Jacob Ben Avraham

GENESIS 1 "In the Beginning....God... There is so much to teach in the first three chapters, that it would take many pages of learning and teaching. So, perhaps we can go to the highlights. Touch on some important issues and facts about creation. "In the beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth." (Hebrew): "B'resheet Bara Elohim, Et HaShamayim v'Et HaAretz" In Hebrew, there are 7 words, 7 is the perfect number of God. It reads; "in the beginning" but the beginning of what? Everything has a beginning. The school year has a "beginning" children "begin" school at age 5 or 6. So, what is this "beginning?" We can say this; God is from eternity past, He is present, and he will be in eternity future. He lives in the infinite and finite realms. Yet he created "time" for mankind. "Time" is the finite realm. So, we could say this is the "beginning" of time as we know it. Before the "Beginning," only God and eternity past existed. He broke the eternal silence and "began" his wonderful creation of everything. Genesis states that the earth was formless, yet all the matter was in place. In verse 1 we have "space', "time", and "matter" (mass + energy). There was "water and darkness" yet the "spirit of Elohim" was over the deep. He is getting ready to make something out of the formless mass of matter. There is both "spiritual darkness" and "physical darkness" We need the physical darkness to sleep at night, and many animals do their hunting at night, yet spiritual darkness is the absence of God's "light of the gospel" the absence of Yeshua/Jesus in our life. God speaks into existence all that comes. The word "create" is "bara" which is to "make something without prior material. Yet to "create with a purpose" Man was "made" (Asah) because he was made from the dust (Adamah) of the earth. God starts His creation as you can read in Genesis 1. He brings into being, the waters, land, fish, birds, vegetation, land animals, and finally mankind. We are different than the animals in that we have a personal relationship with our creator. The animals were made in "kinds" and "species" Now within each animal kind there are species, one species can mate with another within the same kind. (Dogs and cats are a perfect example). Yet a dog can not mate with a cat and produce a "pup-kitty" Mankind is not split up into "species" we are all "One Race" the "human race" Yet in humans there are physiological and psychological variations; hair color, skin color, eye shape and color, nose shape, hair texture, short people, tall people, passive people, aggressive people, etc. yet we are still "One Race". Man was made in the "image of God" The word "image" in Hebrew is "Tzelem" (shadow). "Let US make man (Adam) in OUR image (Tzalmeinu). Here Elohim is speaking as a tri-unity. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Man was made as a Holy and Sinless creation, to reflect Elohim in all his glory. He was placed into a perfect garden in an area called Eden. Since this was on the first earth before the flood, we don't know where it could have been exactly. It could have been near Syria and Iraq and perhaps even near Sudan, Somalia, and Ethiopia, as the names "Cush" and "Havilah" reflect some of those places, but we can't be sure. Man was placed inside the garden to tend it and take care of it. Man was created with the purpose to "work" When the woman was created, she joined her husband and worked together as a team. Man and woman, the animals, the garden, it was a perfect world. Man was given instructions; "Of every tree you may eat, yet of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you may not eat, because the day in which you eat of it, you shall die" I wonder if Adam even knew what "die" meant. Yet he had a choice. He received the instructions directly from God, and probably relayed the instructions to Eve when she was brought to him. Yet we all know the story. They disobeyed. They took of the forbidden fruit from the forbidden tree. The Book of Enoch describes the tree as similar to a Tamarind Tree with fruit that was similar to small grapes hanging in clusters. Adam and Eve ingested "mixed seeds" the seeds of good and the seeds of evil from that fruit. One can often wonder why did Adam also eat if he knew better. He wasn't deceived. Well, this might be an educated guess at the most. But here is a possible answer. He knew that his wife, Eve, would grow old and die someday, and he would have to live forever without his beloved wife. So, rather than doing that, he also chose to die with her, and thus, partook of the fruit. How do we see Yeshua in this? Yeshua chose to die for His beloved bride, "us" rather than to be without "us" for eternity. He partook of our curse of sin and bore it all by himself. The 1st Adam's sin produced his own death, yet the 2nd Adam's death produced life. Life for all of us, if we choose to accept His sacrifice on the cross for the sin that the first Adam brought into this world. Another aspect. How do we get "back to the Garden?" Adam and Eve were kicked out of the garden (yet still lived somewhere in Eden) but were clothed with animal skins, which was the "first sacrifice" to remind the fallen couple that their sin cost the life of an innocent animal or animals. Adam and Eve "passed the buck" when confronted. "Where are you?" asked God. This was an interior question, or rather; "Where are you in your relationship with me?" Answers; "The serpent made me eat" (The devil made me do it) and "The woman gave me to eat" but no, "LORD, we sinned and disobeyed your commandment. Please forgive us" Maybe that was what God wanted to hear. So, how do we get back into the "Garden of fellowship?' Confessing our sins to the LORD, repenting (Teshuvah) realizing that we are at fault, it is our choice to either obey or disobey. Don't blame it on someone else. The devil didn't "Make you" do it. You did it because you chose to. I believe that someday, when we have a "new earth" the Garden of Eden will be re-established, and we will be able to visit it. (Sure hope so). this is about 10% of what I really wanted to share. Ben Avraham Congregacion Salem in San Salvador El Salvador. Out of Eden came forth a river to water the garden

2 Timothy 3:16-17 Complete Jewish Bible 16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is valuable for teaching the truth, convicting of sin, correcting faults, and training in right living; 17 Thus anyone who belongs to God may be fully equipped for every good work. 1. Doctrine (Teaching the truth) what does this mean? The Torah(Bible) teaches us that God is perfect in all ways, perfect in Holiness, and has existed from eternity past, is present now, and will exist in eternity future. God made man (and woman) in HIS perfect image (Tzelem) "shadow" so Adam and Eve were the walking, talking, "shadows" of the Holy God (YHVH) Yet through sin, the perfect creation of mankind was stained and became imperfect. Sin came into the world by a man (Adam) and God sought a way to redeem mankind to himself once again. This was accomplished through the "2nd Adam" (Yeshua our Messiah/Jesus The Messiah/God in the flesh) the "2nd Adam" paid for the sins of the "1st Adam" and includes everyone who has been born since then. Through the "New Birth" (John 3:3) we are "renewed" into right fellowship with our creator once again. 2. Reproof/convicting of sin/correcting faults Through Moses, God gave us the commandments which were received on Mt. Sinai. Through studying and knowledge of the commandments (613 in all) many people only recognize 10. Sin is revealed to mankind. The commandments act as a "schoolmaster" to teach us what is right and wrong, what is Holy and unholy, and what is clean and unclean. When we apply the commandments to our lives, we correct our unrighteous ways and begin walking in righteousness. (right-living). We are "righteously saved through faith in Yeshua" to begin walking a "righteous lifestyle" through obedience to HIS Word. Yes, 613 commandments were given yet not all can apply for today, especially the commandments for the animal sacrifices. 3. Training in right-living (righteousness) When we correct our faults, we look for guidance in God's WORD, and through the power of the Holy Spirit, begin the process of "right-living" or "righteousness". This is a life-long process which never ends. Righteous salvation is a "one-time event" yet "righteous living" is a constant action which is 24-7. We have been "righteously saved" to walk in "righteous works" 4. The Word of God equips us for all manner of good works (Mitzvot) and for that reason, each believer has been given gifts from the Holy Spirit to enable us to perform these works. When we put into action God's Commandments, we are putting into action good works. These will serve as "rewards" in the "World to Come". So, cease not in good works. continue steadfast until our going home. I commented on this verse in light of beginning anew the study of the Bible from Genesis 1. Our yearly Torah reading cycle. The whole Bible is "Torah" (instruction) all 66 books. The Old Testament looks forward to the New, and the New looks back to the Old. Both the Old and New Covenants tell the whole story of redemption. The Old portrays the "Tzelem Mashiach" (The Shadow of Messiah) and the New "Messiah Yeshua revealed" (The Arm of the LORD revealed) (Isaiah 53:1) May we look forward to another year of Torah study. Ben Avraham

SIMCHAT TORAH (Bible Joy) We have finished our Torah study cycle and are starting over. In many synagogues and Messianic Congregations worldwide, those who have Torah scrolls have rolled back the scrolls to Genesis to start again next week in our study of God's Word. We also did this at our congregation in San Salvador. We did something very special. All members of our congregation lined up and each one took some foreign nation's flag from a chest and held it to their heart. Then, we marched around the sanctuary and prayed for that specific nation. Each person would pray for the nation whose flag was in their hands. The Israeli flag was in front and we marched around the room 7 times. Then, all sat down and the scroll was forwarded to the end of Deuteronomy, and the last verse in Deuteronomy was read, or rather chanted. Then, the scroll was re-rolled back to Genesis, and the first verse of Genesis was chanted. A mother and her daughter helped in re-rolling the scroll back to Genesis. The "Joy of the Bible" is meaningful, in that the Bible plays an important role in our lives. B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth). We are only "visitors" and "sojourners" on this planet. We were made "perfect" and "sinless" yet when man sinned, we lost fellowship with God. The Bible helps us find our way back to God through a personal relationship with Yeshua/Jesus. The "Torah" (instruction) points us in the right direction, to help us find "the mark" on the target. The commandments help us live a righteous lifestyle before God and our fellow man. The Bible also teaches us history and errors, mistakes made by our predecessors, and warns us not to commit the same mistakes as in the past. We have 66 books written by inspired writers from all walks of life, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to give us hope. We have the written word and the Living WORD. His spirit helps us understand what is written. So that when we breathe our last, in this world, we will be welcomed by HIM in the World to Come, in the New Jerusalem. There is an interesting fact about the Hebrew Bible. In the Hebrew Bibles that include the vowel points (Nikudim) there are also musical notes below and above the Hebrew letters. Those are "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and Middle C" So, if we know what markings are which notes, then, we can actually "play' the Torah on the piano or harp. The musical code was found by Susana Haik Ventura, a French Musicologist, and was passed down to a friend of mine who plays the harp and, in turn, gave me a copy. It is interesting that the very last word in Deuteronomy is "Israel" and the first word in Genesis is "In" (The beginning). (Deuteronomy 34:12) and (Genesis 1:1) In Hebrew, the word is "Israel" and in Genesis "B'reisheet. The last letter in "Israel" is of course, the letter "l" and the first letter of Genesis is "B" (in) Now, when we join the "L" with the "B" we have the word "Lev" which, in Hebrew, is the word "heart". Is there symbolism here? One could say that "In the beginning" God had "Israel" in his "heart". He had the whole world in his heart, and Israel would be the "light to the nations" The letter "B" in the Hebrew Bible is enlarged, as it is the first letter in Genesis, it is emphasized. "B" stands for "Blessing" it also symbolizes "house" and "unity or division" What can we say about Genesis then? In the "beginning," God created planet Earth as a "house" for mankind, plant, and animal kinds. In the "beginning" before sin entered the world, the world was indeed a "blessing" for all. death did not exist, only "unity" co-existence in a human-plant-animal world. After sin entered, there was "division" The perfect environment was "split' and "divided" death now came onto the scene, for all living things. The very first verse in Genesis has a lot to say: "In the Beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth" In English, there are 10 words. Ten is the number of completion, the number of Torah. In Hebrew, the verse reads "B'reisheet Bara Elohim Et HaShamayim V'et HaAretz". There are 7 words, 7 being the perfect number of God. We have the "action" of "creation" (Bara) we have "Space" (Heavens/HaShamayim) "Time" (B'reisheet/In the Beginning) and "Matter" (HaAretz/the Earth) The word "Bara" means "creating something for a specific purpose" (not just throwing something out there and leaving it on its own) Yet, the very first word is interesting; "B'resheet" (In the beginning). But what is the "beginning?" the beginning of what? Everything has a "beginning." So, this is the "beginning of what?" One could say; "the beginning of creation, the beginning of "time" as we know it. God steps out of eternity past, speaks into existence all that was created, sets into motion the planets, the moon, etc, to create what we know as "time" (seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc) in order to relate to HIM in special days and times, seasons (moedim). what can we say? We have two timelines. The infinite line, which goes from eternity past to eternity future, yet in the middle, we have the "finite" timeline which starts in Genesis 1:1 and ends in Revelation, when we read about "New Heavens and a new earth". Another aspect or idea; There are 7 words in the first verse of Genesis. Within the 7 words, six of the words contain the letter "Aleph" which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The word "aleph" can also mean 1000 (Eleph) but in Hebrew, it is still spelled the same. Could the 6 Alephs in the first verse symbolize 6 thousand years for man on this earth? and then one thousand years for Messiah Yeshua to rule (The Millennium) equaling 7 thousand years? Well, just an idea to throw out here. Next week, we will go more into Genesis. Shalom, and pray for peace in Israel, that the war will end soon.

SIMCHAT TORAH (Bible Joy) We have finished our Torah study cycle and are starting over. In many synagogues and Messianic Congregations worldwide, those who have Torah scrolls have rolled back the scrolls to Genesis to start again next week in our study of God's Word. We also did this at our congregation in San Salvador. We did something very special. All members of our congregation lined up and each one took some foreign nation's flag from a chest and held it to their heart. Then, we marched around the sanctuary and prayed for that specific nation. Each person would pray for the nation whose flag was in their hands. The Israeli flag was in front and we marched around the room 7 times. Then, all sat down and the scroll was forwarded to the end of Deuteronomy, and the last verse in Deuteronomy was read, or rather chanted. Then, the scroll was re-rolled back to Genesis, and the first verse of Genesis was chanted. A mother and her daughter helped in re-rolling the scroll back to Genesis. The "Joy of the Bible" is meaningful, in that the Bible plays an important role in our lives. B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth). We are only "visitors" and "sojourners" on this planet. We were made "perfect" and "sinless" yet when man sinned, we lost fellowship with God. The Bible helps us find our way back to God through a personal relationship with Yeshua/Jesus. The "Torah" (instruction) points us in the right direction, to help us find "the mark" on the target. The commandments help us live a righteous lifestyle before God and our fellow man. The Bible also teaches us history and errors, mistakes made by our predecessors, and warns us not to commit the same mistakes as in the past. We have 66 books written by inspired writers from all walks of life, inspired by the Holy Spirit, to give us hope. We have the written word and the Living WORD. His spirit helps us understand what is written. So that when we breathe our last, in this world, we will be welcomed by HIM in the World to Come, in the New Jerusalem. There is an interesting fact about the Hebrew Bible. In the Hebrew Bibles that include the vowel points (Nikudim) there are also musical notes below and above the Hebrew letters. Those are "C, D, E, F, G, A, B, and Middle C" So, if we know what markings are which notes, then, we can actually "play' the Torah on the piano or harp. The musical code was found by Susana Haik Ventura, a French Musicologist, and was passed down to a friend of mine who plays the harp and, in turn, gave me a copy. It is interesting that the very last word in Deuteronomy is "Israel" and the first word in Genesis is "In" (The beginning). (Deuteronomy 34:12) and (Genesis 1:1) In Hebrew, the word is "Israel" and in Genesis "B'reisheet. The last letter in "Israel" is of course, the letter "l" and the first letter of Genesis is "B" (in) Now, when we join the "L" with the "B" we have the word "Lev" which, in Hebrew, is the word "heart". Is there symbolism here? One could say that "In the beginning" God had "Israel" in his "heart". He had the whole world in his heart, and Israel would be the "light to the nations" The letter "B" in the Hebrew Bible is enlarged, as it is the first letter in Genesis, it is emphasized. "B" stands for "Blessing" it also symbolizes "house" and "unity or division" What can we say about Genesis then? In the "beginning," God created planet Earth as a "house" for mankind, plant, and animal kinds. In the "beginning" before sin entered the world, the world was indeed a "blessing" for all. death did not exist, only "unity" co-existence in a human-plant-animal world. After sin entered, there was "division" The perfect environment was "split' and "divided" death now came onto the scene, for all living things. The very first verse in Genesis has a lot to say: "In the Beginning, God created the Heavens and the Earth" In English, there are 10 words. Ten is the number of completion, the number of Torah. In Hebrew, the verse reads "B'reisheet Bara Elohim Et HaShamayim V'et HaAretz". There are 7 words, 7 being the perfect number of God. We have the "action" of "creation" (Bara) we have "Space" (Heavens/HaShamayim) "Time" (B'reisheet/In the Beginning) and "Matter" (HaAretz/the Earth) The word "Bara" means "creating something for a specific purpose" (not just throwing something out there and leaving it on its own) Yet, the very first word is interesting; "B'resheet" (In the beginning). But what is the "beginning?" the beginning of what? Everything has a "beginning." So, this is the "beginning of what?" One could say; "the beginning of creation, the beginning of "time" as we know it. God steps out of eternity past, speaks into existence all that was created, sets into motion the planets, the moon, etc, to create what we know as "time" (seconds, minutes, hours, days, etc) in order to relate to HIM in special days and times, seasons (moedim). what can we say? We have two timelines. The infinite line, which goes from eternity past to eternity future, yet in the middle, we have the "finite" timeline which starts in Genesis 1:1 and ends in Revelation, when we read about "New Heavens and a new earth". Another aspect or idea; There are 7 words in the first verse of Genesis. Within the 7 words, six of the words contain the letter "Aleph" which is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The word "aleph" can also mean 1000 (Eleph) but in Hebrew, it is still spelled the same. Could the 6 Alephs in the first verse symbolize 6 thousand years for man on this earth? and then one thousand years for Messiah Yeshua to rule (The Millennium) equaling 7 thousand years? Well, just an idea to throw out here. Next week, we will go more into Genesis. Shalom, and pray for peace in Israel, that the war will end soon.

