Posts By: rabdavis

Buying and Selling on the Sabbath

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Buying and Selling on the Sabbath To understand the section of scripture we are going to discuss, we need to understand what was going on at the time. Ezra had arrived in Jerusalem from Babylon in 457 B.C E. (the seventh year of the king). The temple had been built previously,… Read more »

What does the Expression “An eye for an eye” mean?

What does the expression “An eye for an eye” mean? I will begin with some of the Jewish texts that explain this passage and concept, and then I will provide an explanation beyond the Jewish sources. The answer begins with the fact that understanding the Bible requires more than reading one verse in order to… Read more »

Special readings for Shavu’ot

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Special Readings for Shavu’ot Exodus 19:-23 Numbers: 28:26-31 Haftarah: Ezekiel 1-18;3:12 Acts 2:1-13 Contrary to our current social philosophy and what is taught in Christianity today about G-d’s laws, there are limits; the boundaries of which are defined by G-d’s laws, statutes, and rulings. Although this parashah is the first place… Read more »

Special readings for Shavu’ot

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Special Readings for Shavu’ot Exodus 19:-23 Numbers: 28:26-31 Haftarah: Ezekiel 1-18;3:12 Acts 2:1-13 Contrary to our current social philosophy and what is taught in Christianity today about G-d’s laws, there are limits; the boundaries of which are defined by G-d’s laws, statutes, and rulings. Although this parashah is the first place… Read more »

Parashah #35: Naso (Take) B’midbar (Numbers) 4:21-7:89

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah # 35: Naso (Take): B’midbar [Numbers] 4:21-7:89 Haftarah: Shof’tim (Judges) 13: 2-25 B’rit Chadashah: Yochanan (John) 7:53-8:11; Acts 21:17-32 In this Parashah we read about the heads of the tribes bringing offerings to commemorate the consecration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the offerings are identical. Knowing that the Torah does… Read more »

Parashah #34: B’midbar (In the desert) B’midbar (Numbers) 1:1-4:20

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #34: B’midbar (In the desert) B’midbar ( Numbers) 1:1-4:20 Haftarah: Hoshea ( Hosea) 2:1(1:10)-2:22(20) B’rit Chadashah: Luke 2:1-7; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31 We begin our study this week in the fourth book of the Torah which recounts significant events of the Israelite travels from Sinai (G-d’s mountain) to the plains of… Read more »

Parashah #31: Emor (Speak) Vayikra (Leviticus) 21:1-24:23

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #31: Emor (Speak) Vayikra (Leviticus) 21:1-24:23 Haftarah: Yechezk’el (Ezekiel) 44:15-31 B’rit Chadashah: Mattityahu ( Matthew) 5:38-42 Whereas the last parashah (K’doshim) addressed the necessity for the people to be a holy and offer sacrifices according to a detailed system according to G-d. this parashah addresses the need for the leaders… Read more »

Parashah #29-30 : Acharei Mot( After the death) Vayikra (Leviticus) 16:1-18:30

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #29: Acharei Mot (After the death) Vayikra (Leviticus) 16:1-18:30 Haftarah: Yechezk’el (Ezekiel) 22:1-16 B’rit Chadashah: Romans 3:19-28 In regular years this is read with Parashah #30 K’doshim which describes G-d’s admonishment that we are to be a holy people because He is holy, and how that is to be accomplished…. Read more »

Parashah #27 Tazria (She conceives) Vayikra (Leviticus) 12:1-13:59

Beth Elohim Messianic Synagogue Parashah #27: Tazria (She conceives) Vayikra (Leviticus) 12:1-13:59 Haftara: M’lakhim Bet (2 Kings) 4:42-5:19 Brit Chadashah: Luke 2:22-4; 5:12-16 • This parashah is read with #28 in regular years This week we are going to focus on the first two paragraphs of this parashah in depth, then discuss tzara’at which can… Read more »