Boker Tov!!! (Morning Greeting)

Okay, I goofed last week. Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan began yesterday (Shabbat).

Remember when you were a kid, playing outside during a long weekend? Many can remember playing baseball, riding bikes, skateboarding and climbing trees from dawn to dusk. You’d be having a great time until you heard those dreadful words, “Come inside, it’s time to get ready for bed. Tomorrow is a school day.”

The month of Cheshvan is kind of like that Sunday night before the impending school (or work) week. The previous month of Tishrei, a month overflowing with feasts and fasts, has come to an end. The spiritual high is over. We have to “come down off of the mountain” so to speak, and get back to reality. Though Cheshvan may not have the glory and grandeur of Tishrei, it is still an important month nonetheless.

Cheshvan is the beginning of the rainy season in the Land of Israel, which are called the early rains in Scripture. Last month marked the end of the harvest season. After the harvest has been brought in, petitions for rain are offered to God during Sukkot. It is during the final day of Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, that an additional petition for rain is added during the second benediction of the Amidah, “Who makes the wind blow and makes the rain descend.”

Rain, especially in the Land of Israel, is absolutely vital for life. Unlike the irrigated Nile River Valley of Egypt, the Land of Israel depends on rainfall for life. From a biblical perspective, rain is a symbol of God’s blessing.

The Master spoke of the blessing of rain in his sermon on the mount:

“[L]ove your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He…sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44-46, 48)

Just as God blesses both the righteous and unrighteous with rain, so also we should be just as unbiased in our love for our neighbors.

So this Cheshvan, as we come down from the spiritual heights of Tishrei, take a lesson from the rain. Remember that God’s love is greater than we sometimes acknowledge. May we have a perfect love for our neighbors, and treat them with kindness and respect.

Reposted from first fruits of Zion – The Rain of Cheshvan http://ffoz.org/resources/erosh/cheshvan/the_rain_of_cheshvan.php

© 2009 First Fruits of Zion, Inc. | All Rights Reserved
Printed from: http://ffoz.org/resources/erosh/cheshvan/the_rain_of_cheshvan.php

Lech Lecha | לך לך | “Go forth”

The third reading from the book of Genesis is named Lech Lecha (לך לך). It means “go forth.” The first verse says, “Now the LORD said to Abram, ‘Go forth (lech lecha לך לך) from your country.’” Section Lech Lecha introduces Abraham and tells the story of his pilgrimage in pursuit of God.

Torah (Firrst 5 {Shumahs} Books Of The Bible): B’resheet (Genesis) 12;1-17:27

Outline for this weeks TORAH

• Genesis 12:1 | The Call of Abram
• Genesis 12:10 | Abram and Sarai in Egypt
• Genesis 13:1 | Abram and Lot Separate
• Genesis 14:1 | Lot’s Captivity and Rescue
• Genesis 14:17 | Abram Blessed by Melchizedek
• Genesis 15:1 | God’s Covenant with Abram
• Genesis 16:1 | The Birth of Ishmael
• Genesis 17:1 | The Sign of the Covenant

Haftarah (Prophets): Yesha’yahu (Isaiah) 40:27-41:16

Outline for this weeks PROPHETS

• Isaiah 40:1 | God’s People Are Comforted
• Isaiah 41:1 | Israel Assured of God’s Help

Torah and Haftarah Readings plus Outlines reposted from The ESV Study Bible as seen on http://.torahportions.org/

Brit’ Chadashah (New Covenant): Romans 4:1-25

Outline for this weeks new covenant

• Romans 1:1 | Greeting
• Romans 1:8 | Longing to Go to Rome
• Romans 1:16 | The Righteous Shall Live By Faith
• Romans 1:18 | Gods Wrath on Unrighteousness

Suggested Weekly Gospel Reading: Mattai (Mathew) 1:1-17

Courtesy of www.torahportions.org a division of http://.ffoz.org

Outline for this weeks gospel

• Mattai 1:1 | The Genealogy of Yeshua

Weekly Gospel Reading plus Outline and suggest translation reposted from The Delitzsch Hebrew Gospels http://vineofdavid.org/

For further study on “Lech Lecha” and commentary, please read these articles from First Fruits of Zion http://.ffoz.org

• Deeds of the Fathers: http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/lech_lecha/deeds_of_the_fathers.php
• The Fifth Test: http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/lech_lecha/the_fifth_test.php
• The Famine: http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/lech_lecha/the_famine.php
• The Quarrel with Lot: http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/lech_lecha/the_quarrel_with_lot.php
• The greatness of the Fathers: http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/lech_lecha/the_greatness_of_the_fathers.php
• All Things Created for Him: http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/lech_lecha/all_things_created_for_him.php

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Shav’ua Tov!!! (Have a Good Week!!!)

Word מלה Millah

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