vi) 33 Adonai said to Moshe, 34 “Tell the people of Yisrael, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of Sukkot for seven days to Adonai. 35 On the first day there is to be a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work. 36 For seven days you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai; on the eighth day you are to have a holy convocation and bring an offering made by fire to Adonai; it is a day of public assembly; do not do any kind of ordinary work. 37 “‘These are the designated times of Adonai that you are to proclaim as holy convocations and bring an offering made by fire to Adonai — a burnt offering, a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, each on its own day — 38 besides the Shabbats of Adonai, your gifts, all your vows and all your voluntary offerings that you give to Adonai. 39 “‘But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of Adonai seven days; the first day is to be a complete rest and the eighth day is to be a complete rest. (40) On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches, and river willows, and celebrate in the presence of Adonai your God for seven days. (41) You are to observe it as a feast to Adonai seven days in the year; it is a permanent regulation, generation after generation; keep it in the seventh month. (42) You are to live in sukkot for seven days; every citizen of Yisrael is to live in a sukkah, (43) so that generation after generation of you will know that I made the people of Yisrael live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am Adonai your God.’” (44) Thus Moshe announced to the people of Yisrael the designated times of Adonai. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ So, we ask ourselves, what is this festival all about? Many might think; "This is a Jewish festival, for the Jewish people" yet when we read verse 37, it reads; "these are the designated times of ADONAI" These are God's Holy convocations, it was just announced first to the people of Israel. These are the fall festivals that symbolize the second coming of Yeshua/Jesus. Of course we do not sacrifice animals like before in ancient times, because Yeshua/Jesus was the "ultimate" and "sacrifice Lamb of God". This year, Sukkot, or the "Feast of Tabernacles" started on Friday evening, the 29th of September, and this festival will continue for 7 days, and on the 8th day, (October 7th) will be a special time for rejoicing in the Torah/Bible. Praising God and giving thanks that we have HIS Word in our midst. This is a time when we celebrate the harvest of the fruits of trees. During the time of Passover, it was the harvest time for Barley, then on Pentecost or Shavuot, it was the wheat harvest time, and now during Sukkot, it is time to harvest the fruits of trees and vines, such as grapes, olives, dates, figs, apples, oranges, etc. It is a time to build or spend time in temporary shelters called "Sukkot" or just "huts" (the Israelites lived in tents). It is the time to remember how the people of Israel used to live. Now, not all can do this, if there is no space on property or those who live in flats or apartments, it would be kind of difficult, but one can still take time to study the WORD of God. Just like many people will put out a manger with baby Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, the animals, during Christmas. One could take some small sturdy branches from trees, put them together to form a square, and then cover 4 sides with leaves and plants, leaving the front part open. Inside one could put fruit, could be artificial or real. This is just a suggestion. It symbolizes this time of harvest blessings that God has given us at this time. The time of Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims when they came to the New World in 1620, was celebrated in 1621, and the "Thanksgiving" celebration was fashioned after Sukkot. It is customary to make "Lulav" as stated in verse (40) using those plants and fruit. The "Etrog" is a lemon-like fruit that grows in Israel, yet many people just use large yellow lemons. the word ETROG is the acronym for "Emunah" (faith) "Teshuvah" (repentance) "Refuah" (healing) "Ge-ulah" (redemption) The "Lulav" itself is the tip of a date palm frond. But many people just use a palm branch if a date palm frond cannot be found. The Word "LuLav" can be symbolized as "to him" "heart" (my). "To Him (God) I give my heart" We have the "Hadas" or "leafy branches from a myrtle tree" or any "leafy" tree if one doesn't have a myrtle tree around. The leaves resemble "eyes" yet there are many leaves that resemble "eyes" in their shapes. These symbolize "vision" and "insight" We have the "Aravah" or "branches of a willow tree" These can symbolize humility, also, victory over the enemy. All these are wrapped together to form a Boquete. During the ceremony, this Boquete is "waved" from up to down, from right, to left, front, and behind, symbolizing the blessings of God that come from Heaven to Earth, to bless all nations with harvest blessings, nations in the East, the West, the North, and South. When we look at this from a Messianic view, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) is the "First Fruits" in Resurrection, who ascended to Heaven from Earth, and will return from Heaven to Earth and will bless all nations in all directions of the earth with his presence during 1000 years. During this festival time, Jerusalem was all lit up with 75-foot poles with oil lamps on top, lighting all of Jerusalem and the towns around the area. This was when Jesus stated; "I am the Light of the World" (John 8:12) " because he was there at that festival. On the 8th day, the Great Day of the Feast, the Levite priests brought up water from the Pool of Siloam and poured out the water on the altar in the temple in a ritual. This was when Yeshua stated: "I am the Living Water" (John 7:37) There is so much more, but I'll leave it here for now. May your understanding of God's Word be blessed, especially during this time. Ben Avraham Congregacion "Salem" San Salvador, El Salvador.

vi) 33 Adonai said to Moshe, 34 “Tell the people of Yisrael, ‘On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of Sukkot for seven days to Adonai. 35 On the first day there is to be a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work. 36 For seven days you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai; on the eighth day you are to have a holy convocation and bring an offering made by fire to Adonai; it is a day of public assembly; do not do any kind of ordinary work. 37 “‘These are the designated times of Adonai that you are to proclaim as holy convocations and bring an offering made by fire to Adonai — a burnt offering, a grain offering, a sacrifice and drink offerings, each on its own day — 38 besides the Shabbats of Adonai, your gifts, all your vows and all your voluntary offerings that you give to Adonai. 39 “‘But on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you have gathered the produce of the land, you are to observe the festival of Adonai seven days; the first day is to be a complete rest and the eighth day is to be a complete rest. (40) On the first day you are to take choice fruit, palm fronds, thick branches, and river willows, and celebrate in the presence of Adonai your God for seven days. (41) You are to observe it as a feast to Adonai seven days in the year; it is a permanent regulation, generation after generation; keep it in the seventh month. (42) You are to live in sukkot for seven days; every citizen of Yisrael is to live in a sukkah, (43) so that generation after generation of you will know that I made the people of Yisrael live in sukkot when I brought them out of the land of Egypt; I am Adonai your God.’” (44) Thus Moshe announced to the people of Yisrael the designated times of Adonai. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ So, we ask ourselves, what is this festival all about? Many might think; "This is a Jewish festival, for the Jewish people" yet when we read verse 37, it reads; "these are the designated times of ADONAI" These are God's Holy convocations, it was just announced first to the people of Israel. These are the fall festivals that symbolize the second coming of Yeshua/Jesus. Of course we do not sacrifice animals like before in ancient times, because Yeshua/Jesus was the "ultimate" and "sacrifice Lamb of God". This year, Sukkot, or the "Feast of Tabernacles" started on Friday evening, the 29th of September, and this festival will continue for 7 days, and on the 8th day, (October 7th) will be a special time for rejoicing in the Torah/Bible. Praising God and giving thanks that we have HIS Word in our midst. This is a time when we celebrate the harvest of the fruits of trees. During the time of Passover, it was the harvest time for Barley, then on Pentecost or Shavuot, it was the wheat harvest time, and now during Sukkot, it is time to harvest the fruits of trees and vines, such as grapes, olives, dates, figs, apples, oranges, etc. It is a time to build or spend time in temporary shelters called "Sukkot" or just "huts" (the Israelites lived in tents). It is the time to remember how the people of Israel used to live. Now, not all can do this, if there is no space on property or those who live in flats or apartments, it would be kind of difficult, but one can still take time to study the WORD of God. Just like many people will put out a manger with baby Jesus, Joseph, and Mary, the animals, during Christmas. One could take some small sturdy branches from trees, put them together to form a square, and then cover 4 sides with leaves and plants, leaving the front part open. Inside one could put fruit, could be artificial or real. This is just a suggestion. It symbolizes this time of harvest blessings that God has given us at this time. The time of Thanksgiving by the Pilgrims when they came to the New World in 1620, was celebrated in 1621, and the "Thanksgiving" celebration was fashioned after Sukkot. It is customary to make "Lulav" as stated in verse (40) using those plants and fruit. The "Etrog" is a lemon-like fruit that grows in Israel, yet many people just use large yellow lemons. the word ETROG is the acronym for "Emunah" (faith) "Teshuvah" (repentance) "Refuah" (healing) "Ge-ulah" (redemption) The "Lulav" itself is the tip of a date palm frond. But many people just use a palm branch if a date palm frond cannot be found. The Word "LuLav" can be symbolized as "to him" "heart" (my). "To Him (God) I give my heart" We have the "Hadas" or "leafy branches from a myrtle tree" or any "leafy" tree if one doesn't have a myrtle tree around. The leaves resemble "eyes" yet there are many leaves that resemble "eyes" in their shapes. These symbolize "vision" and "insight" We have the "Aravah" or "branches of a willow tree" These can symbolize humility, also, victory over the enemy. All these are wrapped together to form a Boquete. During the ceremony, this Boquete is "waved" from up to down, from right, to left, front, and behind, symbolizing the blessings of God that come from Heaven to Earth, to bless all nations with harvest blessings, nations in the East, the West, the North, and South. When we look at this from a Messianic view, Messiah Yeshua (Jesus Christ) is the "First Fruits" in Resurrection, who ascended to Heaven from Earth, and will return from Heaven to Earth and will bless all nations in all directions of the earth with his presence during 1000 years. During this festival time, Jerusalem was all lit up with 75-foot poles with oil lamps on top, lighting all of Jerusalem and the towns around the area. This was when Jesus stated; "I am the Light of the World" (John 8:12) " because he was there at that festival. On the 8th day, the Great Day of the Feast, the Levite priests brought up water from the Pool of Siloam and poured out the water on the altar in the temple in a ritual. This was when Yeshua stated: "I am the Living Water" (John 7:37) There is so much more, but I'll leave it here for now. May your understanding of God's Word be blessed, especially during this time. Ben Avraham Congregacion "Salem" San Salvador, El Salvador.

YOM KIPPUR (Leviticus 16:1-32) This year Yom Kippur, started September 24 (Sunday) and ended September 25 (Monday evening). On The Hebrew calendar, it is always on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. It is a time of fasting and prayer, a time of getting right with God again, and with our family, and neighbors, those around us, it is the holiest time of year. The Hebraic belief was that on Yom Kippur, God's books were closed and those whose names were written in the "Book of Life" were "safe". Those whose names were NOT written would have to wait until next Yom Kippur. Yom Teruah, the day of Trumpet sounding was a reminder and a wake-up call, to start getting right with God, because on Yom Kippur, the destiny of each person would be "signed and sealed" sort of. Yet, as believers, we know that the mercy of God is always there. His "book of Life" is open 24-7 to whoever would repent and accept Jesus/Yeshua as LORD and Savior. As long as the breath of life is within us, as long as our hearts beat, we still have a chance. Yom Kippur was the time when the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies, in the Tabernacle, and in the Temple, Only once a year could he do this, and offered a bull for himself and for his family, for the atonement of their sins, a bull represented strength, and the ancient symbol of God was shown by the outline of a bull's head with horns, that was the ancient Hebrew letter "alef" He also took two goats. One he would sacrifice, and, like with the bull, sprinkle the blood on the altar and on the covering of the Ark of the Covenant (Ha Aron Ha Kodesh) and on the altar, and the other, he would place his hands on its head and symbolically placed all of the sins of Israel, on that goat, then let it go into the wilderness, never to return. These spoke of two things, Messiah Yeshua paid our price in full on Calvary, by His one-time sacrifice and atonement, of His own blood, and our sins were "cast into the sea, never to return" and "as far as the East is from the West, so our sins are separated from us" never to meet. But the Yom Kippur (Yom Ha Kippurim) "Day of Coverings" had to go on year after year, and so, sins were only "covered" for one year at a time, but when Messiah Yeshua took our sins to himself on Calvary, our sins were paid for and atoned once and forever, so, his one-time-only sacrifice was good for all time. Even the Apostle Paul said that we are "under a better covenant" which is based on the blood of Yeshua and not on the blood of animals. In the Tabernacle and Temple times, a red cord was tied on the horns of the "scapegoat." When the scapegoat was taken to a cliff and pushed over so it would die, the scarlet cord turned white, stating that God accepted the sacrifice. However, 40 years before the destruction of the temple by the Roman Emperor Titus in 70 C.E. that cord stopped turning white, it stayed red. This indicated that the sacrifice was no longer valid. The only "valid" sacrifice was that of YESHUA, who was the "sacrifice Lamb" once and forever. God has reached down to you through YESHUA, have you reached up to him? "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18) Ben Avraham

