Torah Portions
For more than two thousand years, the entire Jewish community all around the world has focused on the same part of the Scriptures each week called (in English) the Torah portion. Except during Hebraic holy days, the weekly Torah portion is featured in the synagogue (house of study) every Shabbat.
Typically, the Torah is divided into 54 portions so that the Torah is entirely cycled through once each year. It is a long-standing and fascinating tradition that has kept the entire Israelite community unified in a special way, wherever they might be, for thousands of years.
There is also a Triennial reading cycle which divides the Torah into thirds, and then into smaller portions so that cycling through the entire Torah requires three consecutive years. Instituted during the 19th century, the triennial cycle allows more in-depth focus on smaller sections of Scripture than the traditional annual cycle.
Traditionally, in many synagogues, a Torah scroll is ceremonially removed from the ark (a dedicated cabinet) and is opened to the weekly portion from which a segment is read. At ARIEL, the ark is opened with a traditional Torah blessing, but not often removed, and a selected highlight of the weekly portion is read from an English translation. Afterwards, the ark containing the Torah is respectfully closed as another traditional blessing is said.
The Torah portions at ARIEL are also recorded each week and posted here online. Enjoy!
HOW to Be Set-Apart (Kedoshim)
Patrick Shannon teaches on the various commands listed in Leviticus Chapter 19 in which the original Ten Commandments are interwoven throughout.
After clicking the PLAY button below, click here to follow along with the slides, or you can watch the entire service online.
The East Wind
Chris Shannon studies the East wind that Yah used to make the dry land for the people escaping Egypt to cross the sea, and discovers certain significance wherever an East wind was used.
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The Cure for Death (Metzorah)
Patrick Shannon shares from the Torah portion, Metzorah, and explains the likely meaning of the symbology in the ceremony for cleansing a leper, particularly as it relates to us being made clean from death.
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Tazria 2019
Rick Ortiz shares an outline of the Torah portion, Tazria, and observes the connections of leprosy with death, the evil tongue, and the fact that it was used as a sign of God’s hand both by Moses as well as Yeshua.
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Light 5 – Strange Fire
R. Paul Falk shares from the Torah portion, Shemini, how we must be careful in our practices to not be offering strange fire in ways that Yah has not commanded.
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Tsav – Kingdom of Priests
Chris Shannon speaks from the Torah portion, Tsav, and shows links between the grain offerings and specific ties to the priests. This holds a practical significance to our role, today, as a kingdom of priests in the service of the Father in this world.
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Light 3 – Sacrifices
R. Paul Falk speaks on the various offerings outlined in the Torah portion, Va’yikra, with some fresh perspectives on this ancient practice that are not only relevant for today, but for the future and for all of eternity.
After clicking the PLAY button below, click here to follow along with the slides, or you can watch the entire service online.
End of Exodus – Glory
Patrick Shannon shares an interesting perspective on the last Torah portion of Exodus, Pekudei, in which Yah inhabits the new Tabernacle. He presents his study from all of the passages in which “the cloud and the glory” appeared which give us a better understanding of our Creator’s glory.
After clicking the PLAY button below, click here to follow along with the slides, or watch the entire service online.
Vayakhel 2019
Rick Ortiz shares from the Torah portion, Vayakhel, about the the materials used in the building of the tabernacle and the significance of each with regard to what was built from them.
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War of the Two Trees
Chris Shannon shares from the Torah portion KiTisa about two opposed forces in the world: YHVH and the Tree of Life, versus the ancient tree of pagan gods which are surprisingly still worshipped today, and right around us.
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