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Last updated October 27, 2024
Netivyah News: Israel Strikes Iran - Key Update
Netivyah News from Jerusalem: October 27th, 2024
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Vezot HaBracha: And this is the blessing/ Beresheet: From the beginning
Vezot HaBracha: And this is the blessing
Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12
Joshua 1:1-18
John 7:37-53
Beresheet: From the beginning
Genesis 1:1-6:8
Isaiah 42:5-43:10
John 1:1-18
Jerusalem, October 23, 2024
Dear friends,
This week is the end of the Torah cycle, but also the beginning of a new one. When one of our kids switched schools, one of his friends handed him a handmade craft that said: “All endings are also beginnings.” Little did we know that that move meant a completely new chapter for us, and perhaps it was one of the best steps we’ve ever made for our family.
Similarly, this Thursday, during our Simchat Torah celebration, we will end reading the Torah scroll while the kids stand really close by, under a tallit. Then – on the spot – we will scroll the Torah scroll back to very beginning. It’s quite a ceremony and a joyous team effort, while our community sings in the background, until we continue our Torah reading by reading Genesis, from the very beginning of the scroll.
The Torah ends as Israel mourns the death of their great leader Moses for 30 days, as is customary until today. But it isn’t all sadness! Right before, in chapter 33, Moses blesses the Tribes of Israel, much like a father would bless his children at the end of his life, as he remembers and contemplates their family history. And so, as a parent, Moses looks back and blesses the tribes individually throughout Deuteronomy 33, while also assigning and empowering each tribe with its individual role within the community of Israel.
While saving a collective blessing for the People of Israel until the end (Deuteronomy 33:28-29). Needless to say, that especially this year of war, that began last Simchat Torah on October 7th 2023, we truly soak up these words of blessing that “Israel lived in safety”. Our heavenly Father provides for us physically, by granting us a fertile “land of grain and wine”, while also sustaining our land for future produce as He lets the “heavens drop down dew”. Perhaps the blessing of being ‘happy’ is most significant, as it isn’t about a shallow type of happiness that depends or shifts according to our mood and emotions; but rather appears to be a unique characteristic or gift to Israel, as it says: “O Israel! Who is like you”. The reason for this happiness is that Israel is “saved by the Lord, the shield of your help, and the sword of your triumph! Your enemies shall come fawning to you, and you shall tread upon their backs.”
So, while our Heavenly Father provides for us physically and for our agricultural future, He also is our Savior in the presence of our enemies. Notice the number of words spent on security and triumph. Israel has always had plenty of enemies, and here we’re reminded that He is our Savior. Perhaps this hints back as a continuation on last week’s idea of the ‘cleft of the Rock’, where the physical rock signifies our physical security, but also is a reminds that God is our fortress in times of emotional distress, and even our spiritual Redeemer. And so, here’s just an added layer that shows that no matter what, our Heavenly Father is there besides us, as the Lord is our shield.
I love how this week’s Torah Portion can just add one more layer of wisdom. And how this week’s blessing can be a continuation on last week’s insights for us today. Adding layers that remind us on our daily walk with the Lord, much like Moses tried to pass on as much pearls of wisdom before Israel continued their journey into the Promised Land, without Moses by their sides. Truly, the Torah readings aren’t just individual verses and chapters, but much rather form a woven carpet of interrelated wisdom and blessings that are connected, and aimed to accompany our life’s journey through the Bible, from week to week, and from generation to generation.
I’m also always so touched to see the relevance of the Torah Portions. This week’s Simchat Torah is exactly a year ago since the war began, and the words that were written some 3400 years ago remind us today of His protection, presence, life and light and even triumph! That even when we are surrounded by chaos and enemies, His spirit is with us. God’s Word truly is a living Word, and I’m just soaking up all of these relevant and timely reminders through which He sustains us, especially during these uncertain times.
As we read Moses’ blessings on Simchat Torah, we will then scroll back from Deuteronomy 34 to Genesis 1. Returning straight back to the beginning where we’ll read about how God created order amidst chaos, while the earth was void and without form. Right before creating light by the power of His speech, we’re assured that “the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.” (Genesis 1:2) This light isn’t just a practical, visual aid, as John 1 adds by saying that: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (verse 5); and so, God not only creates order in chaos but also places light in hierarchy and power over the darkness of the world. As believers in Yeshua, we know Messiah is the “Light of the World” (John 8:12). His light is “the true light, which gives light to everyone” (John 1: 10), and we’re called to be like Him in being “the light of the world.” (...) “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14, 16)
Genesis portrays our image as a mirror of our Creator, as God Himself says we’re made “in our image, after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). Similarly, the New Testament likens our purpose of being a light much like our Messiah is the Light HImself.
May this be a meaningful time of blessing, and may we focus on how we can be a light so others can see the Light through our seemingly simple deeds.
Please join us in prayer for:
Roeh Israel, our kehilla
- please keep praying for Joseph and Marcia (as Marcia was hospitalized for a fifth time due to difficulty breathing), for Yehudit’s hand and physical therapy, Batsheva and Zvi (who just fell and suffers from a swollen, painful hip, which thankfully isn’t broken).
- our dear friend and brother Yehuda Levy passed away on Yom Kipur, last Friday. Our condolences go out to the Levy family in their great loss!
- our youth has been sitting in the services for a while, but asked us to return to have classes and this Shabbat they will begin the Torah Cycle, and their topic will be ‘Genesis and Family Dynamics’. Lift this group up, to find love for the Lord as they study His Word.
- last week we celebrated Sukkot on our renewed roof with a community meal, and we also had our Shabbat service in our sukkah, which was very special. We’re so grateful!
Shabbat shalom,
Lydia Bachana
Netivyah and the Roeh Israel congregation