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.
Thus
the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98b) describes Moshiach as a metzora, signifying
that the messianic age is a time in which evils which have infested the world
and mankind rise to the surface, so that they can be decisively overcome and
cured. (The Lubavitcher Rebbe)
The reason for this can be understood from the opening words of the Torah's description of the metzora. "Shall occur"
Lev 13:2 “When a man has on the skin of his body a
swelling, a scab, or a bright spot, and it shall become on the skin of his body
like a leprous infection, then he shall be brought to Aharon the priest or to
one of his sons the priests.
ב אָדָם, כִּי-יִהְיֶה בְעוֹר-בְּשָׂרוֹ שְׂאֵת אוֹ-סַפַּחַת אוֹ בַהֶרֶת, וְהָיָה בְעוֹר-בְּשָׂרוֹ, לְנֶגַע צָרָעַת--וְהוּבָא אֶל-אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן, אוֹ אֶל-אַחַד מִבָּנָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים.
Aliyah Sheni 13:24-39
Lev 13:24
“Or when the body receives a burn on its skin by fire, and the raw flesh
of the burn shall become a bright spot, reddish-white or white,
Lev 13:25
then the priest shall look at it and see, if the hair of the bright spot
has turned white, and it appears deeper than the skin, it is leprosy broken out
in the burn. And the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a leprous
infection.
Lev 13:26
“But if the priest looks at it and sees there are no white hairs in the
bright spot, and it is not deeper than the skin, but has faded, then the priest
shall shut him up seven days.
Lev 13:27
“And the priest shall look at him on the seventh day. If it spreads
further over the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him unclean, it is a
leprous infection.
Lev 13:28
“But if the bright spot stays in its place, and has not spread on the
skin, but has faded, it is a swelling from the burn. And the priest shall
pronounce him clean, for it is the scar from the burn.
Lev 13:29
“And when a man, or a woman, has an infection on the head or in the
beard,
Lev 13:30
then the priest shall look at the infection and see, if it appears
deeper than the skin, and there is thin yellow hair in it, then the priest
shall pronounce him unclean, it is an eruption, a leprosy of the head or beard.
Lev 13:31
“But when the priest looks at the infection of the eruption and sees
that it does not appear deeper than the skin, and there is no black hair in it,
then the priest shall shut up the one with the infection of the eruption
seven days.
Lev 13:32
“And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the infection and see,
if the eruption has not spread, and there is no yellow hair in it, and the
eruption does not appear deeper than the skin,
Lev 13:33
then he shall shave himself, but the eruption he does not shave. And the
priest shall shut up the one with the eruption another seven days.
Lev 13:34
“And on the seventh day the priest shall look at the eruption and see,
if the eruption has not spread over the skin, and does not appear deeper than
the skin, then the priest shall pronounce him clean. And he shall wash his
garments, and he shall be clean.
Lev 13:35
“But if the eruption spreads further over the skin after his cleansing,
Lev 13:36
then the priest shall look at him and see, if the eruption has spread
over the skin, the priest need not seek for yellow hair, he is unclean.
Lev 13:37
“But if the eruption appears to have stayed, and there is black hair
grown up in it, the eruption has healed. He is clean, and the priest shall
pronounce him clean.
Lev 13:38
“And when a man or a woman has bright spots on the skin of the body,
white bright spots,
Lev 13:39
then the priest shall look and see, if the bright spots on the skin of
the body are dull white, it is a white spot that grows on the skin, he is
clean.
Second Aliyha: "At the conclusion of the quarantine period,
the priest either declares the individual pure or impure. The Torah then
discusses what is done in the event that the tzara'at spreads after the
individual was declared pure, or if there is raw skin within the tzara'at,
or if the tzara'at has spread over the entire body.
We need to remind ourselves
that the judging of tzra-at was the responsibility of Aaron and his sons. It
was the responsibility of the individual to submit themselves to these priests
when these various markings appeared on their skin.