YOM KIPPUR (Leviticus 16:1-32) This year Yom Kippur, started September 24 (Sunday) and ended September 25 (Monday evening). On The Hebrew calendar, it is always on the 10th day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei. It is a time of fasting and prayer, a time of getting right with God again, and with our family, and neighbors, those around us, it is the holiest time of year. The Hebraic belief was that on Yom Kippur, God's books were closed and those whose names were written in the "Book of Life" were "safe". Those whose names were NOT written would have to wait until next Yom Kippur. Yom Teruah, the day of Trumpet sounding was a reminder and a wake-up call, to start getting right with God, because on Yom Kippur, the destiny of each person would be "signed and sealed" sort of. Yet, as believers, we know that the mercy of God is always there. His "book of Life" is open 24-7 to whoever would repent and accept Jesus/Yeshua as LORD and Savior. As long as the breath of life is within us, as long as our hearts beat, we still have a chance. Yom Kippur was the time when the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies, in the Tabernacle, and in the Temple, Only once a year could he do this, and offered a bull for himself and for his family, for the atonement of their sins, a bull represented strength, and the ancient symbol of God was shown by the outline of a bull's head with horns, that was the ancient Hebrew letter "alef" He also took two goats. One he would sacrifice, and, like with the bull, sprinkle the blood on the altar and on the covering of the Ark of the Covenant (Ha Aron Ha Kodesh) and on the altar, and the other, he would place his hands on its head and symbolically placed all of the sins of Israel, on that goat, then let it go into the wilderness, never to return. These spoke of two things, Messiah Yeshua paid our price in full on Calvary, by His one-time sacrifice and atonement, of His own blood, and our sins were "cast into the sea, never to return" and "as far as the East is from the West, so our sins are separated from us" never to meet. But the Yom Kippur (Yom Ha Kippurim) "Day of Coverings" had to go on year after year, and so, sins were only "covered" for one year at a time, but when Messiah Yeshua took our sins to himself on Calvary, our sins were paid for and atoned once and forever, so, his one-time-only sacrifice was good for all time. Even the Apostle Paul said that we are "under a better covenant" which is based on the blood of Yeshua and not on the blood of animals. In the Tabernacle and Temple times, a red cord was tied on the horns of the "scapegoat." When the scapegoat was taken to a cliff and pushed over so it would die, the scarlet cord turned white, stating that God accepted the sacrifice. However, 40 years before the destruction of the temple by the Roman Emperor Titus in 70 C.E. that cord stopped turning white, it stayed red. This indicated that the sacrifice was no longer valid. The only "valid" sacrifice was that of YESHUA, who was the "sacrifice Lamb" once and forever. God has reached down to you through YESHUA, have you reached up to him? "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. (Isaiah 1:18) Ben Avraham

Numbers 29:1-6 and the "Day of Trumpet Blowing" 29 “‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work; it is a day of blowing the shofar for you. 2 Prepare a burnt offering to make a fragrant aroma for Adonai — one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect — 3 with their grain offering, consisting of fine flour mixed with olive oil — six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the ram, 4 and two quarts for each of the seven lambs — 5 also one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. 6 This is to be in addition to the burnt offering for Rosh-Hodesh with its grain offering, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to the rule for them; this will be a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire to Adonai. In the Messianic Jewish circles, we know this time as "Rosh HaShannah" or "Yom Teruah" (Head of the Year) and (Day of Blowing the trumpet). But is it only for Jews, or for all believers? In Leviticus 23, God is proclaiming these feast days, or days of celebration as "my feasts." They were given to the Children of Israel first, but more were added to the Community of Israel. All believers have been "grafted in" to the Olive Tree. If these are "God's feast days" then they are for ALL who love God and who want to follow His Word. The sacrificial animals in the passage above all are "Shadows" of Messiah Yeshua. They all point to Yeshua/Jesus who gave His life on Calvary's cross and took away the curse of sin and death. The bull symbolizes God as "All-powerful and mighty" as the bull was one of the most powerful animals of the herds in those days. The ram symbolizes the substitute for Isaac when Abraham offered him as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. Isaac symbolizes all of us and the ram, our LORD and Savior who took our place. The 7 lambs, "7" is the number of perfection, and the lambs are "The perfect Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world." The grain offering = Yeshua, the Bread of Life; the oil = the Holy Spirit. The male goat reminds us of Yom Kippur, when two goats were presented. One was sacrificed and the other was sent away carrying our sins. This symbolizes "The Lamb of God who took upon the sins of the world and sent away our sins, never to return. The drink offerings consisted of wine, symbolizing the blood of Yeshua. As we can see, these are all the "shadows" of Messiah, who fulfilled them all. The blowing of the trumpet (Israel had silver trumpets) and also the shofar (rams horns and horns of an African antelope, a Kudu) were used during this time. Today we use the rams' horns and antelope horns. The sound of the trumpet is a "wake-up call" to announce "the King is coming. The first 4 feast days (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Shavuot) were fulfilled in the first coming of Messiah Yeshua. The death of Messiah, who was the unleavened Bread of Life, the First Fruits of resurrection, and the Coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost/Shavuot. The fall feasts are; Yom Teruah or Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles. These proclaim the 2nd coming of Messiah, who will come to be crowned King of this earth and all the universe, who gave his life for atonement of our sins, and will come to "tabernacle" among us for One Thousand years and for all eternity. (I guess Yom Kipper can be considered fulfilled at Calvary too). The 4 sounds of the trumpet, and the sounds of "Tekia, Teruah, Shevarim, and Tekia-Gedola" are heard on Rosh HaShannah. They are the "wake-up" call for all to anticipate the second coming of Messiah, a time to cry and sob for our sinfulness and to repent, a time for sadness at the passing of the year, and joy for the coming of this new year. There are two major "new years" in the Bible, Passover marks the month of Nissan, and the "religious" new year. Rosh HaShannah marks the new agricultural year, and the new "calendar year" We are now in the year 5784 (after the creation of the world). Just like in the Gregorian calendar, there is the new solar year, January 1st, there is a "School year" which marks the beginning of school, and probably other "new years" The final trumpet sound "Tekia Gedola" reminds us of when the church will be taken up after the dead in Christ are risen first. We know this as the "rapture" or the "taking away of..." all believers in Messiah; "At the final trumpet call" the "Tekia Gedolah" It is customary to eat apples dipped in honey on Rosh HaShannah and to dance praise and worship songs. It is a time of joy, we want the king to come, and to come soon. Maybe this year, or...the next. Ben Avraham The Fig Tree and Yeshua Ministries in El Salvador

Numbers 29:1-6 and the "Day of Trumpet Blowing" 29 “‘In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you are to have a holy convocation; do not do any kind of ordinary work; it is a day of blowing the shofar for you. 2 Prepare a burnt offering to make a fragrant aroma for Adonai — one young bull, one ram, and seven male lambs in their first year and without defect — 3 with their grain offering, consisting of fine flour mixed with olive oil — six quarts for the bull, four quarts for the ram, 4 and two quarts for each of the seven lambs — 5 also one male goat as a sin offering to make atonement for you. 6 This is to be in addition to the burnt offering for Rosh-Hodesh with its grain offering, the regular burnt offering with its grain offering, and their drink offerings, according to the rule for them; this will be a fragrant aroma, an offering made by fire to Adonai. In the Messianic Jewish circles, we know this time as "Rosh HaShannah" or "Yom Teruah" (Head of the Year) and (Day of Blowing the trumpet). But is it only for Jews, or for all believers? In Leviticus 23, God is proclaiming these feast days, or days of celebration as "my feasts." They were given to the Children of Israel first, but more were added to the Community of Israel. All believers have been "grafted in" to the Olive Tree. If these are "God's feast days" then they are for ALL who love God and who want to follow His Word. The sacrificial animals in the passage above all are "Shadows" of Messiah Yeshua. They all point to Yeshua/Jesus who gave His life on Calvary's cross and took away the curse of sin and death. The bull symbolizes God as "All-powerful and mighty" as the bull was one of the most powerful animals of the herds in those days. The ram symbolizes the substitute for Isaac when Abraham offered him as a sacrifice on Mt. Moriah. Isaac symbolizes all of us and the ram, our LORD and Savior who took our place. The 7 lambs, "7" is the number of perfection, and the lambs are "The perfect Lamb of God who took away the sins of the world." The grain offering = Yeshua, the Bread of Life; the oil = the Holy Spirit. The male goat reminds us of Yom Kippur, when two goats were presented. One was sacrificed and the other was sent away carrying our sins. This symbolizes "The Lamb of God who took upon the sins of the world and sent away our sins, never to return. The drink offerings consisted of wine, symbolizing the blood of Yeshua. As we can see, these are all the "shadows" of Messiah, who fulfilled them all. The blowing of the trumpet (Israel had silver trumpets) and also the shofar (rams horns and horns of an African antelope, a Kudu) were used during this time. Today we use the rams' horns and antelope horns. The sound of the trumpet is a "wake-up call" to announce "the King is coming. The first 4 feast days (Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits, and Shavuot) were fulfilled in the first coming of Messiah Yeshua. The death of Messiah, who was the unleavened Bread of Life, the First Fruits of resurrection, and the Coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost/Shavuot. The fall feasts are; Yom Teruah or Rosh HaShannah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot or the Feast of Tabernacles. These proclaim the 2nd coming of Messiah, who will come to be crowned King of this earth and all the universe, who gave his life for atonement of our sins, and will come to "tabernacle" among us for One Thousand years and for all eternity. (I guess Yom Kipper can be considered fulfilled at Calvary too). The 4 sounds of the trumpet, and the sounds of "Tekia, Teruah, Shevarim, and Tekia-Gedola" are heard on Rosh HaShannah. They are the "wake-up" call for all to anticipate the second coming of Messiah, a time to cry and sob for our sinfulness and to repent, a time for sadness at the passing of the year, and joy for the coming of this new year. There are two major "new years" in the Bible, Passover marks the month of Nissan, and the "religious" new year. Rosh HaShannah marks the new agricultural year, and the new "calendar year" We are now in the year 5784 (after the creation of the world). Just like in the Gregorian calendar, there is the new solar year, January 1st, there is a "School year" which marks the beginning of school, and probably other "new years" The final trumpet sound "Tekia Gedola" reminds us of when the church will be taken up after the dead in Christ are risen first. We know this as the "rapture" or the "taking away of..." all believers in Messiah; "At the final trumpet call" the "Tekia Gedolah" It is customary to eat apples dipped in honey on Rosh HaShannah and to dance praise and worship songs. It is a time of joy, we want the king to come, and to come soon. Maybe this year, or...the next. Ben Avraham The Fig Tree and Yeshua Ministries in El Salvador

Deuteronomy 29:9-14: "You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD (YHVH) the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officers, all the men of Israel, your children and women, the proselyte who is in the midst of your camp from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water, to pass into the covenant of YHVH your Elohim who seals with you today, in order to establish you today as a people to Him........Not with you alone do I seal this covenant, but whoever is here, standing with us today before YHVH, our God, and with whoever is NOT here with us today." The grammar starts out plural (Atem) "you all" or in Texan "Ya'all" but Moses also uses the singular form of you. This is one of his final speeches as he gets ready to die, but before that, elects his successor (Joshua) to lead the people into the Promised Land. What is he saying here? He is saying that the covenant of God is a covenant relationship with ALL people, of ALL types, both genders, all professions, all job descriptions, Adonai does not leave anyone out. All Persons included (plural) to establish "Amekha" (people) as a singular, united people. As ONE nation. If this speech were intended for us, (and it is) it would probably read; "You are standing today, all of you, before God, all you mayors, governors, city council members, sanitation workers, clerks, plumbers, HVAC workers, engineers, lawyers, day-laborers, etc... To enter into covenant with God. The Mosaic covenant was based on obedience to the commandments, God's Torah, but it was also based on blood sacrifices, the blood of clean animals, whose blood "covered" sin for a year, and after Yom Kippur, for another year. All the animals sacrificed were "shadows" of "who" would come in the future to pay the price of sin, once and for all time; Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ). No wonder Paul said that the "New Covenant" was a "better" covenant, not based on the blood of animals, but on God's own blood in human form. "standing with US today..." that might include "Elohim" who is the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. and who are those who are NOT there? Were YOU there? I wasn't, and neither were you. We were all in the endless mind of God who had a special plan in time for all of us. NOW is our time, back then was the time for Moses. Entering into a special relationship with God through Yeshua is for ALL people, 24-7. Back then, they looked forward to Calvary, and we look back towards the cross. God saw the faith of those who were with Moses. God sees our faith today and will see the faith of those who will follow us. There is no excuse NOT to enter into a covenant of faith. We have ALL been counted in the Lamb's Book of Life. Deuteronomy 31: 1 "I am 120 years old today, I can no longer go out and come in..." This speech was made on Moses' birthday, whenever that was. The Bible doesn't record exact dates for birthdays, however, we know that Moses was born for a special reason and purpose. God divided his life into 3 parts; the first 40 years, the second 40 years, and the final 40 years. The first 40 were in Egypt as a prince and probably Army commander. Then, for 40 years, he was a shepherd working for Jethro, his father-in-law, (quite a change) from commanding troops to commanding sheep. Then, the final 40 as God's chosen leader to take Israel out of Egypt and lead them to the border of the Promised Land. Imagine that, he "began" his ministry at 80 years of age, before that, he was in training. "Going out and coming in" We might say that in those 40 years, we went "out" to the tent of meeting to intercede before his people, and he "came in" to the camp to convey God's messages. That might be one way we could look at that statement. Yeshua "went out" from Heaven and "came into" our lives to pay the price of sin. As He left "for Heaven" again, he ordered his disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel to all nations. He has left behind leaders, rabbis, pastors, ministers, etc to do HIS Work and teach his WORD. That includes all of us. There will be time when we will celebrate our last birthday in this world, yet continue our existence in the World to Come. Joshua (Yehoshua) or "Yeshua" took the people over the border, Yeshua will also take us over the border from planet Earth to planet Heaven, are you ready for that day? Shalom. Just returned back to El Salvador from a trip to Houston. I like the weather here better. Needed to get some papers for Salvadoran residency, I am here to stay. This Friday starts "Rosh HaShannah" or "Yom Teruah" the day of shofar sounding" get ready, the King is coming! Thessalonians 4:17

