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Beth Emanuel Synagogue, A Messianic Jewish Congregation in Holbrook, New York
I’d like to share from the last verse of the Haftarah reading.
Isaiah 60:22 – “The smallest will grow to a thousand, the weakest will become a mighty nation. I, Adonai, when the right time comes, will quickly bring it about.”
Leviticus 14.1-15.33, 2 Kings 7:3-20
Today’s Haftarah connection to the Torah reading is that it is a story about four men who have leprosy. The army of Aram has gathered against the people of Israel and it does not look good. There is no food in the city. They consider all their options and realize death is going to be the result of most of them unless they can somehow throw themselves on the mercy of the army of Aram.
Read MoreIn both the Torah and Haftarah readings we are dealing with the subject of an infectious skin disease which many translate as leprosy. This portion gives a detailed account of how to determine if one has this disease, the treatment of one with this disease and how to be cleansed if one is healed of the disease. One of the most important things to note is that if one is found to have this disease they are separated from the rest of the camp. They no longer have a home. They must give up their family and friends. They no longer have a job or place in the community.
Read MoreToday’s parsha is entitled Terumah which means offering. It details for us the instructions for building the mishkan-tabernacle. Specific directions are given for each article within the tabernacle as well as the tabernacle itself. In addition, Adonai gives specific materials that must be used. There were to be no substitutes. The Haftarah is found in Melachim Aleph 5-6. This gives us the story of King Shlomo building the Holy Temple for Adonai.
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