GUIDE to SIDROT and HAFTAROTby Rabbi Arthur A. Chiel

,

<

^

K T A V PUBLISHING HOUSE INC.

C O P Y R I G H T 1971 K T A V PUBLISHING HOUSE, I N C Translation of Torah passages except for several verses is printed with the permission of the Jewish Publication Society of America from their publication The Torah copyright 1962, 1967 by the Jewish Publication Society of America.

SBN 87068-573-2

Manufactured in the United States of America Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 71-155840

T A B L E OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 3 4 5 6 11 12 16 20 24 29 33 39 43 47 51 55 59 64 BOOK OF BOOKS ALIYOT BLESSINGS FOR R E A D I N G OF T O R A H CANTILLATION BOOK OF BERESHEET Beresheet Noah Leh Leha Vayera Haye Sarah Toledot Vayetze Vayishlah Vayeshev Miketz Vayigash Vayehi BOOK OF SHEMOT

65 71 75 79 83 88 93 96 100 105 109 113 114 118 122 126 130 134 138 142 146

Shemot Va-Ayra Bo Beshalah Yitro Mishpatim Terumah Tetzaveh K i Tissa Vayakhel Pekudey BOOK OF V A Y I K R A Vayikra Tzav Shemini Tazria Metzora Ahare Mot Kedoshim Emor Behar

150 153 154 158 163 167 171 175 180 184 188 192 196 197 202 208 214 218 223 227 231

Behukotai BOOK OF B A M I D B A R Bamidbar Naso Behaaloteha Shelah Leha Korah Hukat Balak Pinhas Mattot Massey BOOK OF D E V A R I M Devarim Vaethanan Ekev Re'eh Shofetim K i Tetzeh KiTavo Nitzavim

236 240 244 250

Vayeleh Haazinu Vezot Ha-Beraha HOLIDAYS, FAST DAYS and SUPPLEMENTARY READINGS (Sabbath) Rosh Hodesh Mohar Hodesh (Eve of Rosh Hodesh) Rosh Hashana-First Day Rosh Hashana-Second Day Shabbat Shuvah Yom KippurMorning Yom KippurMinha SukkotFirst Day SukkotSecond Day Intermediate Sabbath of Sukkot

289 295 297 298 300 303 305 307 309 314 318

Simhat Torah First Hanukah Sabbath Second Hanukah Sabbath Sabbath of Shekalim Sabbath of Zahor Sabbath of Parah Sabbath Ha-Hodesh Sabbath Hagadol Passover First Day Passover Second Day Intermediate Sabbath of Passover Passover Seventh Day Passover Eighth Day Shavuot First Day Shavuot Second Day Fast Days Tisha B'av

251 253

256 260 264 266 269 275 275 280

322 326 331 336 339 342

284

Shemini Atzeret

345 Torah Notes

PREFACE "What you have inherited from your father, you must earn for yourself before you call it yours.' Certainly, this was the challenge to all of the generations of Israel with regard to Torah, Moses' inheritance to the Congregation of Jacob. Unlike the religious writings of other ancients which were kept secret by zealous priests from the eyes of their peoples, Moses and his successors believed it to be their God-given responsibility to make the Torah's teachings known to the whole household of Israel. Our ancestors succeeded in the enterprise of Torah transmission from generation to generation, down to our own day. Contributing very considerably to this achievement was the establishment of the Synagogue. In that Assembly House of our people, the reading and instruction of Torah became an integral part of the Service, on Sabbaths, Holy Days, Fast Days; and on Mondays and Thursdays. I n that House of Prayer and Study it was examined and expounded day by day. It is now our sacred task to forge a further link between the generations in their understanding of and loyalty to Torah. We would hope that the survey of Sidrot and Hajtarot presented in this text might be helpful in some measure towards that worthy goal. The Massoretes, rabbis and researchers of centuries ago, who lovingly examined and structured the Torah text, inform us that there are 5,845 verses in the Pentateuch. How to remember that bit of Bible statistic? By taking note of the Hebrew word &, the sun. Bearing in mind that each Hebrew letter has numerical value, the stands for 5,000, the for 800, the for 40, the final for 5. Add up these numbers and they come to 5,845. And as the sun spells life for humanity, the Torah means life to Jewry. We are called upon to walk in the light shed by Torah. God grant that we learn and earn the precious inheritance of our fathers. Rabbi Arthur A. Chiel5

I wish to thank Mr. JeromeE.Roth of Ktav for his patient, skillful and devoted hand with which he piloted this book through its technical stages.

