Posted on June 5th, 2009 by Rabbi Brian Bileci
The Haftarah is a text selected from the books of Nevi’im [Prophets] that is read publicly in the synagogue after the reading of the Torah on each Sabbath, as well as on the “Feasts of the L-rd” [festivals], and fast days. The most common explanation, accepted by some traditional Jewish authorities is that in 168 B.C.E., when the Jews were under the rule of the Seleucid king Antiochus IV Epiphanes, Chanukah Story [This is the Feast of Dedication/Chanukah of John 10:22, that Yeshua attended], they were forbidden from reading the Torah and made do by substituting a section of the rest of the Tanakh (The Prophets- Nevi’im). When they were again able to read the Torah (Five books of Moses), they kept reading the haftarah (the corresponding Prophet reading) as well.
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The Reading of the Prophets ~ The Haftarah
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Posted on June 5th, 2009 by Rabbi Brian Bileci
BERESHIT / Gen 4:1 The man had sexual relations with Havah his wife; she conceived, gave birth to Kayin [acquisition] and said, “I have acquired a man from Adonai.” 2 In addition she gave birth to his brother Hevel. Hevel kept sheep, while Kayin worked the soil. 3 In the course of time Kayin brought an offering to Adonai from the produce of the soil; 4 and Hevel too brought from the firstborn of his sheep, including their fat. Adonai accepted Hevel and his offering 5 but did not accept Kayin and his offering. Kayin was very angry, and his face fell. 6 Adonai said to Kayin, “Why are you angry? Why so downcast? 7 If you are doing what is good, shouldn’t you hold your head high? And if you don’t do what is good, sin is crouching at the door — it wants you, but you can rule over it.” 8 Kayin had words with Hevel his brother; then one time, when they were in the field, Kayin turned on Hevel his brother and killed him. CJB
Posted on May 19th, 2009 by Rabbi Brian Bileci
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“You shall bring your first fruits to the House of the L-rd your G-d… ” (Ex. 23:19)
The Names of the Festival
Shavuot is the anniversary of the Revelation of the Law at Mount Sinai, when the Children of Israel received the Torah from the Holy One, blessed be He. Shavuot literally means “weeks;” Shavuot is thus known as the Festival of Weeks. It is called so because it culminates the seven week period of counting the omer which begins on the second day of Passover, when the omer barley offering is brought to the Temple. But the Bible also refers to it as the “Feast of Firstfruits” (Exodus 23:16, Numbers 28:26), and the firstfruits cannot be brought to the Temple until then.
The “Seven Species” of the Land of Israel
In many ways this festival is the celebration of the Land of Israel itself, when thanks is given to G-d for the produce of the Promised Land. The bringing of the firstfruit offering to the Holy Temple is a manifestation of the land’s intrinsic holiness, given expression through the holiness of the Temple. The Shavuot offering of “firstfruits” which is mandated by this Biblical commandment to be brought to the Holy Temple and presented to the priest, are the first fruits of the season which ripen on the trees. However, the Divine commandment does not include every species of fruit, but only those of the “seven species for which the Land of Israel is praised,” as described by the verse in Deut. 8:8: wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates.
In the beginning of the 26th chapter of the book of Deuteronomy, we find detailed instructions relating to this important occasion:
“When you come to the land that the L-rd your G-d is giving you as a heritage, occupying and settling it, you shall take the first of every fruit of the ground produced by the land that the L-rd your G-d is giving you. You must place it in a basket, and go to the site that G-d will choose as the place associated with His name. There you shall go to the priest officiating at the time, and say to him, ‘Today I am affirming to the L-rd your G-d that I have come to the land that G-d swore to our fathers to give us’.”
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Posted on May 19th, 2009 by Rabbi Brian Bileci
