Weekly Torah study

Introduction:

Last week’s class was very exciting, and I feel like we are off to a good start. However, I wanted to point out something that we did not get into last week though, which is the 1st Mitzvah (Commandment) of the Torah. This mitzvah can be found in verse 28 of the first chapter. “Be Fruitful and Multiply;” which is a commandment for every man to marry a woman in order to have children, thus this mitzvah flies in the face of the LGBTQ Community, because the Torah makes it clear that a man is to marry woman and not another man. This is not a suggestion, but a commandment from The Most High. The next part to this Mitzvah is that you must have children, which gives more understanding of why having children was so important for the Matriarchs. Children are to be cherished and not viewed as a burden or something to be discarded. This makes it even more clear how important each and every person is to YHWH. So with that being said, we are now brought to a point in the Torah, where the Almighty has to make a decision that was very difficult; the destruction of mankind, and how one man having faith saved his family, and subsequently all of us as well. (Rosh Jamie Dallas) Daily Readings: Sunday Torah (Genesis 6:9 -7:16): While society as a whole, descended into a state of anarchy and utter corruption, only No’ach (Noah) remained righteous and faithful to the Almighty’s ways. No’ach was informed by YHWH that a Mabul (Flood) will soon destroy all of civilization, and only No’ach and his immediate family would survive in a Teivah (Ark / Boat) that he was to build. YHWH gave No’ach the exact dimensions of the Teivah he was to build, and He commanded No’ach to bring along into the Teivah specimens of every species of animal and bird to repopulate the world after the Mabul, and to stock the boat with food to feed all its inhabitants. Of the kosher animals and birds, No’ach was commanded to take seven pairs of each species (as opposed to one pair of all other species). No’ach his family, and the required animals boarded the Teivah and the Mabul began: “The springs of the great depths burst forth and the windows of the heavens opened.”
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Monday Brit ha-Chadasha (1 Peter 3:12-22): One of the Meshi’ach’s most outspoken Talmidim, Apostle Kepha (Peter), speaking about the righteous No’ach, and highlighting this week’s Torah Portion wrote, “The eyes of YHWH are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their prayers.” However, concerning the fallen ones of that world, “But the face of YHWH is against those who do evil.” Sometimes, even the righteous suffer for doing what’s right. This doesn’t seem fair, why should someone who strives to do what is right, suffer? I mean we can clearly see the wicked suffering for their actions, but sometimes they seem to prosper while those trying to do good do not flourish. Kepha (Peter) teaches us that “Even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed.” Do not let people make you feel like you’re doing something wrong, because they see you struggling. “Those who revile your good conduct [as you follow the Meshi’ach will] be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of Elohim, [for you] to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.” Some may ask, “Why do we sometimes struggle and seemingly suffer?” The Apostle Kepha teaches us the lessons of the Meshi’ach. For we are not better than Him by any means and if He suffered for us, being just then how can we complain? Kepha tells us that the Meshi’ach suffered death, and metaphorically preached to those of us who are imprisoned in our sins and disobedience, just as No’ach did all while he prepared and built the Teivah (Ark). The Meshi’ach’s suffering is also compared to the Almighty’s long-suffering during the days of No'ach, which brought about the salvation of “Eight souls, [that] were saved through water.” (Rosh Jamie Dallas) Tuesday Torah (Genesis 7:17 - 9:7): The torrential rain lasted for forty days and nights. The waters rose to great heights and covered even the highest mountains, killing all humans and animals; everything died aside for No'ach and the other occupants of the Teivah (Ark). After the waters raged on the earth for another 150 days, YHWH caused the waters to subside. The Teivah eventually rested on the Ararat Mountains, and shortly thereafter the mountain peaks came into view. No'ach opened the window of the Teivah and dispatched birds to see whether it was time to leave the Teivah. First, he sent a raven, which refused to execute its mission and