Deuteronomy 29:9-14: "You are standing today, all of you, before the LORD (YHVH) the heads of your tribes, your elders, your officers, all the men of Israel, your children and women, the proselyte who is in the midst of your camp from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of your water, to pass into the covenant of YHVH your Elohim who seals with you today, in order to establish you today as a people to Him........Not with you alone do I seal this covenant, but whoever is here, standing with us today before YHVH, our God, and with whoever is NOT here with us today." The grammar starts out plural (Atem) "you all" or in Texan "Ya'all" but Moses also uses the singular form of you. This is one of his final speeches as he gets ready to die, but before that, elects his successor (Joshua) to lead the people into the Promised Land. What is he saying here? He is saying that the covenant of God is a covenant relationship with ALL people, of ALL types, both genders, all professions, all job descriptions, Adonai does not leave anyone out. All Persons included (plural) to establish "Amekha" (people) as a singular, united people. As ONE nation. If this speech were intended for us, (and it is) it would probably read; "You are standing today, all of you, before God, all you mayors, governors, city council members, sanitation workers, clerks, plumbers, HVAC workers, engineers, lawyers, day-laborers, etc... To enter into covenant with God. The Mosaic covenant was based on obedience to the commandments, God's Torah, but it was also based on blood sacrifices, the blood of clean animals, whose blood "covered" sin for a year, and after Yom Kippur, for another year. All the animals sacrificed were "shadows" of "who" would come in the future to pay the price of sin, once and for all time; Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus the Christ). No wonder Paul said that the "New Covenant" was a "better" covenant, not based on the blood of animals, but on God's own blood in human form. "standing with US today..." that might include "Elohim" who is the Father, The Son, and the Holy Spirit. and who are those who are NOT there? Were YOU there? I wasn't, and neither were you. We were all in the endless mind of God who had a special plan in time for all of us. NOW is our time, back then was the time for Moses. Entering into a special relationship with God through Yeshua is for ALL people, 24-7. Back then, they looked forward to Calvary, and we look back towards the cross. God saw the faith of those who were with Moses. God sees our faith today and will see the faith of those who will follow us. There is no excuse NOT to enter into a covenant of faith. We have ALL been counted in the Lamb's Book of Life. Deuteronomy 31: 1 "I am 120 years old today, I can no longer go out and come in..." This speech was made on Moses' birthday, whenever that was. The Bible doesn't record exact dates for birthdays, however, we know that Moses was born for a special reason and purpose. God divided his life into 3 parts; the first 40 years, the second 40 years, and the final 40 years. The first 40 were in Egypt as a prince and probably Army commander. Then, for 40 years, he was a shepherd working for Jethro, his father-in-law, (quite a change) from commanding troops to commanding sheep. Then, the final 40 as God's chosen leader to take Israel out of Egypt and lead them to the border of the Promised Land. Imagine that, he "began" his ministry at 80 years of age, before that, he was in training. "Going out and coming in" We might say that in those 40 years, we went "out" to the tent of meeting to intercede before his people, and he "came in" to the camp to convey God's messages. That might be one way we could look at that statement. Yeshua "went out" from Heaven and "came into" our lives to pay the price of sin. As He left "for Heaven" again, he ordered his disciples to go into the world and preach the gospel to all nations. He has left behind leaders, rabbis, pastors, ministers, etc to do HIS Work and teach his WORD. That includes all of us. There will be time when we will celebrate our last birthday in this world, yet continue our existence in the World to Come. Joshua (Yehoshua) or "Yeshua" took the people over the border, Yeshua will also take us over the border from planet Earth to planet Heaven, are you ready for that day? Shalom. Just returned back to El Salvador from a trip to Houston. I like the weather here better. Needed to get some papers for Salvadoran residency, I am here to stay. This Friday starts "Rosh HaShannah" or "Yom Teruah" the day of shofar sounding" get ready, the King is coming! Thessalonians 4:17

Thanks for sharing. I have always enjoyed the ministry of writing. I have an eBook out (creative writing, faith themes) leave me a note if you want a free copy

Parashah: Ki Tetze” (when you go out) DEUT 21:10-25:19 There are many "highlights" in these chapters, many commandments that we can look at and perhaps relate them to situations in our modern day and time. In this Parashah we see a lot of common-sense mitzvoth that are for today, and we can also see some mitzvoth that we need to take a good look at to see how we can apply them, perhaps not so much literally, but spiritually and morally. In some cases, both. According to some rabbis, there are about 74 commandments within these 5 chapters, many are still for today. (We need to look at the “big picture”) But I would like to take a look at the first verse that says; “When you go out to war against your enemies…” The word “enemies” in the original Hebrew is “o’y’Veykha” In English, we see two “y” s In Hebrew, those are two “yods” In ancient Hebrew, the “yod” was a “hand”. A hand holds a weapon to fight in a war, such as a knife, sword, spear, bow and arrow, sling, etc. The rabbis of old comment that the reason for two “yods” is that we fight against two kinds of enemies, the enemy from without, meaning another person who wishes to do us harm, or harm our families, or fight against our country, and the enemy from within, meaning the “Yetzer Hara” the sin nature, perhaps even bodily diseases. Since we all have that sin nature, it is a constant fight against the enemy inside, and only through the Holy Spirit can we put it underfoot. Like the meaning of the word; “Tzadik” (one who hunts or controls his monkey) the “monkey” being the sin nature. Verse 10 talks about taking a captive woman from the enemy and making her your wife. Well, I wouldn’t recommend that very much, you might end up with your throat cut when you are sleeping. In Biblical times an Israelite soldier had the right to take a woman who was from an enemy city, once captive, and make her his wife if he chose to do so. We might ask ourselves why? Well, the soldier just might like the way she looks, but what is the “bigger picture?” The Israelite soldier shows the captive woman “compassion”. She has lost her family, her city is in ruins, and her “gods” have abandoned her. All she has now is this “soldier” who is from the nation of Israel who has brought her to his camp, his tent, and to his “One God”. Soon she will see the difference between the false gods she left behind and the one and only God; Adonai-Elohim. Perhaps she was ill-treated in her city. But here she is shown compassion. She is allowed to mourn her loss, and in time, she will learn about Adonai and perhaps even love her Israelite husband. At first, it seems to be a bad thing, but in time, it turns into a good thing. This also can be a situation with our own wives, when things happen and she is having a bad day, depressed, something has happened at work, or a family member has passed away, etc...It is up to the husband to be kind and considerate, and give her some space and just "be there" for her. Looking at this from another standpoint, we were at once a time in the enemy’s camp. We were in the camp of HaSatan, and our “bridegroom” (Yeshua) paid the price of ransom and bought our freedom with his own blood. Now he takes us “his bride” to his encampment. All believers are part of the “bride of Messiah” Baruch HaShem! And we will be HIS OWN for all eternity. Vs 18 talks about the “wayward son” in that, if he is rebellious and defiant, refusing correction, his parents have the right to take him to the “shoftim” (judges) and they would order him to be stoned. Rebellion had a death sentence connected to it. We never read in scripture that this actually happened, but it was still written down as a commandment “in case” family rebellion occurred. Try to stone a rebellious child today and you will definitely be standing before the man! (and off to prison you will go). If, as parents, we train up a child in God’s Word, and read him or her Bible stories instead of fairy tales about ghosts and Boogiemen, then, when the child grows into a youth, he or she will have a solid foundation before him/her. It is not about being stoned with rocks, it is all about following the ROCK of ages! Vs 22: Those who have received the death penalty could not be left “hanging around” from either a rope, a cross, or a stake. They had to be taken down and buried. In ancient times, a person who received the death penalty many times was displayed to the public, hanging from a rope for all to see. The dead person was taken and left hanging but had to be taken down and buried before the end of the day. Yeshua was taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb. We see many crucifixes today with Yeshua still on them, the fact is that he did NOT remain on the cross, but was buried and arose on the third day. We worship a risen Savior and not one who is still on the cross It is also good to mention the verse: "Cursed is all who hang on the tree" (Galatians 3:13; Deut 21:22) Yeshua received the curse of sin, and bore the curse for us all. Remember that the cross was made from wood, which came from a tree. Chap 22; 1-4. To help someone find a lost item is a big mitzvah, being the item a lost animal such as a dog or a cat, or a wallet, important papers, etc. Unfortunately, we live in an age of worldly materialism. The ideology is “Finders keepers losers’ weepers.” That is the philosophy of the lost world, not born-again believers. If one finds a wallet with money inside, and there is an ID, we must return it to the person, money intact! Not minus the cash. Taking the cash and returning the wallet empty just makes one a thief’ Vs 5; “A woman must not put on a man’s apparel, not a man, woman’s clothing” In Biblical times, clothing was generally the same; long, flowing tunics tied with a cloth or leather belt or sash and on the feet, sandals. There was, however, a difference between men’s and women’s tunics, perhaps in the material, color, and design being used. Today we see “unisex” clothing such as blue jeans, but even in blue jeans, there are “women’s” jeans. A man had better not put on a skirt unless he’s a Scotsman with a kilt and bagpipes. Let us abide by this commandment. Anyway, a woman looks better in a dress than in pants. (my opinion only). Vs 8; Common sense tells us that when we build a roof, and it is the type of roof where one can go up and sit down and enjoy the coolness of the evenings, one must build a fence or a wall that surrounds the roof, to keep one from falling off in case one gets too close to the edge. The Torah can be like a roof and the commandments the fence that surrounds the roof, they keep us from “falling off into sin” Vs 9; Prohibition of mixing seed, wool, and linen, mixing work animals. These all can be considered “unequally yoked” as an ox is stronger than an ass. It tends to pull stronger and the ass will just slow it down causing undue strain on both animals. Such is an unequally yoked marriage, it strains both parties and causes undue stress and tension. Mixed seeds will take out more chemicals from the soil leaving the soil useless. Wool will shrink in the hot wash and linen will not. Wool comes from an animal (sheep) and linen comes from a plant (cotton). A garment made with both wool and linen will be ruined and will be pulled apart. An unequally yoked marriage or even business partners will “pull apart” when put in “hot water” if you get my drift. Mixing a believer with a non-believer will bring on different goals, ideas, philosophies, mannerisms, etc. One will serve God the other will serve the world. The Torah makes a difference between “Kadosh” and “Non-Kadosh” the holy and the unholy. Vs 12: “You shall make Tzitziot (tassels) on the four corners of your garments” This is still for today and speaks about our relationship with Messiah Yeshua, our relationship with the Torah and the commandments. It also connects us with our Jewish culture. The number of windings and the blue thread is 7,8,11, and 13 which are significant. (7+8=15) (Yod + Hey) and 11 (Vav=6, and Hey = 5) YHVH and “Echad” (ONE in unity) (13) Chapter 24 addresses divorce, if a woman is found in “uncleanness” as some texts state, the man can divorce her. This word is connected to “nudity” and could even go as far as saying, the husband finds the wife nude with another man, (adultery) the word in Hebrew is “Ervat” (uncleanness) yet Yeshua teaches that forgiveness is more important than “putting away the wife” but…the exception remains “adultery” yet even this can be forgiven, marriage is important, and Satan will do everything in his power to destroy marriages. 24:14 “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a STRANGER (foreigner) in one of the communities of your land” Very important to know, that ALL workers, including immigrants, with or without work visas, should be respected, helped, and not HARRASSED! Hello!! The USA was founded by immigrants, Let’s do our best to pray for them, respect them, and help them. Verse 17 says; “You shall NOT subvert the RIGHTS of the stranger…” Every immigrant has the right to the “pursuit of happiness and well-being in this country called the US of A. If the immigrant is an unrepentant criminal, that is a different story. The chapter also talks about the farmer and his crops. He should let the needy take what they need and not consider it stealing. We should not look at everything with $ in mind, we should share the blessings that the LORD has given us and share them with others. 25:4; “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.” In other words, every employee has the right to his or her lunch break. The ox can work and eat at the same time since its work is demanding. 25:5-10 talks about the “Levirate marriage” when a man dies and leaves no sons, the man’s brother (if single) must marry the man’s widow so as to raise up children. Well, would this be a good thing today? There are some who would say yes, and others would say no. I’ll let you decide, If I were single and, in that situation, if I wasn’t going with anyone, well…. maybe I’d go for it, why not? (especially if she was pretty). I guess it would be good because the marriage is kept within the family. 25:13 talks about “diverse weights” very important to conduct “honest business transactions” not crooked and unfair. Unfortunately, we live in a world of greed and there are people out there, scammers, that want to get over on you. Be careful, especially on the Net. We are approaching the "High Holy Days." We need to be in a state of repentance, and of "returning to God" and making amends if we have offended others. Shalom. (I'll be out of the country for two weeks, I'll be back on September 12th) Ben Avraham

