it gets the point across.
Right-click (pc) or Control-click (mac!) to download:
Mar 27, 2008
Posted on Mar 27, 2008 in Miscellaneous, Parashah, Torah | 0 comments
I recently posted this on FFOZ’s Torah Club Forum, but thought I would go ahead and post it here as well. And (as I stated in the forum) most people will already know this, but it’s a good reminder…
Yesterday was the fourth reading for this week’s parasha. It included Vayikra/Leviticus 10:16. Within this verse we have the phrase [i]S’ir hachatat darosh darash Moshe[/i], which roughly equates to “Moshe inquired insistently (or diligently) about the he-goat of the sin-offering.”
What’s special about this? First, the repetition of the root דרש. This root is where we get the word “drash” or “drosh,” meaning to “seek out,” commonly used to mean a time of teaching from what one has already sought out in the Scriptures. The doubling of this root in the passage implies a seeking out that is more intense than normal. Second, the sages tell us that these two words mark the very center of the Torah.
From both of these insights we can infer that we are to diligently seek out the heart, or the “center,” of the Torah at all times and never be satisfied with a “pat answer.” We must be as the Bereans of the Apostolic Writings at all times–diligent students, seeking out the very heart of Torah.
Apr 24, 2007
Posted on Apr 24, 2007 in Miscellaneous, Parashah, Torah | 0 comments
It’s been a while since I’ve really had a chance to write due to keeping up with my business, my family and my studies. So… with that in mind, I thought I would make sure you know of a few (fairly) new study resources available to you that you might not have been aware of previously. Here they are:
Daily Dose of Torah
If you haven’t heard of Artscroll’s newest multi-volume work, you need to head over to Artscroll and check out their Daily Dose of Torah series. It’s a 14-volume set of books for daily Torah study. You can subscribe to receive each volume as it’s released (for the volumes that are yet unreleased) and receive them just ahead of the Torah reading schedule. Each book covers four weeks of study (four parashot) and includes the following each day:
- Torah thought for the Day
- Mishnah of the Day
- Gems from the Gemara
- Mussar Thought for the Day
- Halachah of the Day
- A Closer Look at the Siddur
- Question of the Day
- A Taste of Lomdus (once a week)
If you would like to check out a sample of A Daily Dose of Torah, you can download an entire week’s worth of (parashat Acharei-Mot) from this link. You don’t want to miss getting this particular week’s lesson, due to the correlation between the commentary included in the Torah Thought for the Day and the meaning of the death of our Messiah.
eRosh
FFOZ has just launched a new electronic publication, called eRosh. It will be a monthly email including activities and teachings geared toward bringing the family together in their study and application of Torah. It will include a monthly calendar of the events pertaining to the particular month, along with activities for children of all ages. The description states:
Young children will love to color with Isaiah the prophet and help him find the new moon! Older kids can become a Disciple Detective, while teens can focus on the practical life lessons found in Scripture with the new study, Pirkei Avinu (Sayings of our Father).
More on FFOZ’s eRosh can be found on the FFOZ blog. Be sure to sign up for this free resource on the FFOZ website.
Jan 12, 2007
Posted on Jan 12, 2007 in 5 Minute Torah, Parashah, Torah | 2 comments
Shemot (“Names”)
Shemot / Exodus 1:1-Exodus 6:1
“And these are the names of the Children of Israel who were coming into Egypt…The Children of Israel were fruitful, teemed, increased and became strong—very much so; and the land became filled with them.” (Exodus 1:1,7)
As with a good number of the parashot, Shemot begins with the letter ו (vav). In Hebrew, a vav is a letter added to the beginning of a word to represent the conjunction “and.” Our parasha begins “And these are the names (shemot / שמות)…” This statement connects the current parasha with the previous one. But the vav is the connector. It connects the previous thought to a new thought. In this case it connects the previous parasha to the current one. But not only does it connect one parasha to the next, it connects one generation to another. But not only does it connect one generation to another, but it connects despair to hope.
“Chazak! Chazak! Venitchazeik!”
Last week was the first time we have spoken these words for this Torah cycle. They are spoken at the end of each book of Torah as a transition from one book to the next. They mean “Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened!” I find it fitting that these words connect the last words of Breisheet with the first words of Shemot. They connect the bitter ending of Breisheet with the optimistic introduction of Shemot.
Joseph died at the age of one hundred and ten years; they embalmed him and he was placed in a coffin in Egypt.
These words cannot be the fatalistic end of the story. There has to be more. There has to be hope for a future. Then we hear the reminder… “Chazak! Chazak! Venitchazeik!” Be strong! Be strong! And may we be strengthened! They are followed with the words of Shemot…
And these are the names of the Children of Israel who were coming into Egypt…The Children of Israel were fruitful, teemed, increased and became strong—very much so; and the land became filled with them.
Did you hear that? They “teemed, increased and became strong—very much so.” The death of Joseph wasn’t an end, but a beginning. It wasn’t the end of the story. On the contrary, it only set the stage for the greater story—a story of signs & wonders, devotion, love and redemption.
Maybe there has been tragedy or unfortunate circumstances in your life recently. It’s not the end. There is a vav if we continue reading. Just as the Children of Israel were at a point of hopelessness at the passing of Joseph (the one that led us into the country!), a vav was waiting for them just ahead. We all have a vav waiting on us if we stand firm.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4
Always remember—Mashiach is the vav connecting us to Israel. Torah is the vav connecting us to Hashem. If you are in a difficult place, remember the words “Chazak! Chazak! Venitchazeik!” and hang on to your vavs.
