Blessing of Torah. - Hebrew: Baruch atah YHVH eloheinu melech
ha-olam, asher kideshanu b'mitzvotav, v'tzivanu la'asok b'divrei Torah.
V'ha'arev na YHVH eloheinu et divrei toratecha befinu uvfi amecha beit Yisrael.
V'niyeh anachnu v'tze'etze'einu v'tze'etza'ei amecha beit Yisrael kullanu yodei
sh'mecha v'lomdei toratecha lishmah. Baruch atah YHVH hamelamed Torah le'amo
Yisrael. Baruch atah YHVH Eloheinu melech ha-olam, asher bachar banu mikol
ha'amim venatan lanu et torato. Baruch atah YHVH, notein haTorah.
English
translation: Blessed art Thou, YHVH
our Elohim, King of the universe, who has made us set apart through His
commandments and commanded us to actively study Torah. Please YHVH, our Elohim,
sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your
people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the
House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for
the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, YHVH, Who teaches Torah to
His people Israel. Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, King of the universe, Who
chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH,
Giver of the Torah.
Parashat Shemini - Shemini- Eighth
In this portion we find
the middle letter and two middle words of the entire Torah sefer. The sages
call this Torah Portion the heart of the Torah because they say the Torah was
founded upon this Parashah – Portion.
There are 304805 letters
in the Torah, the middle letter of Torah is the “vav” of Gachon (belly) Lev
11:42 –
The middle words of the
Torah is in Lev 10:16 – “Drosh drash”
and means “ in searching you must search.” (Which mean you must truly
search for the truth)
The middle verse is found in the previous
parasha ( 5845 verses in the Torah) Lev
8:8 and put the breastplate on him, and put the Urim and the Tummim in the
breastplate. (Light and perfections refers to Moshiach)
The sages teach that we can see from this
middle letter, word and verse that the first has to do with the body, then the
next with the soul and finally our spirit. The heart or central instruction of
the Torah has to do with the whole man - 1Th 5:23
And the Elohim of peace Himself set you completely apart, and your
entire spirit, and being, and body - be preserved blameless at the coming of
our Master יהושע Messiah!
1Th
5:24 He who calls you is trustworthy,
who also shall do it.
The
number 26 we know is also extremely significant as it pertains to the gematria
of the name of YHVH – (yud = 10, hey=5, vav-6, hey=5 total 26)
Torah Aliyot:
- 9:1-16
- 9:17-23
- 9:24 – 10:11
- 10:12-15
- 10:16-20
- 11:1-32
- 11:33-44
- Maftir: 11:45-47
Haftarah: 2 Samuel 6:1 – 7:17 (A);
6:1-19 (S)
Aliyah Rishon 9:1-16
Lev 9:1 And on the
eighth (shemeni) day it came to be that Mosheh called Aharon and his sons and
the elders of Yisra’ĕl.
That day was as joyous to YHVH as the day
on which heaven and earth were created. (Talmud, Megillah 10b)
This eighth day was the first day (rosh chodesh) of the first month (the
Rosh chodesh of Nisan) On this day the tabernacle and priesthood was dedicated
and established by YHVH to be His eternal pattern of provision for our return
back into His presence
The sages tell us that
there were many significant new beginnings introduced in this parasha called
Shemeni (Eighth):
- First day of the
week – (or eighth day) The book of Leviticus introduces this concept more
than any other book in scripture – (nine references); Yahshua rose from
the dead on the 8th day of the week - sealed the promise of the New
Covenant for ever - now it could
never change - He established the surety of a new beginning for all
humanity.
- Here we see that on the
first day the princes of Israel bring special gifts. The tribe of Judah
was the first in dedicating gifts to the altar.
- On this eighth day Aaron’s sons become
priests serving Israel performing priestly service
- On the Eighth day
fire descended on the altar –that came from Elohim.