T H E B O O K O F BOOKSThe Bible is divided into three parts: Torah or Five Books of Moses Nevi-im or Prophets ? Ketuvim or Writings The three first letters of Torah, Afevi-im and .Ketuvim make up the word Ta Na K the Hebrew name for the Bible. As Ta Na Ki would indicate, the Bible is really a Book of Books. A l together, it is a collection of every sort and description of writings and laws, created over at least thirteen centuries. Torah, meaning "law" or "instruction ' consists of the Five Books of Moses: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Their names in Hebrew are derived from the first important word in each book. Nevi-im, the second part of Ta Na K, is divided into two sections: Early Prophets ( ) and Later Prophets ( ? ) . The Early Prophets consists of: Joshua, Judges, First ( I ) Samuel, Second ( I I ) Samuel, First ( I ) Kings and Second ( I I ) Kings. These are books of history, telling us of personalities and events in Israel's experience in their own land until the destruction of the first Temple. Above all, these books attempt to show God's role in human history. The Later Prophets includes: Isaiah, Jeremiah, and Ezekiel, and the prophets referred to as the Twelve or the Minor Prophets: Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. These prophets were spokesmen of God, inspired men from among the Hebrews who dared to speak the absolute truth in the face of oppression, and who dared to demand of their people complete loyalty to Torah's teachings. Ketuvim, the third division of TaNa K consists of a variety of Writings: The Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Five ScrollsSong of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, EstherDaniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, First ( I ) Chronicles and Second ( I I ) Chronicles. These are historical, devotional, instructional, poetic, and dramatic works.5

3

THE ALIYOTEach Sabbath Sidrah is divided into seven portions. For each portion a man is called up to the Torah to pronounce the Benedictions in which thanks are expressed for the gift of the Torah to Israel. The honor is called an ?^which means "going up." To these is added the Aliyah called .after which the is read. On the Sabbath we may add more Aliyot when necessary. The honor of raising the Torah scroll is called and the dressing of the scroll ?. On Yom Kippur morning six Aliyot are designated (if it falls on the Sabbathseven). For Rosh Hashanah and the Festivals there are five Aliyot. For Rosh Hodesh and weekday Hoi Hamoed there are four. For Monday and Thursday mornings and Sabbath afternoons three Aliyot are designated and two for the Yom Kippur Minha service (the third of which is the Maftir). If there is a and present in the congregation the first Aliyah is given to the Kohen and the second to the Levi, honoring them for their special positions in the ancient Temple. Ideally, every person called for an Aliyah should read his portion from the Torah. But because there is need for special skill to chant the Torah text, synagogues have assigned a Torah reader who is known as a Ba'al Koreh, , a master reader. While an Aliyah is an honor extended at any time that the Torah is read, one can also request an Aliyah for special occasions: the naming of a child, a bridegroom about to be married, a yahrzeit observance. Special prayers are offered immediately after the Aliyah marking the special event. On being called to the Torah for an Aliyah, the person honored touches the Torah with the fringe, kisses the fringe, and proceeds to chant the first blessing. After the portion has been read, the person honored again touches the Torah with the Tallit fringe, kisses it, and proceeds to chant the second blessing. On completing the second blessing, the person honored moves to the side of the reading table ( ) and remains there until the next person has completed his blessings. He then shakes hands with the Gabbairn (officials at both sides of the reading table) and the Ba-al Koreh, and is seated.4