Parashah: Ki Tetze” (when you go out) DEUT 21:10-25:19 There are many "highlights" in these chapters, many commandments that we can look at and perhaps relate them to situations in our modern day and time. In this Parashah we see a lot of common-sense mitzvoth that are for today, and we can also see some mitzvoth that we need to take a good look at to see how we can apply them, perhaps not so much literally, but spiritually and morally. In some cases, both. According to some rabbis, there are about 74 commandments within these 5 chapters, many are still for today. (We need to look at the “big picture”) But I would like to take a look at the first verse that says; “When you go out to war against your enemies…” The word “enemies” in the original Hebrew is “o’y’Veykha” In English, we see two “y” s In Hebrew, those are two “yods” In ancient Hebrew, the “yod” was a “hand”. A hand holds a weapon to fight in a war, such as a knife, sword, spear, bow and arrow, sling, etc. The rabbis of old comment that the reason for two “yods” is that we fight against two kinds of enemies, the enemy from without, meaning another person who wishes to do us harm, or harm our families, or fight against our country, and the enemy from within, meaning the “Yetzer Hara” the sin nature, perhaps even bodily diseases. Since we all have that sin nature, it is a constant fight against the enemy inside, and only through the Holy Spirit can we put it underfoot. Like the meaning of the word; “Tzadik” (one who hunts or controls his monkey) the “monkey” being the sin nature. Verse 10 talks about taking a captive woman from the enemy and making her your wife. Well, I wouldn’t recommend that very much, you might end up with your throat cut when you are sleeping. In Biblical times an Israelite soldier had the right to take a woman who was from an enemy city, once captive, and make her his wife if he chose to do so. We might ask ourselves why? Well, the soldier just might like the way she looks, but what is the “bigger picture?” The Israelite soldier shows the captive woman “compassion”. She has lost her family, her city is in ruins, and her “gods” have abandoned her. All she has now is this “soldier” who is from the nation of Israel who has brought her to his camp, his tent, and to his “One God”. Soon she will see the difference between the false gods she left behind and the one and only God; Adonai-Elohim. Perhaps she was ill-treated in her city. But here she is shown compassion. She is allowed to mourn her loss, and in time, she will learn about Adonai and perhaps even love her Israelite husband. At first, it seems to be a bad thing, but in time, it turns into a good thing. This also can be a situation with our own wives, when things happen and she is having a bad day, depressed, something has happened at work, or a family member has passed away, etc...It is up to the husband to be kind and considerate, and give her some space and just "be there" for her. Looking at this from another standpoint, we were at once a time in the enemy’s camp. We were in the camp of HaSatan, and our “bridegroom” (Yeshua) paid the price of ransom and bought our freedom with his own blood. Now he takes us “his bride” to his encampment. All believers are part of the “bride of Messiah” Baruch HaShem! And we will be HIS OWN for all eternity. Vs 18 talks about the “wayward son” in that, if he is rebellious and defiant, refusing correction, his parents have the right to take him to the “shoftim” (judges) and they would order him to be stoned. Rebellion had a death sentence connected to it. We never read in scripture that this actually happened, but it was still written down as a commandment “in case” family rebellion occurred. Try to stone a rebellious child today and you will definitely be standing before the man! (and off to prison you will go). If, as parents, we train up a child in God’s Word, and read him or her Bible stories instead of fairy tales about ghosts and Boogiemen, then, when the child grows into a youth, he or she will have a solid foundation before him/her. It is not about being stoned with rocks, it is all about following the ROCK of ages! Vs 22: Those who have received the death penalty could not be left “hanging around” from either a rope, a cross, or a stake. They had to be taken down and buried. In ancient times, a person who received the death penalty many times was displayed to the public, hanging from a rope for all to see. The dead person was taken and left hanging but had to be taken down and buried before the end of the day. Yeshua was taken down from the cross and buried in a tomb. We see many crucifixes today with Yeshua still on them, the fact is that he did NOT remain on the cross, but was buried and arose on the third day. We worship a risen Savior and not one who is still on the cross It is also good to mention the verse: "Cursed is all who hang on the tree" (Galatians 3:13; Deut 21:22) Yeshua received the curse of sin, and bore the curse for us all. Remember that the cross was made from wood, which came from a tree. Chap 22; 1-4. To help someone find a lost item is a big mitzvah, being the item a lost animal such as a dog or a cat, or a wallet, important papers, etc. Unfortunately, we live in an age of worldly materialism. The ideology is “Finders keepers losers’ weepers.” That is the philosophy of the lost world, not born-again believers. If one finds a wallet with money inside, and there is an ID, we must return it to the person, money intact! Not minus the cash. Taking the cash and returning the wallet empty just makes one a thief’ Vs 5; “A woman must not put on a man’s apparel, not a man, woman’s clothing” In Biblical times, clothing was generally the same; long, flowing tunics tied with a cloth or leather belt or sash and on the feet, sandals. There was, however, a difference between men’s and women’s tunics, perhaps in the material, color, and design being used. Today we see “unisex” clothing such as blue jeans, but even in blue jeans, there are “women’s” jeans. A man had better not put on a skirt unless he’s a Scotsman with a kilt and bagpipes. Let us abide by this commandment. Anyway, a woman looks better in a dress than in pants. (my opinion only). Vs 8; Common sense tells us that when we build a roof, and it is the type of roof where one can go up and sit down and enjoy the coolness of the evenings, one must build a fence or a wall that surrounds the roof, to keep one from falling off in case one gets too close to the edge. The Torah can be like a roof and the commandments the fence that surrounds the roof, they keep us from “falling off into sin” Vs 9; Prohibition of mixing seed, wool, and linen, mixing work animals. These all can be considered “unequally yoked” as an ox is stronger than an ass. It tends to pull stronger and the ass will just slow it down causing undue strain on both animals. Such is an unequally yoked marriage, it strains both parties and causes undue stress and tension. Mixed seeds will take out more chemicals from the soil leaving the soil useless. Wool will shrink in the hot wash and linen will not. Wool comes from an animal (sheep) and linen comes from a plant (cotton). A garment made with both wool and linen will be ruined and will be pulled apart. An unequally yoked marriage or even business partners will “pull apart” when put in “hot water” if you get my drift. Mixing a believer with a non-believer will bring on different goals, ideas, philosophies, mannerisms, etc. One will serve God the other will serve the world. The Torah makes a difference between “Kadosh” and “Non-Kadosh” the holy and the unholy. Vs 12: “You shall make Tzitziot (tassels) on the four corners of your garments” This is still for today and speaks about our relationship with Messiah Yeshua, our relationship with the Torah and the commandments. It also connects us with our Jewish culture. The number of windings and the blue thread is 7,8,11, and 13 which are significant. (7+8=15) (Yod + Hey) and 11 (Vav=6, and Hey = 5) YHVH and “Echad” (ONE in unity) (13) Chapter 24 addresses divorce, if a woman is found in “uncleanness” as some texts state, the man can divorce her. This word is connected to “nudity” and could even go as far as saying, the husband finds the wife nude with another man, (adultery) the word in Hebrew is “Ervat” (uncleanness) yet Yeshua teaches that forgiveness is more important than “putting away the wife” but…the exception remains “adultery” yet even this can be forgiven, marriage is important, and Satan will do everything in his power to destroy marriages. 24:14 “You shall not abuse a needy and destitute laborer, whether a fellow countryman or a STRANGER (foreigner) in one of the communities of your land” Very important to know, that ALL workers, including immigrants, with or without work visas, should be respected, helped, and not HARRASSED! Hello!! The USA was founded by immigrants, Let’s do our best to pray for them, respect them, and help them. Verse 17 says; “You shall NOT subvert the RIGHTS of the stranger…” Every immigrant has the right to the “pursuit of happiness and well-being in this country called the US of A. If the immigrant is an unrepentant criminal, that is a different story. The chapter also talks about the farmer and his crops. He should let the needy take what they need and not consider it stealing. We should not look at everything with $ in mind, we should share the blessings that the LORD has given us and share them with others. 25:4; “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.” In other words, every employee has the right to his or her lunch break. The ox can work and eat at the same time since its work is demanding. 25:5-10 talks about the “Levirate marriage” when a man dies and leaves no sons, the man’s brother (if single) must marry the man’s widow so as to raise up children. Well, would this be a good thing today? There are some who would say yes, and others would say no. I’ll let you decide, If I were single and, in that situation, if I wasn’t going with anyone, well…. maybe I’d go for it, why not? (especially if she was pretty). I guess it would be good because the marriage is kept within the family. 25:13 talks about “diverse weights” very important to conduct “honest business transactions” not crooked and unfair. Unfortunately, we live in a world of greed and there are people out there, scammers, that want to get over on you. Be careful, especially on the Net. We are approaching the "High Holy Days." We need to be in a state of repentance, and of "returning to God" and making amends if we have offended others. Shalom. (I'll be out of the country for two weeks, I'll be back on September 12th) Ben Avraham

ISAIAH 51:12-52:12 The prophet speaks through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) “Therefore, my people shall know MY NAME…..” one thing is to know about God, the other is to KNOW HIM, and “HIS NAME” but we know that God has many names and titles, But his Most Holy Name is Y H V H (Yod Hey Vav Hey) The one who WAS, IS, and WILL BE, whose letters, in the ancient Hebrew, symbolize “Behold the nail, behold the hand” whose name is also YESHUAH which means SALVATION. ” How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings, who announces “shalom” who announces YESHUAH (salvation), and who announces “God Rules!” This is the message that every born-again believer should be concerned with. When we talk to people about God, the message is that “YHVH is alive and well, and that He Rules in the hearts of all who come to him through YESHUA and that through YESHUA we get YESHUAH and SHALOM in our lives. ” YHVH hath made bare His HOLY ARM, in the eyes of ALL NATIONS, and all the ends of the earth shalt see the YESHUAH of our God” 2000 years ago, Adonai made bare his HOLY ARM in the person of Yeshua HaMashiach. The word "Arm" in "Holy Arm" is the Hebrew word "Zeroah" which always means the "upper arm", this is where the muscle and strength are. In the ancient sacrifices, it was the "upper arm and shoulder" of the animals which were given to the Levites and priests to eat, after being offered up to Adonai. Before the coming of Yeshua, the presence of God was revealed by fire, a cloud, and the Shekinah glory. The "humanity" of God was hidden, until "Yeshua" came (The Zeroah Kadosh) "God in the flesh." Yeshua walked on this earth, taught the truths of the Torah, healed the sick, raised the dead, and took upon himself all of our sins, the name YAH which is a short form of YAHWEH is spelled with only two Hebrew letters, the YOD, and the HEY, which symbolize “Behold the Arm (or hand) so…YeshuAH has the Y and the H, Salvation is for ALL THE NATIONS, for those who will put their trust in the Messiah Yeshua. One day, ALL the Nations will SEE YESHUA, in the flesh, and HE WILL REIGN! Baruch HaShem! JOHN 11:1-57 This is the story about “Elazar” (Lazarus) who died and was resurrected. We see that Miryam sends word to Yeshua that Elazar, her brother is sick and dying, yet Yeshua tarries, and does not rush to heal Elazar, he waits until he is finally dead, and then, 4 days later, he shows up. He could have arrived in time to heal him, yet he waits! But why? To understand, we need to understand one of the Jewish mindsets of that time. It was believed back then that when a person died, his or her soul left the body, yet stayed near the body for three days, on the fourth day, it left and descended to Sheol, It was believed that after 4 days, only the MESSIAH could resurrect a person, even from the pit of Sheol. When He called out “Elazar, come forth” he did come out of the tomb. As believers, we all look forward to the resurrection of our bodies, when we die, our bodies will be buried, yet WE will be in the presence of the LORD. Our bodies will be transformed into incorruptible bodies, which will join our souls in Heaven. Rav Shaul said, “To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the LORD” which means, either we are in our bodies, or we are in heaven with the LORD, how else could one interpret that verse? So, take heart, we have “x” number of years to live here on earth, yet, the earth is not our permanent home, our home is in the New Jerusalem, where we will live…well…time is not a factor…FOREVER….is! MATT 7:1-3 “Judge Not lest ye be judged,” I thought I might add this verse since many people misinterpret this verse by saying; “Well, there are judges, and their job is to render decisions and even dictate prison sentences, why does it say that we should not judge?” The type of “judgment” that is being mentioned is “final condemnation” or “pre-judging” a person without knowing all the facts. We might talk to a person, or invite the person to church or synagogue. That person might come twice and then, not return, maybe two shabbats or Sundays, that person might be absent. It would be wrong to say; “So-and-so really didn’t accept Yeshua, where is he (or she)? That person isn’t here, so, that person was not really serious, watch out “so-and-so” You’re on your way to hell!” That person might be sick or had to work, we don’t know the situation. We should not “judge” that person in that way, with a condemning attitude, rather call or visit the person and find out if he or she needs help or what the case could be. Is the car working? Does the person need a ride? Careful that we do not condemn, because we will be “judged” by Adonai in the same way we might “condemn” another person. Let us reach out to the person and offer to advise from the Torah in a loving way if the person is erring, we should “correct” the person according to scripture, privately and in love, and never in a “condemning” fashion. Remember that we will ALL face our righteous “shofet” one day... LUKE 24: 27 This talks about Yeshua walking with two believers on the way to Emmaus, yet they did not realize it was Him. "Don't you realize what has happened? This Yeshua was crucified in Jerusalem, and..." Yet Yeshua speaks up and says; "Didn't the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory?" and he began to explain the prophecies about Mashiach, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets. Moshe himself spoke about the Messiah in Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him." Yeshua probably mentioned this verse. The "Arm of the LORD" revealed, a fellow Jew, born in Beit-Lechem (Bethlehem) the "House of Bread" from which the "Bread of Life" came. He came to fulfill all prophecies including Isaiah 52 and 53. He is the "Netzer" (branch) that rose from the House of David. The name "Nazereth" has the root "Netzer" Shalom, have a good and godly week. Coconuts, palm branches, and ocean waves; San Luis Talpa, El Salvador

ISAIAH 51:12-52:12 The prophet speaks through the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) “Therefore, my people shall know MY NAME…..” one thing is to know about God, the other is to KNOW HIM, and “HIS NAME” but we know that God has many names and titles, But his Most Holy Name is Y H V H (Yod Hey Vav Hey) The one who WAS, IS, and WILL BE, whose letters, in the ancient Hebrew, symbolize “Behold the nail, behold the hand” whose name is also YESHUAH which means SALVATION. ” How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of the messenger of good tidings, who announces “shalom” who announces YESHUAH (salvation), and who announces “God Rules!” This is the message that every born-again believer should be concerned with. When we talk to people about God, the message is that “YHVH is alive and well, and that He Rules in the hearts of all who come to him through YESHUA and that through YESHUA we get YESHUAH and SHALOM in our lives. ” YHVH hath made bare His HOLY ARM, in the eyes of ALL NATIONS, and all the ends of the earth shalt see the YESHUAH of our God” 2000 years ago, Adonai made bare his HOLY ARM in the person of Yeshua HaMashiach. The word "Arm" in "Holy Arm" is the Hebrew word "Zeroah" which always means the "upper arm", this is where the muscle and strength are. In the ancient sacrifices, it was the "upper arm and shoulder" of the animals which were given to the Levites and priests to eat, after being offered up to Adonai. Before the coming of Yeshua, the presence of God was revealed by fire, a cloud, and the Shekinah glory. The "humanity" of God was hidden, until "Yeshua" came (The Zeroah Kadosh) "God in the flesh." Yeshua walked on this earth, taught the truths of the Torah, healed the sick, raised the dead, and took upon himself all of our sins, the name YAH which is a short form of YAHWEH is spelled with only two Hebrew letters, the YOD, and the HEY, which symbolize “Behold the Arm (or hand) so…YeshuAH has the Y and the H, Salvation is for ALL THE NATIONS, for those who will put their trust in the Messiah Yeshua. One day, ALL the Nations will SEE YESHUA, in the flesh, and HE WILL REIGN! Baruch HaShem! JOHN 11:1-57 This is the story about “Elazar” (Lazarus) who died and was resurrected. We see that Miryam sends word to Yeshua that Elazar, her brother is sick and dying, yet Yeshua tarries, and does not rush to heal Elazar, he waits until he is finally dead, and then, 4 days later, he shows up. He could have arrived in time to heal him, yet he waits! But why? To understand, we need to understand one of the Jewish mindsets of that time. It was believed back then that when a person died, his or her soul left the body, yet stayed near the body for three days, on the fourth day, it left and descended to Sheol, It was believed that after 4 days, only the MESSIAH could resurrect a person, even from the pit of Sheol. When He called out “Elazar, come forth” he did come out of the tomb. As believers, we all look forward to the resurrection of our bodies, when we die, our bodies will be buried, yet WE will be in the presence of the LORD. Our bodies will be transformed into incorruptible bodies, which will join our souls in Heaven. Rav Shaul said, “To be absent from the body is to be in the presence of the LORD” which means, either we are in our bodies, or we are in heaven with the LORD, how else could one interpret that verse? So, take heart, we have “x” number of years to live here on earth, yet, the earth is not our permanent home, our home is in the New Jerusalem, where we will live…well…time is not a factor…FOREVER….is! MATT 7:1-3 “Judge Not lest ye be judged,” I thought I might add this verse since many people misinterpret this verse by saying; “Well, there are judges, and their job is to render decisions and even dictate prison sentences, why does it say that we should not judge?” The type of “judgment” that is being mentioned is “final condemnation” or “pre-judging” a person without knowing all the facts. We might talk to a person, or invite the person to church or synagogue. That person might come twice and then, not return, maybe two shabbats or Sundays, that person might be absent. It would be wrong to say; “So-and-so really didn’t accept Yeshua, where is he (or she)? That person isn’t here, so, that person was not really serious, watch out “so-and-so” You’re on your way to hell!” That person might be sick or had to work, we don’t know the situation. We should not “judge” that person in that way, with a condemning attitude, rather call or visit the person and find out if he or she needs help or what the case could be. Is the car working? Does the person need a ride? Careful that we do not condemn, because we will be “judged” by Adonai in the same way we might “condemn” another person. Let us reach out to the person and offer to advise from the Torah in a loving way if the person is erring, we should “correct” the person according to scripture, privately and in love, and never in a “condemning” fashion. Remember that we will ALL face our righteous “shofet” one day... LUKE 24: 27 This talks about Yeshua walking with two believers on the way to Emmaus, yet they did not realize it was Him. "Don't you realize what has happened? This Yeshua was crucified in Jerusalem, and..." Yet Yeshua speaks up and says; "Didn't the Messiah have to die like this before entering his glory?" and he began to explain the prophecies about Mashiach, starting with Moses and going through all the prophets. Moshe himself spoke about the Messiah in Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your countrymen, you shall listen to him." Yeshua probably mentioned this verse. The "Arm of the LORD" revealed, a fellow Jew, born in Beit-Lechem (Bethlehem) the "House of Bread" from which the "Bread of Life" came. He came to fulfill all prophecies including Isaiah 52 and 53. He is the "Netzer" (branch) that rose from the House of David. The name "Nazereth" has the root "Netzer" Shalom, have a good and godly week. Coconuts, palm branches, and ocean waves. San Luis Talpa, El Salvador