We can assume that this
Levitical priesthood was and will be so endowed with the spirit of wisdom and
understanding that when they are confronted with a person with the skin
condition known in the Torah as “Tzra at” they will be enabled by YHVH to pin
point the exact reason and remedy for the healing of tzra-at." - end of quote
Midrash on the implications of what this Torah portion
is teaching us.
Why would this condition
exist in the first place?
This condition was obviously
YHVH’s way of drawing our attention to the fact there was some kind of infringement
knowing or unknowing of the Covenant between Himself and His set apart ones.
This would obviously imply that there was some kind of transgression or
misunderstanding, knowing or unknowing of the Torah.
Interrogative Statement:
When Yahshua returns, we trust and believe and
hope that we will be with him – to rule the nations of the world for 1000
years. We also believe that when he returns he will be accompanied by some very
important people – Moshe, Aaron, Yehoshua, Calev, Eliyah, Yirmeyahu, Yochanan
the immerse, Kepha, Shaul, King David, Shlomo (Solomon), Adam, Chavah(Eve) and
Noach to mention only a very few.
There are going to be two
groups of people on the earth – The Common wealth of Yisrael and the Nations.
The Common wealth of Yisrael
has a constitution and a marriage covenant with YHVH – it is contained in the
Torah.
The truth and application of
the Torah will be determined by YHVH and whoever YHVH appoints. YHVH’s primary
appointment to be in charge of all matters is Yahshua – there will be NO
arguments or debates with Yahshua regarding the Torah’s message and
application.
Rev 2:26 “And he who overcomes, and guards My works
until the end, to him I shall give authority over the nations,
Rev 2:27 and he shall shepherd them with a rod of
iron, as the potter’s vessels shall be broken to pieces,1 as I also
have received from My Father. Footnote: 1Ps. 2:9.
Rev 19:15 And out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that
with it He should smite the nations. And He shall shepherd them with a rod of
iron. And He treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Ěl Shaddai.
Rev 19:16 And on His robe and on His thigh He has a
name written: SOVEREIGN OF SOVEREIGNS AND MASTER OF MASTERS
Mat 5:17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the
Torah or the Prophets.1 I did not come to destroy but to complete.
Footnote: 1The Law and the Prophets is a term used for the
pre-Messianic Scriptures.
Mat 5:18 “For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and
the earth pass away, one jot or one tittle shall by no means pass from the
Torah till all be done.1 Footnote: 1Lk. 16:17.
Mat 5:19
“Whoever, then, breaks one of the least of these commands, and teaches
men so, shall be called least in the reign of the heavens; but whoever does and
teaches them, he shall be called great in the reign of the heavens.
All of the religions of the world have a major problem with the above
statements. That is why most of the followers of these world religions –
including Christianity and Judaism may not find themselves with Yahshua when he
returns.
Mat 7:21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master,
Master,’ shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the
desire of My Father in the heavens.
Mat 7:22 “Many (or most) shall say to Me in that day,
‘Master, Master, have we not prophesied in Your Name, and cast out demons in
Your Name, and done many mighty works in Your Name?’
Mat 7:23 “And then I shall declare to them, ‘I never
knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’1 Footnote: 1
See v. 15. – lawlessness or Torahlessness.
Why would Yahshua want anyone to be part of his kingdom then if they
now refuse to acknowledge that he has been appointed by YHVH to teach all the
nations how to walk and live according to the Torah of YHVH.
In other words if you don’t like the perfect plan and purpose of YHVH
now why will you be part of it then?
Those amongst us who are coming into the restoration of the Truth will
understand what is being said.
It must be made perfectly clear that this is not some person’s
subjective truth but it is the only Truth that is taught and will be
established by Yahshua and accepted by the Creator of All.
We believe this absolute truth is revealed by the Spirit of YHVH in
the 66 books of the scriptures – from Genesis to Revelation.