:

- :

T

-

:

T H E R E A D I N G O F T O R A H AND H A F T A R A HThe reading of the Torah in the synagogue is known in. Hebrew as Keriat ha-Torah. This tradition is a very ancient one going back to the time of Moses. I t was definitely established on the return to Palestine, by Ezra in 444 B.C.E. I n the course of time the Torah came to be read in the synagogue on every Sabbath, on the Festivals, and on Monday and Thursday mornings. The Keriat haTorah was a way of combining study with worship. The reading of the Haftarah in the synagogue is known as Haftarah b'navi, or "concluding with the Prophets." I t is believed that this tradition began in Palestine in the second century B.C.E. when the Syrians had forbidden the reading of the Torah. Selections from the Prophets were therefore substituted. I n time, the reading of the Haftarah became a regular part of Sabbath and Festival Services. Generally, the theme of the Haftarah is related to some idea dealt with in the Torah reading.BLESSINGS B E F O R E READING T H E TORAH

. Congregation:

. : The person who is called up to the Reading repeats: He who is called to the reading of the Torah continues:

:* 1 :

, ,: , . . After Reading the portion of the Torah the following Blessing is said:

, . 5 : V

VI

IT

9

IT

V

CANTILLATIONThe tradition of chanting aloud the Books of the Bible is an ancient one. I n Deuteronomy 31:19, Moses instructs the Israelites: "Now therefore write this song for you, and teach it to the children of Israel. . . . The song referred to by Moses is Chapter 32 in Deuteronomy. According to tradition, too, Ezra, on the return of Israel from Babylonia, in 444 B.C.E. established the public reading of the Torah with a special melody system. This is known as the cantillation system consisting of some twenty-five little signs which appear above or below the words of the Bible text. They are usually referred to as the "trope," from the Greek, meaning "the turn." With each of these signs the melody takes a certain turn or interpretation. The trope signs are the same for Torah and Haftarah but the melody is different.,

T A B L E OF H A F T A R A H TROPE MELODIESChart V

4

3

*

2

Et nach - ta

Mu-nach

Tip-cha

Mer - cha

8

7**

6

Ka - ton _

Mu - nach

Pash - ta

Ma-pach _9

10

***

Se - gol

Zar-kah

Mu-nach

6

4

R'-vi-i

^1 I MJ J I J 1 l j g = B J M t = A. IT I

13

12

T' - vlr5

Dar - gah.

16

Ger - sha - yim

0ga - dol

Za - kef

18

17 Ytiv

Pa - zer

20

9 Kad-mah

i n sAz - lah

22A

T IIT

21 T IIT

l^^^^

Tli-sha

G'do - lah0

Tli - sha K'ta - nah

25

,>j! j i j J f i g i i l jr

24

231

j i ^ iRest (no tune)7

End of Haftarah Melody

Sof pa-suk

T A B L E OF T O R A H TROPE MELODIES 4 f=1 \J " 'Mu-nach Et-nach - ta.

3

f f'j &J

2 J 1

1 4 = ^ 5 A

Tip-cha

Mer-cha

7 * Mu-nach

6A

T

:

l : ~ AT T

T

:1 ^ 3 : ' ^ ' " :' : : * : ^ : /"' ^ 1 1 Tj *

~

AT

T

\T

r

r

T

t

:

Genesis 18.1-14

Then the Lord said, "The outrage of Sodom and Gomorrah is so great, and their sin so grave! ' I will go down to see whether they have acted altogether according to the outcry that has come to Me; if not, I will take note."2

20

1 :

^ * "

'

Hosea 13.4

Hosea lives at a time of great difficulty and uncertainty in the Northern Kingdom. There is a continuing situation of political struggle, and the leaders of the Northern Kingdom do not understand the coming terrible threat of powerful Assyria. Hosea sees the possible doom ahead for the Northern Kingdom and he tries to alert the people to their wrongdoings against God, and to the penalty they will have to pay if they do not change their ways for the better. Therefore they shall be as the morning cloud, And as the dew that passes away, As the chaff that is driven by the wind out of the threshing-floor, And as the smoke out of the window.

