Featured Posts

Parashat Ki Tisa - Exodus 30:11-34:35 Your Rules or Mine? For the last few Torah portions we have been reading and learning about the construction of the Tabernacle and everything that needed to be done for it to function properly. Over the last several chapters Hashem has been dictating to Moses the exact instructions for the Tabernacle and its furnishings, as well as the garments for the kohanim (priests). This week’s parashah concludes these instructions. However, immediately upon giving the last instruction regarding who was to be in charge of all of the craftsmanship, Hashem gives the Children of Israel a stern and detailed warning that none of these things were to be done on Shabbat: read more »	Parashat Tetzaveh - Exodus 27:20-30:10 The Degradation of Holiness After the instructions for making the oil for the Temple menorah, parashat Tetzave is primarily focused on the consecration of the kohanim (priests), including how their priestly garments are to be tailored. As part of the consecration ceremony, Aaron and his sons are instructed to offer up a ram and eat it at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting: You shall take the ram of ordination and boil its flesh in a holy place. And Aaron and his sons shall eat the flesh of the ram and the bread that is in the basket in the entrance of the tent of meeting. They shall eat those things with which atonement was made at their ordination and consecration, but an outsider shall not eat of them, because they are holy. (Exodus 29:31–33) read more »
Parashat Terumah - Exodus 25:1-27:19 The Forest Hidden Behind the Trees Parashat Terumah opens with God giving Moses instructions for the building of the Mishkan, the Holy Tabernacle. When reading through this section of the Torah, and the portions that follow, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with all of the details given that describe how the Tabernacle was to be constructed. We read about planks of acacia wood, gold, silver, bronze, multi-colored yarn, linen, goats’ hair, rams’ skins, and more. We read about how each individual item had to be so many cubits wide, or so many handbreadths thick. There are so many details that many people are tempted to skip ahead and try to find where the storyline picks back up. read more »	Parashat Terumah - Exodus 25:1-27:19 The Bridge Up until Parashat Terumah we hear nothing mentioned about a plan to build a Mishkan, a Tabernacle. God had delivered the Children of Israel from Egypt, taken them to be his Am Segulah (Treasured People), and given them His Torah. It seemed like a finished product, with the exception of taking them to their land. Now, however, Moses comes back down Mt. Sinai and begins communicating the plans Hashem has given him to build a portable structure that they would set up and tear down at each of their encampments. The Mishkan would become a holy edifice that will allow interaction between God and man. It would be something like a portal by which the priesthood will be able to enter the presence of the Almighty, similar to what only Moses was allowed to do thus far. But in order to accomplish this momentous task, the Children of Israel would have to work together for this common cause. The Torah records for us Hashem’s request: read more »
A Million Dreams for the Future What images come to mind when you think of the future? Many people think of science fiction images of space travel, advanced technology, and dystopian societies. When I think of the future, I think of something quite different. Let me explain… You may have heard of the movie, The Greatest Showman. It’s a modern musical, a re-telling of the story of P. T. Barnum, the creator of the famous Barnum & Bailey Circus. According to the movie, Barnum had an amazing vision for the future. And no matter what cards were stacked against him or obstacles that were placed in his way, he rose above them to build that dream. All men were equal in his eyes and he saw how handicaps and hindrances in life could be turned to their advantage. The chorus to the opening song, A Million Dreams, is a loud message of what the script-writer saw as Barnum's hope for the future: read more »	Parashat Mishpatim - Exodus 21:1-24:18 Acting On Behalf Of God Although Parashat Mishpatim is just over three chapters in length, it contains over fifty of the six hundred and thirteen commandments. It is densely packed with various commandments, particularly those involving civil issues. There’s a problem, however, with the application of these commandments if we are attempting to follow a literal reading of the text. Here is an example: For every breach of trust, whether it is for an ox, for a donkey, for a sheep, for a cloak, or for any kind of lost thing, of which one says, ‘This is it,’ the case of both parties shall come before God. The one whom God condemns shall pay double to his neighbor. (Exodus 22:9) read more »

Welcome

Welcome to Emet HaTorah, where we connect disciples of Yeshua to the eternal Torah of God. We're blessed to have you here! We hope to be an online source for discipleship resources from a Messianic Jewish perspective. If you're new to Emet HaTorah have a look around and enjoy some of our online teaching resources and sign up for email updates. You'll be blessed!