The Shabbat

In 1989 I began reading more and more about the Shabbat and was struggling on whether to keep it or not. I did not grow up keeping the Shabbat, and when I came to know the Lord we were not keeping the Shabbat. I was growing in the Lord and…

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Summary of Haftarah Terumah

1 Kings 5:26-6:13 In Haftarat Terumah, King Solomon makes a covenant of peace with Hiram of Tyre and secures a trade agreement. Hiram supplies Solomon with timber and craftsmen for the construction of the Temple in exchange for agricultural produce. Solomon an Israelite labor force to prepare the materials for…

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Summary of Haftarat Shemot

Summary of Haftarat Shemot Isaiah 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23 (Messianic addition by FFOZ to 28:16) Isaiah 27:6-28:13 spans several different poetic units. Each is a self-contained oracle. The first verse of the haftarah is actually the last verse of an oracle we can call “The Vinedresser’s Song.” The haftarah concludes part way…

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Summary of Haftarat Vayechi

Haftarat Vayechi 1 Kings 2:1-12 From his deathbed, David charges his son Solomon to keep the Torah and take care of some unfinished matters. He tells him to put Joab to death for the murders of Abner and Amasa. David tells Solomon to reward Barzillai’s sons for the kindness their…

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Summary of Haftarat Chayei Sarah

Haftarat Chayei Sarah “Life of Sarah” 1 King 1:1-40 This week’s haftarah portion tells the story of Solomon’s succession to his father David’s throne. The book of 1 Kings opens with a depiction of King David in his last days, infirm and bedridden. His servants bring him a young, beautiful…

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Summary of Haftarah Vayera

Summary of Haftarat Vayera 2 Kings 4:1-37 The haftarah portion for Vayera contains two stories about Elisha the prophet. The first relates of a story of a widowed woman who is about to lose her sons to her creditors. She appealed to Elisha for help. He instructed her to collect…

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Summary of Haftara Lech lecha

Haftarat Lech Lecha Isaiah 40:27-41:16 In the haftarah portion for Lech Lecha, God tells the exiles of Israel that He has not forgotten them Their plight is a matter of His concern, and He is sending redemption. He tells Israel to take courage because He cares for them, and He…

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Summary of Haftarat Shabbat Machar Chodesh

Summary of Haftarat Shabbat Machar Chodesh The Talmud says that  “if the new moon falls on the first day of the week, then the haftarah read on the day before is the passage that beings with the word [of 1 Samuel 20:18} “ Tomorrow in the new moon. That is…

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Summary of Haftarat Nitzavim

Summary of Haftarat Nitzavim Isaiah 61:10-63:9 The haftarah for Shabbat Nitzavim is the last in a series of seven successive haftarah readings that follow the Fast of Av and the anniversary of the destruction of Jerusalem. The Seven Consolations, each drawn from Isaiah’s Book of Consolations (Isaiah 40-66), offer words…

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