- On the Eighth day
was the first “tamid” ie continual offering morning and afternoon;
- The First offerings
eaten or totally consumed;
- First evidence of
the “shechina” or presence of YHVH
entered into the tabernacle;
- First day the
Aaronic blessing was spoken;
- First time new
instruction given about altars; No other altars where priestly duties
carried out were to be erected - no one could just go and erect an altar
and bring an offering to Yahveh;
- First time “rosh chodesh” – new moon ceremony
conducted.
Lev 9:2 And he said to Aharon, “Take for yourself a
young bull as a sin offering and a ram as a burnt offering, a perfect one, and
bring them before יהוה.
Lev 9:3 “And speak
to the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘Take a male goat as a sin offering, and a
calf and a lamb, both a year old, perfect ones, as a burnt offering,
Lev 9:4 and a bull
and a ram as peace offerings, to slaughter before יהוה, and a grain
offering mixed with oil. For today יהוה shall appear
to you.’ ”
In these three verses
the Torah reveals the pattern of how His people will be presented to Him
perfect without spot or blemish on that final Day of Judgment – on the “Eighth
day.”
Note it starts with an
appointed priesthood who know and realize how serious sin is. This seriousness
of sin can only come about when a set apart priesthood recognize the
seriousness of sin in their own lives, hence we see that a bull is offered for
their sin but only a male goat is offered for all the sins of the people.
We see in these
offerings the pathway of the restoration of all things (tikkun olam).
First a priesthood who
recognize the seriousness of sin in their own lives know how to intercede and
understand the brokenness in the lives of those they are ministering to.
The kind of offerings
presented assists YHVH’S people to understand their path of set apartness as
indicated by the progression and significance of their offerings, from a ram
for a sin offering to a bull for a fellowship or burnt offering. YHVH takes
care of the sin problem so that His people can enter into the very purpose of
their existence – Fellowship and intimacy with their Creator.
Note the words “For today יהוה shall appear to you.” These words are
written in the perfect tense; the implication is that when a righteous
priesthood exists it will be just as good as if a people have already seen
YHVH.
Lev 9:5 And they
took what Mosheh commanded before the Tent of Meeting, and all the congregation
drew near and stood before יהוה.
Lev 9:6 And Mosheh
said, “This is the word which יהוה commanded you to do, so that the esteem of
יהוה appears to
you.”
Lev 9:7 And Mosheh
said to Aharon, “Go to the altar, and prepare your sin offering and your burnt
offering, and make atonement for yourself and for the people. And make the
offering of the people, and make atonement for them, as יהוה has
commanded.”
Lev 9:8 So Aharon
came near to the altar and slaughtered the calf of the sin offering, which was
for himself.
Lev 9:9 And the
sons of Aharon brought the blood to him, and he dipped his finger in the blood,
and put it on the horns of the altar, and poured the blood at the base of the
altar.
Lev 9:10 And the
fat, and the kidneys, and the appendage on the liver of the sin offering he
burned on the altar, as יהוה had commanded Mosheh.
Lev 9:11 And the
flesh and the skin he burned with fire outside the camp.
Lev 9:12 And he
slaughtered the burnt offering, and the sons of Aharon presented to him the
blood, which he sprinkled on the altar all around.
Lev 9:13 And they
presented the burnt offering to him, with its pieces and head, and he burned
them on the altar.
Lev 9:14 And he
washed the entrails and the legs, and burned them with the burnt offering on
the altar.
Lev 9:15 And he
brought the people’s offering, and took the goat, which was the sin offering
for the people, and slaughtered it and made it a sin offering, like the first
one.
Lev 9:16 And he
brought the burnt offering and made it, according to the right-ruling.
Aliyah Sheni 9:17 - 23
Lev 9:17 He also brought the grain offering, and
filled his hand with it, and burned it on the altar, besides the burnt offering
of the morning.
Lev 9:18 And he slaughtered the bull and the ram as
peace offerings, which were for the people. And Aharon’s sons presented to him
the blood, which he sprinkled on the altar all around,
Lev 9:19 and the fat from the bull and the ram, the
fat tail, and the covering, and the kidneys, and the appendage on the liver,
Lev 9:20 and they placed the fat on the breasts, and
he burned the fat on the altar.