Return, O God;

Israel, unto the Lord your

For you have stumbled in your iniquity. Take with you words, And return to the Lord; Say to Him; 'Forgive all iniquity, And accept that which is good; So will we render for bullocks the offering of our lips.

& . : : T

T

Hosea 14.2-3

42

SIDRAH VAYISHLAHGenesis 32.4-35.29 The Sidrah tells of the return of Jacob to his home in Canaan. He had fled from it more than twenty years earlier to escape the anger of his brother, Esau. Now as he comes back into Canaan he is afraid. Will Esau forgive him and forget what Jacob had done to him long ago? Or would Esau still want revenge? Jacob decides to send several messengers ahead, to inform Esau* in humble words, of his return. The messengers return to Jacob and say, "Your brother Esau is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." Jacob is afraid of Esau's actions and he prays for courage to stand up to his brother. Then Jacob sends a peace-offering of camels and cattle, hoping that Esau may look upon these gifts with good will. The night before the morning when Jacob is to meet Esau is a restless one for Jacob. He is deeply troubled. Will the morning bring a bloody battle or will there be a happy reunion between him and his brother? He sends his family across the river, and waits alone. There in the darkness, wrestling with his feelings, Jacob finds himself involved in an unexpected wrestling match with a mysterious stranger. A fierce struggle takes place. Jacob is pinned to the ground by the unknown opponent. Somehow Jacob breaks the hold that the unknown has upon him and downs the attacker. The frightening match continues back and forth for a long time. A t last Jacob beats his opponent. Was Jacob awake and was the struggle real? Was it a dreadful nightmare? Is it the inner struggle of a man with his own feelings, his own thoughts before facing a great problem? Whatever this experience has been, Jacob has emerged as the winner. He now is blessed with a new nameIsrael, meaning: "He who strives with God. For you have struggled wtih God and with men, and you have won.'' Then at daybreak comes the encounter. Esau and his company of four hundred men appear coming towards him. Jacob ap proaches slowly, bowing to the ground. Suddenly a man rushes toward Jacob and embraces him joyfully. I t is Esau! He has, after all these years, forgiven Jacob. The meeting is a happy reunion between the two hrothers.43

But Jacob's happiness on his return to Canaan is not to last. Soon his beloved wife, Rachel, dies. Then his. old, sickly father, Isaac, dies too. Together, Esau and Jacob bury their father in the Cave of Machpelah at Hebron. The two brothers are united in sorrow.

J a c o b sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, and instructed them as follows, "Thus shall you say, 'To my lord Esau, thus says your servant Jacob: I stayed with Laban and remained until now; I have acquired cattle, asses, sheep, and male and female slaves; and I send this message to my lord in the hope of gaining your favor.' " The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau; he himself is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him." J a c o b was greatly frightened; in his anxiety, he divided the people with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, "If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, the other camp mav yet escape."5 6 7 8 9

4

: . : ^ ^ : * : : ^ : : ' : ^:

T h e n Jacob said, " O G o d of my father Abraham and G o d of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, 'Return to your native land and I will deal bountifully with you'! I am unworthy of all the kindness that You have so steadfastly shown Your servant: with my staff alone I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. D e liver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; else, I1 1 12

10

' : "' ' ^ : 6 5:^\ : 1

0

44

fear, he may come and strike me down, mothers and children alike. Y e t You have said, '1 will deal bountifully with you and make your offspring as the sands of the sea, which are too numerous to count.'1 3

' : " '

3

Genesis 32.4-13

VAYISHLAH1. Does Jacob behave sensibly in his approach to Esau? 2. What was Jacob's dream twenty years earlier, when he was a fugitive running from home? 3. Compare Jacob's strange nighttime experience with the earlier dream. Does this one reassure him? 4. How does Esau come out, as a person, in his reunion with Jacob? 5. Do you think that a crisis brings out the good in people?