Parasha: Shoftim (Judges) DEUT: 16:18: -21:9 This parashah starts off with; “Judges (shoftim) and officers shalt thou make thee at thy gates, which YHVH thy Elohim giveth thee…. they shall judge the people with “righteous judgment…” The word "officers" is rendered "Shoterim" in Hebrew, which is equivalent to "police officers, constables, deputies, etc, in our day and age. Many people when they think of the word “judge” think of the elderly man or woman with the black robe in the courtroom who points a finger and dishes out a prison sentence, a sentence that condemns a criminal who is standing before said, judge. While it is true that the word “judge” can mean to issue or decide a sentence that could condemn, in Hebrew, it also means one who “knows, teaches, and decides issues related to the Torah” . A “shofet” was someone like a Torah teacher, but the job not only included making plain the teachings of Adonai through His Torah, but the “shofet” also rendered decisions based on God’s Holy Writ. Today, there are “shoftim” in every Bible-based church, synagogue, congregation, Torah study group, etc., perhaps we do not call them “shoftim” or “judges” we just call them “rabbis, pastors, Torah teachers, Sunday school teachers. They (should) expound and make plain the scriptures to those who are listening, and if needed, give counsel based on God’s Word, concerning matters such as finances, church/synagogue discipline, or any decision based on our Judeo-Christian faith and ethics. Some call them “gatekeepers” The “gatekeepers” keep sound doctrine, and “do not let in” false teaching, or, have to “expose” false teaching that perhaps has been circulating. “making righteous judgment” is making “correct or decisions which are “right” according to God’s Word. The Word of God and the Torah is for ALL PEOPLE, and for this reason, the Torah says; “thou shalt not respect persons…” meaning that “one should not single out a person because that person is either rich, poor, famous, in politics, etc.… in order to say, “well, because it is YOU, my friend, I will make an exception to the Torah rule” Elohim says NO!, we are ALL EQUAL, we are ALL SINNERS are deserve righteous judgment, and what applies to the rich man, applies to the poor man as well. These "shoftim" or "gatekeepers" were usually found at the entrances of cities, by the city gates or entrances. Issues concerning the law were conducted there at the city gates. The shoftim would send out the "shoterim" to bring in people that were involved in different cases, much like police officers and constables do today when they bring in people who have arrest warrants. (16:20) “Tzedek, Tzedek tirdof” (Righteousness, Righteousness pursue!) Why does the Torah say “righteousness twice? There are two points of view from the rabbis. One is that one must pursue (run after) righteousness as long as the end result is also righteous. An example is, from the Talmud, a story about an olive grower. The Owner owns many acres of olive trees and he makes a lot of olive oil and fills many urns with the oil and sells each urn for 100 shekels. A servant of the owner is carrying an urn to the storehouse and he slips and falls, dropping and breaking the urn. As a result, the oil is lost. The owner’s son drags the servant to the judge at the city gate, and the judge judges according to the “eye for an eye” judgment. He renders a “right” judgment, that, the servant will have to pay 100 shekels for the lost oil. The son is also in agreement. He will dock the servant's pay for that month, which is also 100 shekels. The servant cries out to the owner and explains the situation. The owner who is kind and merciful calls his son. “My son, you had the right to bring the servant to judgment, and the judgment is just and right according to the Torah…HOWEVER… the end result would be very unfair and unrighteous, the servant’s family will suffer loss and will not be able to buy food for the month….so…we, on the other hand, can afford the loss, while the servant cannot. I will render this judgment, that the servant’s mishap is forgiven, and no wage kept back!” Thus, “righteousness, righteousness we will pursue!” The other understanding of this verse is that there are two kinds of “righteousness” “Righteous faith” and “Righteous works” both we must pursue! We pursue “righteous faith” through prayer and our personal relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach, reading/studying the Torah, and occupying ourselves as well with “righteous mitzvoth” through our obedience and following the commandments. The scripture says that “we are saved (righteous faith) unto good works (righteous works). But we must always remember that “righteous works never lead to righteous salvation, rather it is the other way, “righteous salvation leads us to do works of righteousness” Also, the three Hebrew letters “Tzadik, Dalet, and Qof” TzaDiQ" could also mean “The Righteous ONE” and there is only “One righteous one” whom we must follow, that is Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ our LORD, not only in this present world but in the world to come as well. Chapter 17 deals with offering sacrificial animals with blemishes. Since today, we don’t sacrifice animals, how can we relate to this verse? The animals were “offered up” to Adonai, and we “offer up” to YHVH our praises, prayers, and our service in the form of our spiritual gifts, may our prayers be “without blemish” (without distraction, wholehearted, and sincere) not just repeating words that are printed in a prayer book, but “understanding” the words in the prayer book, or better yet, your own words from the heart. May we offer up our spiritual gift with a whole heart to the best of our ability? (17:14) talks about “setting a king over thee” It was not Adonai’s perfect will that Israel would have kings, as He already knew what the outcome would be. You could probably count on one hand the righteous kings of Israel; David, Josiah, and Hezekiah, the rest were perverted and evil (perhaps there were a few more). Manasseh corrected his ways towards the end of his life. God instructs every king to make a copy of the Torah and to study the Torah (17:18). If every president of every nation did that, every nation would be at peace, one with the other, we would not have anti-immigrant laws, racism, etc. We must pray that our president, men, and women in authority govern according to the commandments of the Torah, in accordance to what the Bible teaches. Chapter 18. The priests and Levites are supported by the people, they get food, (meat, and produce from the field) and skins from the animals that are sacrificed. This was God’s provision for his ministers. Should it be any different today? I would say not! Those who live to teach God’s Word should be maintained by God’s people. Unfortunately, in many countries, some pastors, rabbis, etc. live lives in poverty because the people of their congregation don’t give, yet, some probably do live well, IF they teach their people to give, then, they will, because they love God’s teaching servants and want the best for them and their families. Some ministers have to work secular jobs in order to survive, this affects their ministry because their time is limited. (18:9) “When you come unto the land which YHVH gives you…you will NOT… and the Torah mentions the abominations that the pagan peoples do. When we move to go to a new town, city, or even to a different job, we will notice the habits, and customs of the people of those new towns, cities, or job sites. Perhaps some of their ways will not be in accordance with what the WORD of God teaches; Cheating on spouses, cheating at work, gossiping, (Leshon Hara) dirty jokes, lying to the boss, ill-treatment of others, the list could go on, will we separate ourselves from them? Or…in order to be accepted and not ridiculed, will we “compromise” our standards? Yet the Torah says; “thou shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations!” (or job sites, neighborhoods, cities, towns, etc.) Yes, we have to work with those people and get along with them, but we do not have to emulate their actions nor participate in their activities that are contrary to what the Bible teaches us. (19:14) “Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor’s landmark which they of old time have set” I remember when I lived in New York, seeing 4-foot-high stone walls that were in the wooded area behind my house. I was told that way back in colonial days, the owners of that property built those walls to separate their property from the property of others. The stone walls indicated, “Behind this wall is my area, beyond the wall, is your area”. God has established “landmarks” His WORD is a “boundary” a “landmark” When we venture out of God’s Holy Writ, we leave the protection of “His property” and enter into the property of HaSatan. In this world, there are only two standards of living, God’s standards, and Satan’s standards. YHVH has guidelines, it is called “The Torah” The landmarks are the 66 books of his Torah, and outside of that, is the “anything goes” philosophy, “do whatever feels good” way of living. If we attempt to change a biblical landmark, we are “taking away” from the Word of God, we are headed for trouble. Dad told Jimmy, “Ten feet away from the wasp nest is the landmark, don’t go beyond it!” but Jimmy went beyond it, he got closer, the wasps didn’t like that, and a wasp flew over and stung little Jimmy on the leg” had Jimmy obeyed the voice of his father, and had respected the landmark, he wouldn’t have gotten stung. (yes, that is a portion from “my life”) (20:19) teaches us to respect trees. Yes, YHVH is concerned about trees. There are some trees that are used for building, like Oak, pine, willow, etc.… yet there are trees that are for fruit and nuts. Many times, when people build homes, they must first clear the field. At times, these fruit trees are cut down. These trees are for food, I have seen in some places, that homes are built “around” a certain fruit tree, and the tree grows in the corner of the kitchen, and a place is made in the roof so that the tree can keep growing without hitting obstacles. The family then can enjoy the fruit and is honoring God’s Word concerning fruit trees. If we remember back in Genesis, the whole food menu consisted only of fruit and nuts from the trees, and from grains and vegetables, and people lived to 900 years. Kind of makes sense to protect “food trees”. So remember, we DO have the right to judge others, but not CONDEMN! We can give counsel from God's WORD, and suggest that the person will adhere to what God's WORD says. We must do that in a loving and not condemning way. Be mindful and let's start with ourselves, judgment starts with our own selves, more now that we are in the "Days of Awe". Always remember, that one day, ALL BELIEVERS will be "judged" at the "Judgment Seat of Christ" for the things we did while on this earth. We will be judged in accordance with how we treated or judged others. Something to think about. Ben Avraham foot stomping tunes

Parasha: Shoftim (Judges) DEUT: 16:18: -21:9 This parashah starts off with; “Judges (shoftim) and officers shalt thou make thee at thy gates, which YHVH thy Elohim giveth thee…. they shall judge the people with “righteous judgment…” The word "officers" is rendered "Shoterim" in Hebrew, which is equivalent to "police officers, constables, deputies, etc, in our day and age. Many people when they think of the word “judge” think of the elderly man or woman with the black robe in the courtroom who points a finger and dishes out a prison sentence, a sentence that condemns a criminal who is standing before said, judge. While it is true that the word “judge” can mean to issue or decide a sentence that could condemn, in Hebrew, it also means one who “knows, teaches, and decides issues related to the Torah” . A “shofet” was someone like a Torah teacher, but the job not only included making plain the teachings of Adonai through His Torah, but the “shofet” also rendered decisions based on God’s Holy Writ. Today, there are “shoftim” in every Bible-based church, synagogue, congregation, Torah study group, etc., perhaps we do not call them “shoftim” or “judges” we just call them “rabbis, pastors, Torah teachers, Sunday school teachers. They (should) expound and make plain the scriptures to those who are listening, and if needed, give counsel based on God’s Word, concerning matters such as finances, church/synagogue discipline, or any decision based on our Judeo-Christian faith and ethics. Some call them “gatekeepers” The “gatekeepers” keep sound doctrine, and “do not let in” false teaching, or, have to “expose” false teaching that perhaps has been circulating. “making righteous judgment” is making “correct or decisions which are “right” according to God’s Word. The Word of God and the Torah is for ALL PEOPLE, and for this reason, the Torah says; “thou shalt not respect persons…” meaning that “one should not single out a person because that person is either rich, poor, famous, in politics, etc.… in order to say, “well, because it is YOU, my friend, I will make an exception to the Torah rule” Elohim says NO!, we are ALL EQUAL, we are ALL SINNERS are deserve righteous judgment, and what applies to the rich man, applies to the poor man as well. These "shoftim" or "gatekeepers" were usually found at the entrances of cities, by the city gates or entrances. Issues concerning the law were conducted there at the city gates. The shoftim would send out the "shoterim" to bring in people that were involved in different cases, much like police officers and constables do today when they bring in people who have arrest warrants. (16:20) “Tzedek, Tzedek tirdof” (Righteousness, Righteousness pursue!) Why does the Torah say “righteousness twice? There are two points of view from the rabbis. One is that one must pursue (run after) righteousness as long as the end result is also righteous. An example is, from the Talmud, a story about an olive grower. The Owner owns many acres of olive trees and he makes a lot of olive oil and fills many urns with the oil and sells each urn for 100 shekels. A servant of the owner is carrying an urn to the storehouse and he slips and falls, dropping and breaking the urn. As a result, the oil is lost. The owner’s son drags the servant to the judge at the city gate, and the judge judges according to the “eye for an eye” judgment. He renders a “right” judgment, that, the servant will have to pay 100 shekels for the lost oil. The son is also in agreement. He will dock the servant's pay for that month, which is also 100 shekels. The servant cries out to the owner and explains the situation. The owner who is kind and merciful calls his son. “My son, you had the right to bring the servant to judgment, and the judgment is just and right according to the Torah…HOWEVER… the end result would be very unfair and unrighteous, the servant’s family will suffer loss and will not be able to buy food for the month….so…we, on the other hand, can afford the loss, while the servant cannot. I will render this judgment, that the servant’s mishap is forgiven, and no wage kept back!” Thus, “righteousness, righteousness we will pursue!” The other understanding of this verse is that there are two kinds of “righteousness” “Righteous faith” and “Righteous works” both we must pursue! We pursue “righteous faith” through prayer and our personal relationship with Yeshua HaMashiach, reading/studying the Torah, and occupying ourselves as well with “righteous mitzvoth” through our obedience and following the commandments. The scripture says that “we are saved (righteous faith) unto good works (righteous works). But we must always remember that “righteous works never lead to righteous salvation, rather it is the other way, “righteous salvation leads us to do works of righteousness” Also, the three Hebrew letters “Tzadik, Dalet, and Qof” TzaDiQ" could also mean “The Righteous ONE” and there is only “One righteous one” whom we must follow, that is Yeshua HaMashiach, Jesus Christ our LORD, not only in this present world but in the world to come as well. Chapter 17 deals with offering sacrificial animals with blemishes. Since today, we don’t sacrifice animals, how can we relate to this verse? The animals were “offered up” to Adonai, and we “offer up” to YHVH our praises, prayers, and our service in the form of our spiritual gifts, may our prayers be “without blemish” (without distraction, wholehearted, and sincere) not just repeating words that are printed in a prayer book, but “understanding” the words in the prayer book, or better yet, your own words from the heart. May we offer up our spiritual gift with a whole heart to the best of our ability? (17:14) talks about “setting a king over thee” It was not Adonai’s perfect will that Israel would have kings, as He already knew what the outcome would be. You could probably count on one hand the righteous kings of Israel; David, Josiah, and Hezekiah, the rest were perverted and evil (perhaps there were a few more). Manasseh corrected his ways towards the end of his life. God instructs every king to make a copy of the Torah and to study the Torah (17:18). If every president of every nation did that, every nation would be at peace, one with the other, we would not have anti-immigrant laws, racism, etc. We must pray that our president, men, and women in authority govern according to the commandments of the Torah, in accordance to what the Bible teaches. Chapter 18. The priests and Levites are supported by the people, they get food, (meat, and produce from the field) and skins from the animals that are sacrificed. This was God’s provision for his ministers. Should it be any different today? I would say not! Those who live to teach God’s Word should be maintained by God’s people. Unfortunately, in many countries, some pastors, rabbis, etc. live lives in poverty because the people of their congregation don’t give, yet, some probably do live well, IF they teach their people to give, then, they will, because they love God’s teaching servants and want the best for them and their families. Some ministers have to work secular jobs in order to survive, this affects their ministry because their time is limited. (18:9) “When you come unto the land which YHVH gives you…you will NOT… and the Torah mentions the abominations that the pagan peoples do. When we move to go to a new town, city, or even to a different job, we will notice the habits, and customs of the people of those new towns, cities, or job sites. Perhaps some of their ways will not be in accordance with what the WORD of God teaches; Cheating on spouses, cheating at work, gossiping, (Leshon Hara) dirty jokes, lying to the boss, ill-treatment of others, the list could go on, will we separate ourselves from them? Or…in order to be accepted and not ridiculed, will we “compromise” our standards? Yet the Torah says; “thou shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations!” (or job sites, neighborhoods, cities, towns, etc.) Yes, we have to work with those people and get along with them, but we do not have to emulate their actions nor participate in their activities that are contrary to what the Bible teaches us. (19:14) “Thou shalt not remove thy neighbor’s landmark which they of old time have set” I remember when I lived in New York, seeing 4-foot-high stone walls that were in the wooded area behind my house. I was told that way back in colonial days, the owners of that property built those walls to separate their property from the property of others. The stone walls indicated, “Behind this wall is my area, beyond the wall, is your area”. God has established “landmarks” His WORD is a “boundary” a “landmark” When we venture out of God’s Holy Writ, we leave the protection of “His property” and enter into the property of HaSatan. In this world, there are only two standards of living, God’s standards, and Satan’s standards. YHVH has guidelines, it is called “The Torah” The landmarks are the 66 books of his Torah, and outside of that, is the “anything goes” philosophy, “do whatever feels good” way of living. If we attempt to change a biblical landmark, we are “taking away” from the Word of God, we are headed for trouble. Dad told Jimmy, “Ten feet away from the wasp nest is the landmark, don’t go beyond it!” but Jimmy went beyond it, he got closer, the wasps didn’t like that, and a wasp flew over and stung little Jimmy on the leg” had Jimmy obeyed the voice of his father, and had respected the landmark, he wouldn’t have gotten stung. (yes, that is a portion from “my life”) (20:19) teaches us to respect trees. Yes, YHVH is concerned about trees. There are some trees that are used for building, like Oak, pine, willow, etc.… yet there are trees that are for fruit and nuts. Many times, when people build homes, they must first clear the field. At times, these fruit trees are cut down. These trees are for food, I have seen in some places, that homes are built “around” a certain fruit tree, and the tree grows in the corner of the kitchen, and a place is made in the roof so that the tree can keep growing without hitting obstacles. The family then can enjoy the fruit and is honoring God’s Word concerning fruit trees. If we remember back in Genesis, the whole food menu consisted only of fruit and nuts from the trees, and from grains and vegetables, and people lived to 900 years. Kind of makes sense to protect “food trees”. So remember, we DO have the right to judge others, but not CONDEMN! We can give counsel from God's WORD, and suggest that the person will adhere to what God's WORD says. We must do that in a loving and not condemning way. Be mindful and let's start with ourselves, judgment starts with our own selves, more now that we are in the "Days of Awe". Always remember, that one day, ALL BELIEVERS will be "judged" at the "Judgment Seat of Christ" for the things we did while on this earth. We will be judged in accordance with how we treated or judged others. Something to think about. Ben Avraham