Lev 9:21 But the breasts and the right thigh Aharon
waved as a wave offering before יהוה, as Mosheh had commanded.
Lev 9:22 Aharon
then lifted up his hand toward the people and blessed them, and came down from
making the sin offering, and the burnt offering, and the peace offerings.
Lev 9:23 And
Mosheh and Aharon went into the Tent of Meeting, and came out and blessed the
people. And the esteem of יהוה appeared to all the people,
Note the order of these offerings – first was the sin
offering which emphasizes that without purification there can be no
communication or fellowship with the Father. The burnt offering came next which
allows for intimacy with YHVH. The grain offering follows in which we enjoy a
covenantal meal with YHVH, we” break bread” together enjoying fellowship with
one another. Finally the peace offering is the blessing we enjoy of knowing
that it is well between YHVH and us as well as our fellowman and ourselves.
People who see the implications of what the Torah is
teaching in these offerings enjoy a special kind of intimacy with the Father.
In Yahshua we begin to enjoy an intimacy with YHVH
through Yahshua’s atoning death for our sin. Out of deep gratitude for this
atonement we seek to surrender ourselves completely to YHVH. This causes us to
seek fellowship with Yahshua and with those who have come to share in this
wonderful redemptive kindness of the Father. This brings the shalom of YHVH
that passes all understanding.
If our relationship with Yahshua is not ‘packaged’ in the
history and context of the Living Torah, then we will not know the Messiah as
he is meant to be known.
Aliyah Shlishi 9:24-10:11
Lev 9:24 and fire came out from before יהוה and consumed
the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. And all the people saw and cried
aloud and fell on their faces.
Lev 10:1 And Naḏaḇ and Aḇihu, the
sons of Aharon, each took his fire holder and put fire in it, and put incense
on it, and brought strange fire before יהוה, which He had not commanded them.
Lev 10:2 And fire
came out from יהוה and consumed them, and they died before יהוה.
It is probable that Adav and Abihu were not aware of the
seriousness of their actions, they were most probably deeply moved at
witnessing the mighty presence of YHVH
descend on the offerings and completely consume them and they thought their
response was appropriate but it had tragic consequences.
Nadab means “generous” one who freely gives without
considering too much the consequences of his actions.
Abihu means “He is my Father” perhaps there was a
familiarity in his life which cost him his death.
Lev 10:3 Then
Mosheh said to Aharon, “This is what יהוה spoke, saying,
‘By those who come near Me let Me be set-apart! And before all the people let
Me be esteemed!’ ” And Aharon was silent.
Aharon must have known deep in his spirit that a great
violation of YHVH’S set apartness had taken place.
In youth, one learns
to talk; in maturity, one learns to be silent. This is man's problem: that he
learns to talk before he learns to be silent (Rabbi Nachman of Breslav)
Said
Rav Papa: The merit of attending a house of mourning lies in the silence
observed (Talmud, Berachot 6b)
Lev 10:4 And
Mosheh called to Misha’ĕl and to Eltsaphan, the sons of Uzzi’ĕl the uncle of
Aharon, and said to them, “Come near, take your brothers from before the set-apart
place out of the camp.”
Lev 10:5 So they came near and took them by their long
shirts out of the camp, as Mosheh had said.
Lev 10:6 And
Mosheh said to Aharon, and to Elʽazar and to Ithamar, his sons, “Do not unbind
your heads nor tear your garments, lest you die, and wrath come upon all the
people. But let your brothers, all the house of Yisra’ĕl, bewail the burning
which יהוה has kindled.
Lev 10:7 “And do
not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die, for the
anointing oil of יהוה is upon you.” And they did according to the word of Mosheh.
Lev 10:8 And יהוה spoke to Aharon,
saying,
Lev 10:9 “Do not
drink wine or strong drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the
Tent of Meeting, lest you die – a law forever throughout your generations,
Lev 10:10 so as to
make a distinction between the set-apart and the profane, and between the
unclean and the clean,
Lev 10:11 and to
teach the children of Yisra’ĕl all the laws which יהוה has spoken to
them by the hand of Mosheh.”