HAFTARAH VAYISHLAHObadiah 1 The Haftarah is from the Prophet Obadiah. The Book of Obadiah is the shortest in the Bible consisting of one chapter. I n it, Obadiah criticizes Edom, the southern neighbor and longtime enemy of Israel. Edom's worst betrayal of Israel took place soon after 586 B.C.E. when Jerusalem and the Temple had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar of Babylonia. The Edomites looted and massacred the defeated and weakened Judeans. What particularly angered the Prophet Obadiah against Edom was the fact that this traitorous neighbor was descended from Esau. In his condemnation of Edom, Obadiah was protesting, too, the hatred between nations. I t is Obadiah's strong belief that God demanded justice of all the nations. The theme-link between the Sidrah and the Haftarah is the struggle between Jacob and Esau and later between their descendants.

45

The vision of Obadiah. Thus says the Lord G o d concerning

PP.T

,

4

I D ^ T G HyiD^

YftPi*

6^61^

'

Lord"" nations:,

m C S S a g e

T ^ ' f * T i _ : n ^ ^ o ^ j:

And an ambassador is sent among the Arise, and let us rise up against her in battle.' Behold, I make you small among nations; You are greatly despised. The pride of your heart has deceived 1| ] 3 " T P the

"^P ^ "

1

you,O you that dwells in the clefts of the rock, Your habitation on high; That says in your heart: 'Who shall bring me down to the ground?' Obadiah 1.1-3 And the house of Jacob shall be a fire, And the house of Joseph a flame, And the house of Esau for stubble, And they shall kindle in them, and devour them; And there shall not be any remaining of the house of Esau; For the Lord has spoken. And they of the South shall possess the mount of Esau, And they of the Lowland the Philistines; And they shall possess the field of Ephraim, And the field of Samaria; And Benjamin shall possess Gilead. Obadiah 1.18-19

^^

1^15

^

tf0 v ~

tVTt) j-p^ ; 61

!

^ . ^ .

HQ! > 1 * :

.

)ifcty ?

I^TI '

0

' ^ TV&"HA U#V! 1? ^ ^ W ^ rnt? 1

1

!

* !

46

SIDRAH V A Y E S H E VGenesis 37-40 The Sidrah tells of Jacob and his special love for one of his sons over all of his other children. It is a clear case of favoritism. One might have expected that Jacob would have known better than to favor Joseph, because of his own experiences. I n his childhood he was the favorite of his mother, Rebekah, while Esau, his brother was favored by their father, Isaac. This had led to much unhappiness in Jacob's young days. But Joseph was born when Jacob was an old man and his other children were already grown. He fussed over the youngest, causing jealousy and disharmony among the brothers. When Benjamin is born, and their mother, Rachel dies, Jacob becomes even more attached to his favorite son. He gives Joseph the "coat of many colors." This coat is not only beautiful, but in ancient days it was the kind of coat worn only by chiefs. No wonder Joseph's brothers were angry, and no wonder that Joseph, himself, became overbearing in his ways. Favorites have a cocky way about them, and Joseph, too, lords it over his brothers, reporting to his father about their activities, and making himself very unpopular. I n addition to showing off the special coat which his father has given him, Joseph reveals dreams to his brothers which makes him more hated than ever. I n the dreams that Joseph tells, he sees himself as mightier than all of them. Soon the day comes when Joseph's brothers decide to get even with him. Jacob sends Joseph out into the countryside to see how they are getting along. When the brothers see him in the distance they plan to revenge themselves for his dreams and attitudes. Some of the brothers suggest that Joseph be killed. Reuben, the oldest of them, recommends that Joseph be thrown into a pit and be left there to die. Reuben had really intended to return later and let Joseph escape. As soon as Reuben had gone away, the remaining brothers decide to sell Joseph as a slave to a caravan of merchants on their way down to Egypt. Joseph is sold. His "coat of many colors" is dipped in animal blood by the brothers and47