The month of "Elul" A time for self-examination, reflection, "Days of Awe" and time to ask ourselves "How is my relationship with God?" It's time to STOP, TURN AROUND, and RETURN to the LORD! The month of "Elul" started on the 18th of this month. Erev Shabbat. It is a time to think about God's mercy (Rachamim) his forgiveness, (Selichot) and grace (Chen). We are looking at and going through 40 days of "Awe" culminating on Yom Kippur, in the month of Tishrei (towards the end of September). We should ask ourselves these questions: Is my relationship with God on the "up and up?" Is my family relationship good? Is there secret sin in my life that I have not confessed? Have I gotten off the straight and narrow road and now I am in the thorn bushes? If I were to die right now, would the LORD welcome me with open arms with the words "Well done my faithful servant?" or would he have a paddle in his hand ready to tan my fanny about 1000 times? All these are questions we should ask ourselves including "Have I offended others and have not asked forgiveness?" We would probably have to answer yes to many of these questions. So, it is time for "Teshuvah" or "Shoov" which means "turn around, have a change of mind and go the other way" towards the LORD once again. "Elul" has 4 letters, both in Hebrew and in English. the number "4" can mean the 4 corners of the world. All inhabitants of the 4 corners of the world should take time now and reflect on their personal relationship with Adonai. The Hebrew gematria of "Elul" is 67. This is also the gematria of the word "Binah" (understanding). We need to "understand" that our relationship with the LORD is real and if we are lacking, we need to make amends and return to our first love. The word "Elul" also has the acronyms for the Song of Solomon 6:3 "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" "Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li" If we are HIS beloved, then, if we have strayed away from the bridegroom, we need to come back. The number "67" in gematria can also be added up to "13" (6 + 7) This reminds us of the 13 attributes of Adonai, which include; mercy, forgiveness, and longsuffering grace. (Rachamim, Selichah, and Chen) (Exodus 34:6-7) According to the great sage Rambam, there are 4 steps to "returning" (Teshuvah) 1. realizing our error (sin) 2. abandon our sinful ways 3. Confession of our sin to God, or to the person we have offended, 4. Resolve not to repeat our sinful act. The woman caught in the act of adultery is a good example. (In the New Testament). Here are some good Bible verses to read during this time of "Elul" that speak of "returning;" Psalm 27; Deut 30:2; Jeremiah 3:12-15; Joel 2:13; Hosea 14:1; Zechariah 1:3; Nehemiah 1:9; Job 22:23; Isaiah 59:20;55:7 Here are some good Bible verses that speak on "mercy and grace" Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 145:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; Luke 6:36; Here is something interesting about the Hebrew word "Rachamim" (mercy, merciful) it comes from the root word "rechem" which means "womb" The mother protects her child inside her womb, since the child is part of her, yet also, separate from her. So therefore, the LORD wishes to protect us within the confines of his WORD. And wants HIS Word to be part of us, yet wandering away from HIS Word, is to go beyond his protection. (the "ch" in Hebrew is pronounced like an "h") So, be mindful of these days of "awe" yet we are free to "shoov" anytime, 24-7. God's heart is always open. Shalom.... Ben Avraham

The month of "Elul" A time for self-examination, reflection, "Days of Awe" and time to ask ourselves "How is my relationship with God?" It's time to STOP, TURN AROUND, and RETURN to the LORD! The month of "Elul" started on the 18th of this month. Erev Shabbat. It is a time to think about God's mercy (Rachamim) his forgiveness, (Selichot) and grace (Chen). We are looking at and going through 40 days of "Awe" culminating on Yom Kippur, in the month of Tishrei (towards the end of September). We should ask ourselves these questions: Is my relationship with God on the "up and up?" Is my family relationship good? Is there secret sin in my life that I have not confessed? Have I gotten off the straight and narrow road and now I am in the thorn bushes? If I were to die right now, would the LORD welcome me with open arms with the words "Well done my faithful servant?" or would he have a paddle in his hand ready to tan my fanny about 1000 times? All these are questions we should ask ourselves including "Have I offended others and have not asked forgiveness?" We would probably have to answer yes to many of these questions. So, it is time for "Teshuvah" or "Shoov" which means "turn around, have a change of mind and go the other way" towards the LORD once again. "Elul" has 4 letters, both in Hebrew and in English. the number "4" can mean the 4 corners of the world. All inhabitants of the 4 corners of the world should take time now and reflect on their personal relationship with Adonai. The Hebrew gematria of "Elul" is 67. This is also the gematria of the word "Binah" (understanding). We need to "understand" that our relationship with the LORD is real and if we are lacking, we need to make amends and return to our first love. The word "Elul" also has the acronyms for the Song of Solomon 6:3 "I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine" "Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li" If we are HIS beloved, then, if we have strayed away from the bridegroom, we need to come back. The number "67" in gematria can also be added up to "13" (6 + 7) This reminds us of the 13 attributes of Adonai, which include; mercy, forgiveness, and longsuffering grace. (Rachamim, Selichah, and Chen) (Exodus 34:6-7) According to the great sage Rambam, there are 4 steps to "returning" (Teshuvah) 1. realizing our error (sin) 2. abandon our sinful ways 3. Confession of our sin to God, or to the person we have offended, 4. Resolve not to repeat our sinful act. The woman caught in the act of adultery is a good example. (In the New Testament). Here are some good Bible verses to read during this time of "Elul" that speak of "returning;" Psalm 27; Deut 30:2; Jeremiah 3:12-15; Joel 2:13; Hosea 14:1; Zechariah 1:3; Nehemiah 1:9; Job 22:23; Isaiah 59:20;55:7 Here are some good Bible verses that speak on "mercy and grace" Proverbs 28:13; Psalm 145:8; Ephesians 2:4-5; Luke 6:36; Here is something interesting about the Hebrew word "Rachamim" (mercy, merciful) it comes from the root word "rechem" which means "womb" The mother protects her child inside her womb, since the child is part of her, yet also, separate from her. So therefore, the LORD wishes to protect us within the confines of his WORD. And wants HIS Word to be part of us, yet wandering away from HIS Word, is to go beyond his protection. (the "ch" in Hebrew is pronounced like an "h") So, be mindful of these days of "awe" yet we are free to "shoov" anytime, 24-7. God's heart is always open. Shalom.... Ben Avraham It's time to STOP, TURN AROUND, and COME DOWN from there little guy! Too steep a climb! (ME...in 1962, age 8)

ISAIAH 54:11-55:5 “Navi Yeshayahu” (Prophet Isaiah) speaks as directed by the Holy Spirit, as a father who comforts his children, promising them blessings, but begins with “Unhappy, storm-tossed one”, meaning that Israel has been through a lot, deportation to Babylon, destruction of the temple, scattered throughout the nations of the world…YET…blessings, protection, etc. will follow for THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD. Yes, for THOSE who SERVE the LORD. Yes, we have to be on HIS side, part of HIS FAMILY, and walk in OBEDIENCE. Again, we can not get away from the "Blessing" or the "curse" which line up with the "Father-Son" or "Father-children" relationship. Just as a father will punish his children for wrong-doing, and the children might call it a "curse" going to their room without dinner, or taking TV, or video privileges away from them, taking the cell phone away (now THAT's a curse!) I mean, they think so. I grew up in the 1960s when cell phones were non-existent. Even the paddle or belt across the fanny. Yet, the father wants to teach their children lessons, to follow the "commandments" of the home, or else. While they are under Mom and Dad's rule, they need to obey because they are in a relationship. That's the key word; "relationship". Israel, and now all born-again believers are in a "relationship" with our Heavenly Father through Yeshua/Jesus. The relationship covenant was set down in blood, in Messiah's blood "HaDam Yeshua". Now that we are family members, we need to follow the rules to receive the "blessing" or ignore his commandments, and receive the "curse". Today it is no different than yesteryear. We are blessed by the "blessings" or suffer through "the curse" yet "salvation" is a fixed covenant already ours through Yeshua's blood. We are not saved by following the commandments, but rather by trusting in HIM who shed his blood for us all. ” Come, all who are thirsty, come for water….” (Chap 55) Yeshua mentions LIVING WATER (himself) on Hoshanah Raba (the eighth day of Sukkot) and also, to the woman of Samaria, this water is available to US ALL, if we just choose to drink of his WORD. If we have been distancing ourselves from the Living Water (Mayim Chayim) we need to "turn around and return" (shoov, Teshuvah) to the source. Thursday starts a 40-day period of "Awe" We are entering into the Hebrew month of "Elul" which is a "soul-searching" time of reflection on our personal relationship with God, culminating on "Yom Kippur" in the month of Tishrei. It's time to return to the LORD if we have strayed away. JOHN 9:1-10:42 This is the story of the healing of the blind man. Yeshua spat in the dust and make him “new eyes!” What a miracle, and why not? Are we not made from the dust of the earth (Adamah)? So Yeshua takes the same dust and adds his own spittle (a form of water) and now, the blind man washes in the “Pool of Siloach” (which means “sent”) So, we see this; a man who has a defect (blindness) meets Yeshua (The Living God) who made man from the dust of the earth, puts dust on the blind man’s eyes, add a bit of water, then “sends” the man to wash in the pool that means “Sent” and then, he sees! There are many who are blind spiritually, they cannot or don’t want, or will not “see” the truth. They see it, yet they don’t. The Bible is TRUTH yet many just see a book with stories in it, yet when the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the spiritually blind, then, they can now SEE! The difference between the “clean” and the “unclean” the “worldly” and “Holy”, “obedience” and “disobedience” before they were blind, and now they can see. We were all blind, yet now, we can see! Baruch HaShem! Have a blessed week, Ben Avraham

ISAIAH 54:11-55:5 “Navi Yeshayahu” (Prophet Isaiah) speaks as directed by the Holy Spirit, as a father who comforts his children, promising them blessings, but begins with “Unhappy, storm-tossed one”, meaning that Israel has been through a lot, deportation to Babylon, destruction of the temple, scattered throughout the nations of the world…YET…blessings, protection, etc. will follow for THE SERVANTS OF THE LORD. Yes, for THOSE who SERVE the LORD. Yes, we have to be on HIS side, part of HIS FAMILY, and walk in OBEDIENCE. Again, we can not get away from the "Blessing" or the "curse" which line up with the "Father-Son" or "Father-children" relationship. Just as a father will punish his children for wrong-doing, and the children might call it a "curse" going to their room without dinner, or taking TV, or video privileges away from them, taking the cell phone away (now THAT's a curse!) I mean, they think so. I grew up in the 1960s when cell phones were non-existent. Even the paddle or belt across the fanny. Yet, the father wants to teach their children lessons, to follow the "commandments" of the home, or else. While they are under Mom and Dad's rule, they need to obey because they are in a relationship. That's the key word; "relationship". Israel, and now all born-again believers are in a "relationship" with our Heavenly Father through Yeshua/Jesus. The relationship covenant was set down in blood, in Messiah's blood "HaDam Yeshua". Now that we are family members, we need to follow the rules to receive the "blessing" or ignore his commandments, and receive the "curse". Today it is no different than yesteryear. We are blessed by the "blessings" or suffer through "the curse" yet "salvation" is a fixed covenant already ours through Yeshua's blood. We are not saved by following the commandments, but rather by trusting in HIM who shed his blood for us all. ” Come, all who are thirsty, come for water….” (Chap 55) Yeshua mentions LIVING WATER (himself) on Hoshanah Raba (the eighth day of Sukkot) and also, to the woman of Samaria, this water is available to US ALL, if we just choose to drink of his WORD. If we have been distancing ourselves from the Living Water (Mayim Chayim) we need to "turn around and return" (shoov, Teshuvah) to the source. Thursday starts a 40-day period of "Awe" We are entering into the Hebrew month of "Elul" which is a "soul-searching" time of reflection on our personal relationship with God, culminating on "Yom Kippur" in the month of Tishrei. It's time to return to the LORD if we have strayed away. JOHN 9:1-10:42 This is the story of the healing of the blind man. Yeshua spat in the dust and make him “new eyes!” What a miracle, and why not? Are we not made from the dust of the earth (Adamah)? So Yeshua takes the same dust and adds his own spittle (a form of water) and now, the blind man washes in the “Pool of Siloach” (which means “sent”) So, we see this; a man who has a defect (blindness) meets Yeshua (The Living God) who made man from the dust of the earth, puts dust on the blind man’s eyes, add a bit of water, then “sends” the man to wash in the pool that means “Sent” and then, he sees! There are many who are blind spiritually, they cannot or don’t want, or will not “see” the truth. They see it, yet they don’t. The Bible is TRUTH yet many just see a book with stories in it, yet when the Holy Spirit opens the eyes of the spiritually blind, then, they can now SEE! The difference between the “clean” and the “unclean” the “worldly” and “Holy”, “obedience” and “disobedience” before they were blind, and now they can see. We were all blind, yet now, we can see! Baruch HaShem! Have a blessed week, Ben Avraham