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just circled the ark. He then sent out a dove. On its third attempt, the dove went and did not return, signaling that the earth was once again habitable. After one full year in the Teivah, the earth had dried. YHWH commanded No'ach to leave the Teivah, along with all his fellow shipmates. No'ach built an altar and offered sacrifices. This pleased YHWH, who then promised to never again curse the earth as He had just done. Instead, the regular seasons (which had not functioned during the year of the Mabul [Flood]) would continue perpetually. The Almighty then blessed No'ach and his sons: “Be fruitful and multiply upon the earth.” Thus, reminding them of the first Mitzvah (Commandment) ~ see the introduction. YHWH allowed mankind to eat meat, but prohibited murder, suicide, and the consumption of a limb ripped from a living animal (The 7 Noachide Laws). (Noach Aliyah Summary) Wednesday Brit ha-Chadasha (Matthew 24:32-44): In this section of the Brit Chadasha reading the Meshi’ach encourages us to be attentive to The Times by telling the parable about the fig tree; and asks us to stay prepared, because the end of time is at hand, and no one knows the day or hour. As the Meshi’ach taught, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” We are then told that the last days will be reminiscent of the days of No’ach, “For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that No'ach entered the ark, 39and did not know until the flood came and took them all away,” In other words, people will be just living their lives not even contemplating the calamity that’s about to befall them. So, Rebbe Yahshua commands us to watch and be ready “For the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” (Rosh Jamie Dallas) Thursday Torah (Genesis 9:8 - 10:32): YHWH told No'ach that he is establishing a covenant to never again bring a flood to destroy the world. The Almighty designated the rainbow as the sign of this covenant: “And it shall come to pass, when I cause clouds to come upon the earth, that the rainbow will appear in the cloud. And I will remember My covenant...” Next, we are told that No'ach planted a vineyard, made wine, became drunk, and fell into a deep drunken slumber — and then while naked; No'ach 's grandson, Canaan saw his grandfather’s
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nakedness, Akum (Ham), and then informed his two brothers of their father's state. The brothers, Shem and Yapheth modestly approached their father and covered him. When No'ach awakened, he cursed Akum's son, Canaan, and blessed Shem and Yapheth. This section then names No'ach 's seventy grandsons and great-grandsons, the ancestors of the “Seventy Nations,” and their adopted homelands. (Noach Aliyah Summary) Friday Brit ha-Chadasha (Acts 21:30-40): In this section of the Brit Chadasha Portion, we are told about the arrest of Rav Shaul (Apostle Paul), when the people suspected him of bringing some uncircumcised Goyim (Gentiles) within the courtyard in the Temple area. The people were already enraged believing the Shaul spoke against Moshe and the Torah, so they felt like this was the last straw. The people did not realize that Shaul was there to provide the offerings for some fellow Israelites whose Nazirite oaths had come to an end. Ya’acob ha-Tzadik the leader of Ha-Derek (The Way) ~ the original name of the followers of Yahshua; wanted to show the people that Rav Shaul did not have a problem with the Torah, by getting him to bring forth offerings, not only for them but for himself as well. Apostle Shaul did not argue with his leader nor did he tell him that those offerings were done away with because of the death of Ya’acob’s brother, Rebbe Yahshua ben-Yoseph, ha-Meshi’ach. Instead Shaul heeded the instructions of The Way and brought the offerings. Our story picks up after the offerings were made and Rav Shaul is subsequently in custody. But most of you all may be thinking, “What does this text have to do with the Torah Portion?” I will explain as follows; Unfortunately, devious individuals have used the Torah text concerning Canaan’s indiscretion; seeing his grandfather’s nakedness, to falsely declare that it caused all of Akum’s children to be cursed with blackness. However, that is far from the truth. In the Talmud 108b it states, “Akum (Ham) was afflicted in that his skin,” now for those of us who study the Torah, where do we find anything about an affliction in one’s skin? Namely in Wayikra (Leviticus) the 13th chapter where we are told about an illness that afflicts one’s skin, and later we are shown in the situation with Mariam and later with Gehazi how this illness was used as a punishment of sorts for those speaking La Shon Hara (Evil Speech / Gossip / Talebearing); this illness is called Tzara’at (A Deadly Form of Vitiligo), which causes a person’s skin color to change Not to Black ~ But to White. All mankind was black or dark in hue, in
