haftarah

  • After He Had Let Go

    This portion takes us through the beginning journey of the Israelites out of Egypt, to the parting of the Red Sea, to the bitter water at Marah, to Elim with twelve springs and seventy palm trees, to the wilderness of… Continue reading

    After He Had Let Go
  • Bo (Go)

    This portion is absolutely full this week, so I will have to be selective about what I discuss. It was during the week of this appointed portion that I was born. It includes the last three plagues of Egypt: locusts… Continue reading

    Bo (Go)
  • “I Appeared” as the Serpent Lifted Up

    This portion of Exodus takes us from God’s imperative on Moses to prophesy to the Hebrews and to Pharaoh, through the initial showdown between Moses and Pharoah’s magicians in Pharoah’s courtroom, and through the first seven plagues on Egypt. Continue reading

    “I Appeared” as the Serpent Lifted Up
  • He Lived: The Lion of the Last Days

    I am very excited about this portion because it contains “one of the most widely accepted Messianic prophecies in Judaism” (CJSB, 66). The siddur (Jewish prayer book), the Targum of Onkelos, the Jerusalem Targum, and Rashi (a very notable rabbinic… Continue reading

    He Lived: The Lion of the Last Days
  • He Approach: to Live Among Us

    The sages taught of two different messiahs, Messiah ben Joseph and Messiah ben Judah. This week’s parsha and haftarah reveals the mystery of the two messiahs becoming one and how God used Ezekiel to reveal it. Continue reading

    He Approach: to Live Among Us
  • At the End: The Suspense of the Latter Days

    This portion begins with Pharoah’s dream and ends with the dramatic climax between Joseph and his brothers, who still didn’t know it was him. Their money they tried to buy grain with had been returned to their bags with their… Continue reading

    At the End: The Suspense of the Latter Days
  • He Sent: Jacob and the Son

    In this portion, there is a lot to cover, but I will focus on the relationship between Esau and Jacob and Jacob’s faith in God, foreshadowing the Messiah and how believers can hold the same faith of Jacob in times… Continue reading

    He Sent: Jacob and the Son
  • In the Beginning: Remaking of You

    The Very first prophecy we have of the Messiah comes immediately after the first sin was committed. Eve ate the fruit she was told by God not to eat, and she shared with Adam. The serpent’s deception had worked. The… Continue reading

    In the Beginning: Remaking of You
  • Noah: Mercy Triumphs over Judgement

    God promised Noah he wouldn’t flood the earth again, not because future generations would be any better than the past ones (He actually said human hearts are still evil from youth (Gen. 6:5, 8:21), but because God chose mercy for… Continue reading

    Noah: Mercy Triumphs over Judgement
  • Nitzavim: He is Coming and His Reward and Recompense Is with Him

    This section of Isiah and the next several chapters that follow describe the Messiah who will come and conquer Israel’s enemies, Messiah ben Judah. Christians believe this is the prophetic description of the second coming of the Messiah. The nations… Continue reading

    Nitzavim: He is Coming and His Reward and Recompense Is with Him