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!
WE, THE TABERNACLE (Terumah)
Patrick Shannon shares from the Torah portion, Terumah, that the specific instructions to build the Tabernacle in the wilderness have a second layer of meaning regarding how we, the spiritual temple are to be built.
After clicking the PLAY button below, you can also click here to follow along with the slides, or you can watch the entire service online.
Mishpatim 2019 – Strangers
Rick Ortiz outlines the Torah portion, Mishpatim, and focuses on how and why we are to treat strangers, or sojourners, as natives like ourselves, based on Exodus 23:9. As a “mixed multitude” came out of Egypt with the nation of Israel, so there is also a mixed multitude today.
After clicking the PLAY button below, click here to follow along with the slides, or you can watch the entire service online.
The Torah Calendar Simplified – Bo
Starting from Torah portion Bo, Patrick Shannon explains the Torah calendar including when to watch for the sighting of the new moon and how the 13th month of the Hebrew year is determined.
After clicking PLAY below, you can follow along with the slides, or watch the entire service here online.
Now I See 4 – The Exodus Revelation
R. Paul Falk lays out one of the most thorough comparisons yet between the plagues in Exodus and parallel events in the Revelation to John, filling in a lot of holes in the predictions of what and how the end times prophecies will be fulfilled.
Click the PLAY button below to listen.
Or, despite some technical setbacks, you can also watch a good portion of the service here online.
Shemot 2018
Chris Shannon draws parallels between Moses and Gideon who were both used mightily by YHVH to do miraculous works, and yet both showed indications of fear, doubt, and pride.
After clicking the PLAY button below, you can follow along the slides, or watch the entire service online.
Va-Yechi 2018
Rick Ortiz addresses questions from the weekly Torah portion highlighting Jacob’s choosing of Ephraim to receive the rights of his firstborn son and shows this pattern of replacing the firstborn in other places throughout the scriptures.
After clicking the PLAY button below, you can follow along with the slides, or watch the entire service online.
Now I See 1 – Joseph’s Eyes Opened
R. Paul Falk connects the events of Joseph’s life and certain revelations that led to a change of heart. This story illustrates the fact that the Eternal One orchestrates elaborate, lifelong arrangements to open our eyes to what He wants us to see.
After clicking on the PLAY button below, you can also follow along with the slides, or watch the entire service online.
Where’s the Line? (Miketz)
Patrick Shannon points out that Yah spoke to Pharaoh, and to others throughout the scriptures that were not “His people.” So, where is the line drawn between the people of God, and people who are not? The answer is in the teachings of Yeshua.
After clicking PLAY below you can follow along with the slides, or watch the entire service online.
Va-Yishlach – The Face of God
Rick Ortiz shares an outline of the Torah portion, Va-Yishlach, with a closer look at “the face of God” as mentioned throughout the scriptures.
After clicking the PLAY button below, click here to follow along with the slides, or you can watch the entire service online.
Fire and Brimstone 2: And HAIL
Patrick Shannon completes the 2-part presentation about the phenomenon of fire, brimstone, and hail, that seems to occur more than two dozen times throughout the scriptures. He gives a scientific explanation for this and shows what is likely our only hope through a future occurrence as described in The Revelation.
Click the PLAY button below to start the audio and you may wish to download the PowerPoint show which includes some video clips, or you can watch the entire service online.