We understand that we do not possess the full knowledge of this truth
but we acknowledge that the absolute truth is contained within its chapters.
Back to our Torah portion:
The truth of the above interrogative statement
will become evident in the age to come when a skin condition called tza arat
appears on your body because you are somehow out of sync with the teaching of
Torah.
You will willingly submit to Aaron or one if his
sons for its diagnosis and cure.
Does this have implications for us now?
Php 2:12 So that, my beloved, as you always obeyed –
not only in my presence, but now much rather in my absence – work out your own
deliverance with fear and trembling,
Php 2:13 for
it is Elohim who is working in you1 both to desire and to work for His
good pleasure.
There have been and always will be serious
consequences to our obedience or disobedience to Torah – see
Devarim/Deuteronomy chapter 28.
Deu 28:1 “And it shall be, if you diligently obey the
voice of יהוה your Elohim,
to guard to do all His commands which I command you today, that יהוה your Elohim shall set you high above all
nations of the earth.
Deu 28:2 “And all
these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim:
Deu 28:3 “Blessed
are you in the city, and blessed are you in the field.
Deu 28:4 “Blessed
is the fruit of your body, and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your
livestock – the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
Deu 28:5 “Blessed
is your basket and your kneading bowl.
Deu 28:6 “Blessed
are you when you come in, and blessed are you when you go out.
Deu 28:7 “יהוה causes your enemies who rise against you
to be smitten before your face – they come out against you one way and flee
before you seven ways.
Deu 28:8 “יהוה commands the blessing on you in your
storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and shall bless you in the
land which יהוה your Elohim is
giving you.
Deu 28:9 “יהוה does establish you as a set-apart people
to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you guard the commands of יהוה your Elohim and walk in His ways.
Deu 28:10 “And all
peoples of the earth shall see that the Name of יהוה is called upon
you, and they shall be afraid of you.
Deu 28:11 “And יהוה shall make you to have plenty of what is
good, in the fruit of your body, in the fruit of your livestock, and in the
fruit of your ground, in the land of which יהוה swore to your
fathers to give you.
Deu 28:12 “יהוה opens to you His good treasure, the
heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work
of your hand. And you shall lend to many nations, but you do not borrow.
Deu 28:13 “And יהוה shall make you the head and not the tail.
And you shall be only on top, and not be beneath, if you obey the commands of יהוה your Elohim, which I command you today, to
guard and do.
Deu 28:14 “And do
not turn aside from any of the Words which I am commanding you today, right or
left, to go after other mighty ones to serve them.
Deu 28:15 “And it
shall be, if you do not obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim,
to guard to do all His commands and His laws which I command you today, that
all these curses shall come upon you and overtake you:
Deu 28:16 “Cursed
are you in the city, and cursed are you in the field.
Deu 28:17 “Cursed
is your basket and your kneading bowl.
Deu 28:18 “Cursed
is the fruit of your body and the fruit of your land, the increase of your
cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
Deu 28:19 “Cursed
are you when you come in, and cursed are you when you go out.
Deu 28:20 “יהוה sends on you the curse, the confusion, and
the rebuke in all that you set your hand to do, until you are destroyed and
until you perish quickly, because of the evil of your doings by which you have
forsaken Me.
Deu 28:21 “יהוה makes the plague cling to you until He has
consumed you from the land which you are going to possess.
Deu 28:45 “And all these curses shall come upon you,
and they shall pursue and overtake you, until you are destroyed, because you
did not obey the voice of יהוה your Elohim,
to guard His commands and His laws which He commanded you.
Deu 28:46 “And
they shall be upon you for a sign and for a wonder, and on your seed, forever.
We are living in a time when YHVH seems to wink at our
ignorance.
Act 17:30 “Truly, then, having overlooked these times
of ignorance, Elohim now commands all men everywhere to repent,
Act 17:31 because He has set a day on which He is going
to judge the world in righteousness by a Man whom He has appointed,
Let us try and paint a picture of our
modern day situation – Why would people get Tzra’at? Maybe not in this age but
surely in the age to come.