Parashah: “Re’eh” (see) DEUT: 11:26-16:17 Why are they "our choices?" Well, that's all we have in this world. The blessings and the curses, obedience or disobedience. We learn that at home from Mom and Dad. Disobey them and we might feel the belt across our fannies. Obey the law or we get arrested and go to jail. Are God's laws any different? I would say not. More so, because they come from a divine source. After this Parasha, we start the month of Elul, which is the month of soul searching and meditation on our relationship with Adonai. This year it starts on the 18th of August. It starts the 40 days of Awe which culminate with Yom Kippur in the month of Tishrei. We should ask these questions to ourselves; “where am I in my relationship with G-d?” Where have I fallen short? And how do I make things right again? Re’eh means “see” yet it is not so much “physical sight” but “insight” To be aware of following HaShem, his commandments, and our faith walk. It is also about “understanding” (Binah). So, this month of Elul is about “understanding” Adonai’s will for us, understanding more Torah, more of Yeshua. There is a relationship between the two words; “Elul” and “Binah” they both total “67” in Hebrew gematria. “6” is the number of man and “7” is God’s perfect number. Through Yeshua, Adonai looks upon us as “7”s, even though we are “6”s. Also, “Elul” (Alef, Lamed, Vav, Lamed) are the acronyms for the verse “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” in the Song of Solomon 6:3 “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li. Our heavenly Father loves us, because we belong to Him.” See” (Re’eh) this day I set before you a blessing and a curse” We wonder why YHVH did not say in the plural, “blessings and curses?” one could say perhaps “blessing” goes with “obedience” and “curse” with “disobedience” both words are also singular. One could also say that “all blessings” fall under “ONE BLESSING” (B’rakhah Echad) and all curses fall under ONE CURSE, “K’lalah Echad” the word “Echad” is ONE in UNITY, Elohim (who is unity) blesses all humanity (also Echad) that is in obedience to the WORD, and to the LIVING WORD. and also, the curse is also upon “All humanity” that does not obey and that walks in rebellion against Adonai. Well, that’s one way to look at it. This is a repetition of last week’s parashah, Moshe mentions this many times, and cannot stress it enough to his people. Even the pronoun “I” in “I set before you. is stressed in Hebrew “Anochi!” meaning “I MYSELF!!!!” (People, I am really serious!) Moshe states to his people; “you have not yet come into your rest” (12:9) Once they get into the promised land, and IF they obey the commands of Adonai, follow HIS precepts, and drive out all the pagan peoples, THEN, they will have their rest. Yet Israel did not obey all the commandments since they were still fighting against enemies and did not drive them all out. They never really came unto their “perfect rest” (Menuchah Tamim) The L-RD wanted a permanent rest for His people, yet because of disobedience, that was never accomplished. Adonai wants a “rest” for us all. The Hebrew word “Menuchah” if looked at from an ancient Hebraic point of view, could symbolize (by the paleo-Hebrew letters) “behold the living water who gives life through the nail) the letter “Chet” symbolizes a fence, a fence serves as an area of protection. We are protected and surrounded by HIS love, through the sacrifice of blood by our Messiah, who is the Living Water, who gives us life, through the nails that he received in his wrists. This gives us spiritual peace and rest, from a lifestyle of sin. It is interesting to also note that one of the towns where Yeshua ministered was “Capernaum” which, in Hebrew, is “Kaphar-Nachum” (Village of rest) 12:2 “You must destroy all the sites….” The pagan nations gathered together at different places to erect false gods and worship them, these must be destroyed! Today, we must walk away from false gods, put them behind us, and even, destroy them if necessary. If a TV has become a god to you, and you find yourself addicted to it, sell it, give it away, or destroy it. If money has become like a “god” to you, give some of it away to the poor and needy. Anything that comes before your love and worship of Adonai is considered a “false god” get rid of it! 12:13 speaks of burnt offerings, it is good to dedicate our meals to Adonai, we are blessed to be able to go to a store and buy chicken and beef already prepared. We must remember to thank YHVH for this food, ALL FOOD which means ALL that is mentioned in Leviticus 11, is for us to enjoy, now, verse 15 says, “The unclean and the clean alike may partake of it, as of the gazelle and the deer…” this is NOT talking about unclean and clean FOODS, it is talking about PEOPLE who are clean and unclean. Anyway, gazelles and deer are both clean animals, but I have never seen gazelle steaks in the supermarket, maybe in Africa they have them. It is saying that people who have diseases that render them “unclean” like lepers, may partake of this food, just like people who are disease free may, verse 22 mentions this again, “the unclean may it to together with the clean” (people). Another point to mention is that even though the gazelle and deer are clean animals to eat, they were not permitted as sacrificial animals. As we know, the animals permitted for sacrifices were bulls, sheep, goats, rams, and certain birds. Chap 13 deals with false prophets. These deceivers were NOT TOLERATED back then! Turning people away from the true worship of Adonai warranted a death sentence. Back then, God was dead serious about true worship and teaching the truth, and…HE STILL IS! We must all worship him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH, when study the scriptures (Truth) we must do so in the ‘spirit” of joy and ask for wisdom. Chap 14 deals with the chosen kosher foods which YHVH has selected for all humanity, it is a repetition of Leviticus 11. However, man thinks he is smarter than God and has added stuff to His perfect menu, and the result is obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. We all know what foods have been added to the menu, I won’t go over them as that will produce a bunch of negative comments from readers. When people’s “food comfort zone” is threatened, it is very uncomfortable to “give up” those unclean meats, no matter how tasty they may be. Well, we all can either obey or disobey, the choice is ours. ” You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” This verse has caused questions, and traditions, even unto separating meat and milk items, getting separate refrigerators, etc. All it is saying is this; (literally) if you have a female goat, and the mother goat is raising its kid, do not kill the kid, then milk the mother goat, and boil the kid in its mother’s milk. I mean, who would go out of the way to do that anyway? However, this might also have a deeper spiritual meaning. So, there is more than meets the eye and the basic understanding. ” meat” can symbolize the “flesh” and “milk” symbolize “life” it is the mother’s milk which maintains life to her young, yet “meat” once off the bone is dead! dead flesh! So, the connection is “our carnal flesh is sinful” yet the “milk of the WORD” (as said by Rav Shaul/Paul the Apostle) is what gives us LIFE. The Hebrew word for meat is “Basar” yet milk, in Hebrew, is “Chalav”. written with the same Hebrew letters, but with different vowels is “Chelev” which means “pleasure” and the three Hebrew letters “Chet, Lamed, and Beit, (CH L V) “LeiV” is also the word for “heart” so “milk” can be connected to “pleasure for the heart” and indeed, the sincere “MILK of the WORD of God is indeed, pleasure for the heart, while the things of the “flesh” (meat) are of the world. So, there is a separation of “meat and milk” symbolizing “things that give life, from things that produce death” This, of course, is not a literal separation, but spiritual and moral. (if literal, we shouldn’t eat Lasagna! Or cheeseburgers) Chapter 16 deals with “Yamim Kadoshim” the HOLY DAYS, the days that YHVH has separated for our observance and worship; PASSOVER, we remember the “Passover Lamb” who was Yeshua HaMashiach who gave his life for us all. The week of UNLEAVENED BREAD, when we put leavened bread away since leaven reminds us of SIN in our lives. SHAVUOT (Pentecost) when the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) came to earth to stay, and when the Torah was given to Israel on Har Sinai. SUKKOT the feast of booths, is a time of Thanksgiving, similar to the Thanksgiving of the pilgrims of Plymouth. When we thank God for abundant harvest, and for the coming of God to earth (as Yeshua) to walk among humankind, to teach Torah, heal, raise the dead, and die for our sins. Have you accepted HIM as your LORD and Savior? Shavua tov...Have a blessed week.

Parashah: “Re’eh” (see) DEUT: 11:26-16:17 Why are they "our choices?" Well, that's all we have in this world. The blessings and the curses, obedience or disobedience. We learn that at home from Mom and Dad. Disobey them and we might feel the belt across our fannies. Obey the law or we get arrested and go to jail. Are God's laws any different? I would say not. More so, because they come from a divine source. After this Parasha, we start the month of Elul, which is the month of soul searching and meditation on our relationship with Adonai. This year it starts on the 18th of August. It starts the 40 days of Awe which culminate with Yom Kippur in the month of Tishrei. We should ask these questions to ourselves; “where am I in my relationship with G-d?” Where have I fallen short? And how do I make things right again? Re’eh means “see” yet it is not so much “physical sight” but “insight” To be aware of following HaShem, his commandments, and our faith walk. It is also about “understanding” (Binah). So, this month of Elul is about “understanding” Adonai’s will for us, understanding more Torah, more of Yeshua. There is a relationship between the two words; “Elul” and “Binah” they both total “67” in Hebrew gematria. “6” is the number of man and “7” is God’s perfect number. Through Yeshua, Adonai looks upon us as “7”s, even though we are “6”s. Also, “Elul” (Alef, Lamed, Vav, Lamed) are the acronyms for the verse “I am my beloved’s and my beloved is mine” in the Song of Solomon 6:3 “Ani L’dodi V’dodi Li. Our heavenly Father loves us, because we belong to Him.” See” (Re’eh) this day I set before you a blessing and a curse” We wonder why YHVH did not say in the plural, “blessings and curses?” one could say perhaps “blessing” goes with “obedience” and “curse” with “disobedience” both words are also singular. One could also say that “all blessings” fall under “ONE BLESSING” (B’rakhah Echad) and all curses fall under ONE CURSE, “K’lalah Echad” the word “Echad” is ONE in UNITY, Elohim (who is unity) blesses all humanity (also Echad) that is in obedience to the WORD, and to the LIVING WORD. and also, the curse is also upon “All humanity” that does not obey and that walks in rebellion against Adonai. Well, that’s one way to look at it. This is a repetition of last week’s parashah, Moshe mentions this many times, and cannot stress it enough to his people. Even the pronoun “I” in “I set before you. is stressed in Hebrew “Anochi!” meaning “I MYSELF!!!!” (People, I am really serious!) Moshe states to his people; “you have not yet come into your rest” (12:9) Once they get into the promised land, and IF they obey the commands of Adonai, follow HIS precepts, and drive out all the pagan peoples, THEN, they will have their rest. Yet Israel did not obey all the commandments since they were still fighting against enemies and did not drive them all out. They never really came unto their “perfect rest” (Menuchah Tamim) The L-RD wanted a permanent rest for His people, yet because of disobedience, that was never accomplished. Adonai wants a “rest” for us all. The Hebrew word “Menuchah” if looked at from an ancient Hebraic point of view, could symbolize (by the paleo-Hebrew letters) “behold the living water who gives life through the nail) the letter “Chet” symbolizes a fence, a fence serves as an area of protection. We are protected and surrounded by HIS love, through the sacrifice of blood by our Messiah, who is the Living Water, who gives us life, through the nails that he received in his wrists. This gives us spiritual peace and rest, from a lifestyle of sin. It is interesting to also note that one of the towns where Yeshua ministered was “Capernaum” which, in Hebrew, is “Kaphar-Nachum” (Village of rest) 12:2 “You must destroy all the sites….” The pagan nations gathered together at different places to erect false gods and worship them, these must be destroyed! Today, we must walk away from false gods, put them behind us, and even, destroy them if necessary. If a TV has become a god to you, and you find yourself addicted to it, sell it, give it away, or destroy it. If money has become like a “god” to you, give some of it away to the poor and needy. Anything that comes before your love and worship of Adonai is considered a “false god” get rid of it! 12:13 speaks of burnt offerings, it is good to dedicate our meals to Adonai, we are blessed to be able to go to a store and buy chicken and beef already prepared. We must remember to thank YHVH for this food, ALL FOOD which means ALL that is mentioned in Leviticus 11, is for us to enjoy, now, verse 15 says, “The unclean and the clean alike may partake of it, as of the gazelle and the deer…” this is NOT talking about unclean and clean FOODS, it is talking about PEOPLE who are clean and unclean. Anyway, gazelles and deer are both clean animals, but I have never seen gazelle steaks in the supermarket, maybe in Africa they have them. It is saying that people who have diseases that render them “unclean” like lepers, may partake of this food, just like people who are disease free may, verse 22 mentions this again, “the unclean may it to together with the clean” (people). Another point to mention is that even though the gazelle and deer are clean animals to eat, they were not permitted as sacrificial animals. As we know, the animals permitted for sacrifices were bulls, sheep, goats, rams, and certain birds. Chap 13 deals with false prophets. These deceivers were NOT TOLERATED back then! Turning people away from the true worship of Adonai warranted a death sentence. Back then, God was dead serious about true worship and teaching the truth, and…HE STILL IS! We must all worship him in SPIRIT and in TRUTH, when study the scriptures (Truth) we must do so in the ‘spirit” of joy and ask for wisdom. Chap 14 deals with the chosen kosher foods which YHVH has selected for all humanity, it is a repetition of Leviticus 11. However, man thinks he is smarter than God and has added stuff to His perfect menu, and the result is obesity, high blood pressure and heart disease. We all know what foods have been added to the menu, I won’t go over them as that will produce a bunch of negative comments from readers. When people’s “food comfort zone” is threatened, it is very uncomfortable to “give up” those unclean meats, no matter how tasty they may be. Well, we all can either obey or disobey, the choice is ours. ” You shall not boil a kid in its mother’s milk” This verse has caused questions, and traditions, even unto separating meat and milk items, getting separate refrigerators, etc. All it is saying is this; (literally) if you have a female goat, and the mother goat is raising its kid, do not kill the kid, then milk the mother goat, and boil the kid in its mother’s milk. I mean, who would go out of the way to do that anyway? However, this might also have a deeper spiritual meaning. So, there is more than meets the eye and the basic understanding. ” meat” can symbolize the “flesh” and “milk” symbolize “life” it is the mother’s milk which maintains life to her young, yet “meat” once off the bone is dead! dead flesh! So, the connection is “our carnal flesh is sinful” yet the “milk of the WORD” (as said by Rav Shaul/Paul the Apostle) is what gives us LIFE. The Hebrew word for meat is “Basar” yet milk, in Hebrew, is “Chalav”. written with the same Hebrew letters, but with different vowels is “Chelev” which means “pleasure” and the three Hebrew letters “Chet, Lamed, and Beit, (CH L V) “LeiV” is also the word for “heart” so “milk” can be connected to “pleasure for the heart” and indeed, the sincere “MILK of the WORD of God is indeed, pleasure for the heart, while the things of the “flesh” (meat) are of the world. So, there is a separation of “meat and milk” symbolizing “things that give life, from things that produce death” This, of course, is not a literal separation, but spiritual and moral. (if literal, we shouldn’t eat Lasagna! Or cheeseburgers) Chapter 16 deals with “Yamim Kadoshim” the HOLY DAYS, the days that YHVH has separated for our observance and worship; PASSOVER, we remember the “Passover Lamb” who was Yeshua HaMashiach who gave his life for us all. The week of UNLEAVENED BREAD, when we put leavened bread away since leaven reminds us of SIN in our lives. SHAVUOT (Pentecost) when the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) came to earth to stay, and when the Torah was given to Israel on Har Sinai. SUKKOT the feast of booths, is a time of Thanksgiving, similar to the Thanksgiving of the pilgrims of Plymouth. When we thank God for abundant harvest, and for the coming of God to earth (as Yeshua) to walk among humankind, to teach Torah, heal, raise the dead, and die for our sins. Have you accepted HIM as your LORD and Savior? Shavua tov...Have a blessed week. Brother "Tito" enjoying our time of Torah Study at his place (Colonia Las Colinas) "Hang on to your chair Tito, don't fall out" San Salvador, El Salvador