An appointed priesthood will be empowered to show the
true followers of YHVH how to discern that which defiles and that which
purifies.
Aliyah Reviee 10:12-15
Lev 10:12 And Mosheh spoke to Aharon, and to Elʽazar and Ithamar, his
sons who were left, “Take the grain offering that is left over from the
offerings made by fire to יהוה, and eat it
without leaven beside the altar, for it is most set-apart.
Lev 10:13 “And you
shall eat it in a set-apart place, because it is yours by law and your sons’ by
law, of the offerings made by fire to יהוה, for so I have
been commanded.
Lev 10:14 “And the
breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the contribution you eat in a
clean place, you, and your sons, and your daughters with you. For they are
yours by law and your sons’ by law, which are given from the slaughterings of
peace offerings of the children of Yisra’ĕl.
Lev 10:15 “The
thigh of the contribution and the breast of the wave offering they bring with
the offerings of fat made by fire, to bring as a wave offering before יהוה. And it shall
be yours and your sons’ with you, by a law forever, as יהוה has
commanded.”
Aliyah Chamishi 10:16-20
Lev 10:16 And Mosheh diligently looked for the goat of
the sin offering and saw it was burned up. And he was wroth with Elʽazar and Ithamar, the
sons of Aharon who were left, saying,
Lev 10:17
“Why have you not eaten the sin offering in a set-apart place, since it
is most set-apart, and Elohim has given it to you to bear the crookedness of
the congregation, to make atonement for them before יהוה?
Lev 10:18 “See,
its blood was not brought inside the set-apart place. You should have eaten it
without fail in a set-apart place, as I have commanded.”
Lev 10:19 And
Aharon said to Mosheh, “See, today they have brought their sin offering and
their burnt offering before יהוה, and matters like these have come to me! If I had eaten
the sin offering today, would it have been right in the eyes of יהוה?”
Lev 10:20 And when
Mosheh heard that, it was good in his eyes.
Moshe was deeply concerned over the consequences of any
form of disobedience from the priests and feared additional calamity as a
result of this departure of Aarons when they did not eat from the sin offering
as they were meant to. Aaron sensed that this departure would be a once off
event that YHVH had prompted him to follow. Moshe was satisfied with his answer
because he knew and understood that it seemed to have come by YHVH’S leading.
Why? Once again I believe we need to seek for answers in the life and ministry
of our Messiah, he was an offering that no man could be part of. This can be
compared by this once off exception that Aaron made in regards to the sin
offering.
Again we see that it is impossible to understand the
Torah without seeing the fulfillment and manifestation of our Messiah in its
pages.
Aliyah Shishi 11:1-32
Once again there is a thorough treatise of the kosher
dietary laws. This once again reminds us that YHVH seeks to share a special fellowship
with us during our mealtimes. In these
days the Ruach of YHVH wants to restore a special revelation of the importance
and significance of sharing our meals with one another.
Lev 11:1 And יהוה spoke to
Mosheh and to Aharon, saying to them,
Lev 11:2 “Speak to
the children of Yisra’ĕl, saying, ‘These are the living creatures which you do
eat among all the beasts that are on the earth:
Lev 11:3 ‘Whatever
has a split hoof completely divided, chewing the cud, among the beasts, that
you do eat.
Lev 11:4 ‘Only,
these you do not eat among those that chew the cud or those that have a split
hoof: the camel, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is
unclean to you;
Lev 11:5 and the
rabbit, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean
to you;
Lev 11:6 and the
hare, because it chews the cud but does not have a split hoof, it is unclean to
you;
Lev 11:7 and the
pig, though it has a split hoof, completely divided, yet does not chew the cud,
it is unclean to you.
Lev 11:8 ‘Their
flesh you do not eat, and their carcasses you do not touch. They are unclean to
you.
Lev 11:9 ‘These
you do eat of all that are in the waters: any one that has fins and scales in
the waters, in the seas or in the rivers, that you do eat.