Let’s start off with SEX.
Maybe
something is wrong if more than 90% of all couples that get married are NOT
virgins.
Oops where
did this tzr’ at suddenly come from?
The reason
is that most people never receive proper instruction according to Torah, nor
did they have role models to guide them regarding Scriptural sexuality. Today
we are misguided by pagan ideas of the Greek culture. We need a whole new foundation
for kosher sexuality.
In the
Jewish/Hebraic society when a boy reached the age of puberty, he had a bar
mitzvah – a right of passage into adulthood.
The boy would read from Torah and give a brief homily. He would also
promise his father that he would not take a girl’s virginity unless he had
entered into a marriage covenant with her.
It has been
said that by the time a Jewish boy reached the age of 18 he was meant to be
married. If he was not married by the age of 21 the rabbi would find him a wife.
The ancient
sages unanimously agree that the most set apart book in the Tenach is “Shir Ha
Shiarim,” the Song of Songs. Many scholars of scripture feel the book should
never have been included in the canon of scripture because of its erotic
content.
It was
taught and expected of Jewish/Hebrew woman that their husbands would at all
times feel sexually satisfied.
Let’s talk about marriage and family.
Women were
to be treasured and protected in a Hebraic family. Remember it was not woman
who were circumcised. A woman was meant to be protected by either her husband
or her father or her sons.
Widows were
meant to be adopted into families. If they had no children they were allowed to
enter into a Levirate marriage. This would ensure that the family would have their
inheritance in the year of jubilee.
Deu 25:5 “When brothers dwell together, and one of
them has died, and has no son, the widow of the dead man shall not become a
stranger’s outside. Her husband’s brother does go in to her, and shall take her
as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her.
Deu 25:6 “And it shall be that the first-born son
which she bears does rise up for the name of his dead brother, so that his name
is not blotted out of Yisra’ĕl.
Deu 25:7 “But if the man does not desire to take his
brother’s wife, then let his brother’s wife go up to the gate to the elders,
and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to raise up a name to his brother in
Yisra’ĕl, he does not agree to perform the duty of my husband’s brother.’
Deu 25:8 “The elders of his city shall then call him
and speak to him, and he shall stand and say, ‘I have no desire to take her,’
Deu 25:9 then his brother’s wife shall come to him in
the presence of the elders, and remove his sandal from his foot, and shall spit
in his face, and answer and say, ‘Thus it is done to the man who does not build
up his brother’s house.’
Deu 25:10 “And in Yisra’ĕl his name shall be called,
‘The house of him who had his sandal removed.’
Oops! where
did this Tzra-at suddenly come from?
Let’s talk about money:
Mal 3:7 “From the days of your fathers you have
turned aside from My laws and did not guard them. Turn back to Me, and I shall
turn back to you,” said יהוה of hosts. “But
you said, ‘In what shall we turn back?’
Mal 3:8 “Would a
man rob Elohim? Yet you are robbing Me! But you said, ‘In what have we robbed
You?’ In the tithe and the offering!
Mal 3:9 “You have
cursed Me with a curse, for you are robbing Me, this nation, all of it!
Mal 3:10 “Bring
all the tithes into the storehouse, and let there be food in My house. And
please prove Me in this,” said יהוה of hosts,
“whether I do not open for you the windows of the heavens, and shall pour out
for you boundless blessing!
Mal 3:11 “And I
shall rebuke the devourer for you, so that it does not destroy the fruit of
your ground, nor does the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” said יהוה of hosts.
Mal 3:12 “And all
nations shall call you blessed, for you shall be a land of delight,” said יהוה of hosts.
Deu 26:12 “When you have completed tithing all the
tithe of your increase in the third year, which is the year of tithing, and
have given it to the Lĕwite, to the stranger, to the fatherless, and to the
widow, and they have eaten within your gates and have been satisfied,