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the beginning, starting with Adam and Chawah (Eve), even down to the Israelites, which is why this part of the book of acts is so important, for historical purposes, for in the midst of this ordeal with Rav Shaul he was asked by the chief captain of the guards, “Art not thou that Egyptian… But Shaul said, I am a man which am a Yehudi (Judean) of Tarsus.” Now the Egyptians during Shaul’s day were black in skin complexion or what some may call a people of color. Also, picture this, the Meshi’ach as a child was sent into Egypt to hide from being killed also showed that He as well was not white. So please let us put this lie to rest among ourselves and silence anyone who attempts to promulgate this rhetoric any further about people being cursed to b black for it is not Torah. (Rosh Jamie Dallas) Shabbat (Genesis 11:1-32): This section recounts the story of the Tower of Babel. No'ach 's descendants gathered in the Babylonian valley and started building a tower, in an attempt to reach the heavens. YHWH disrupted their "plan" by causing them each to speak a different language, thus destroying their communications. This caused them to disperse and settle in different lands. The Torah then lists the ten generations of Shem's descendants, which includes Eber, the father of the Hebrews. In the tenth generation Abram (later to be known as Abraham), who married Sarai (later to be known as Sarah). (Noach Aliyah Summary) Conclusion: No'ach has a lot in common with the Messiah. The Torah's story of No'ach and the flood illustrates the human condition, man’s sin, Elohim's reaction, the horror of divine judgment, and the need for salvation. No'ach was the savior of the world. In the days of No'ach, the Almighty held a terrible, universal judgment over the world. The whole earth was corrupt, but No'ach “was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with Elohim” (Genesis 6:9). No'ach proclaimed a message of repentance to a wicked and adulterous generation. The apostles called him a “preacher of righteousness” who called his generation to repent (2 Peter 2:5). He warned the people of his time about an imminent day of divine fury and judgment. No'ach offered men a means of deliverance through which they could be saved from the fate about to befall their generation.
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The name No'ach (No'ach, נח ) also alludes to Meshi’ach. When No'ach was born, his parents named him No'ach, saying, “This one will give us rest (nacham, נחם ) from our work and from the toil of our hands” (Genesis 5:29). The name No'ach (נח ), which also means “comforter,” is a form of the word Menachem (מנחם ). The sages of the Talmud say that Menachem is one of the names of Meshi’ach. Lamentations 1:16 refers to the Meshi’ach as the Menachem, i.e., the “Comforter.” Yahshua told His disciples that the Father would send them another Comforter, indicating that up until then, He had filled that title. The apostles refer to the Meshi’ach as our “Advocate with the Father,” a term employing the Greek equivalent for Menachem. Perhaps this hint toward a messianic title explains the unusual repetition of Noah’s name when the Torah says, “No'ach, No'ach” —“ אלֶּה תּוֹלְ ֹ֣ דת ֹ֔ נ ח ֹ֗ נ ח אִ֥ישׁ צ דִּ֛יק ” (Genesis 6:9). The repetition hints toward the first coming of the Meshi’ach and the second coming of the Meshi’ach. The apostles also compared the salvation Elohim brought through No'ach to the salvation that Elohim brings through the Meshi’ach. Unlike No'ach, who saved only himself and his family, however, the Meshi’ach will bring salvation to the whole world. (Torah Club: Noah, Noah, and Messiah) What does the Haftarah Portion ( Isaiah 54:1-10) … Have in common with the Sabbath School Lesson? Next Week’s Readings: Parashat Lech-Lecha / ( פרש ת לֶּךְ־לְךָ ) Torah: Genesis 12:1-17:27 Haftarah: Isaiah 40:27 - 41:16 Brit ha-Chadasha: John 8:31-45; John 8:45-58; Hebrews 7:1-28
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Sources used for this Weeks Portion are Derived from: Noach Aliyah Summary. Chabad.org, retrieved on October 27, 2019. https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/576110/jewish/Aliyah-Summary.htm Torah Club: Depths of the Torah. Noah, Noah, and Messiah. Daniel Lancaster, First Fruits of Zion, retrieved on October 14, 2020. https://torahportions.ffoz.org/portions-library/weekly-torah/noah-and-messiah.htm