brought to their father, Jacob. They tell the shocked father that an animal has devoured Joseph. Now the brothers will have to live a lie for many years, and Joseph will lose his superior airs. In the meanwhile, Joseph who has been sold as a slave in Egypt, is imprisoned through no fault of his own. As a prisoner, he successfully interprets the dreams of two fellow prisoners who had been officials in Pharaoh's court. Dream interpretation was an accepted part of Egyptian life, and it is Joseph's good fortune that he correctly predicted the occurrences in the lives of Pharaoh's servants from their dreams.

Now Jacob was settled in the land where his father had resided, the land of Canaan. This, then, is the line of Jacob:2

1

A t seventeen years of age, Joseph tended the flocks with his brothers, as a helper to the sons of his father's wives Bilhah and Zilpah. And Joseph brought bad reports of them to their father. Now Israel loved Joseph best of all his sons, for he was the child of his old age; and he made him an ornamented tunic. A n d when his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of his brothers, they hated him so that they could not speak a friendly word to him.5 4

'Once Joseph had a dream which he told to his brothers; and they hated him even more. H e said to them, "Hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were binding sheaves in the field, when suddenly my sheaf stood up and remained upright; then your sheaves gathered around and bowed low to my sheaf." H i s brothers answered, "Do you mean to reign over us? Do you mean to rule over us?" And they hated him even more for his talk about his dreams.6 7 8

' " :^ ' ' ', : : ; " : ^ ' : ' :' ^ :

48

H e dreamed another dream and told it to his brothers, saying, "Look, I have had another dream: And this time, the sun, the moon, and eleven stars were bowing down to me." A n d when he told it to his father and brothers, his father berated him. "What," he said to him, "is this dream you have dreamed? A r e we to come, I and your mother and your brothers, and bow low to you to the ground?" S o his brothers were wrought up at him, and his father kept the matter in mind.1 0 1 1

9

' &" ' : : : # 1 T T

J

I

AT

V be continued for y o u . ' A s for the son of J 3

\ 1 -faffy ^ - ! ^

I

I

.

.

" I T

>

I :

J"

I

T

IVT

T

:

J

AT (

:

the slave-woman, I will make a nation of him, too, for he is your seed." Genesis 21.12-13

DX\" ,

~

1

' IWi!

256

In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations. You shall observe it as a day when the horn is sounded.

^';5 '&3 : ' .. >* , , * .

MaftirNumbers 29.1

HAFTARAH READING ROSH HASHANAHFIRST D A Y First Samuel 1.2-10 The Haftarah tells of the birth of a child to Hannah and Elkanah. Like Abraham and Sarah, this couple has been childless for a long time. Hannah prays with all her heart to God, and promises that if she and her husband should yet be blessed with a son, he would be dedicated from birth to God's service. A t last, Hannah's prayer is fulfilled and Samuel is born. Hannah carries out her promise and Samuel is dedicated to God. He eventually becomes a prophet and judge among the people. As in the Torah reading where God remembers Sarah and blesses her with a child, so, too, in the Haftarah, is Hannah remembered.

Now there was a certain man of Ramathaim-zophim, of the hill-country of Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephraimite. A n d he had two wives: the name of one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah; and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. A n d this man went up out of his city from year to year to worship and to sacrifice to the Lord of hosts in S h i l o h . . .

, ^:9' T ^ /.'. ,3

I Samuel 1.1-3

257

So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. N o w Eli the priest sat upon his seat by the door-post of the temple of the L o r d ; and she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord, and wept bitterly. A n d she vowed a vow, and said: ' O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your handmaid, and remember me, and not forget Your handmaid, but will give to Your handmaid a manchild, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.'

* & , : : , ^^^ '^( ' : :

I Samuel 1.9-11Then Eli answered and said: G o in peace, and the G o d of Israel grant your petition that you have asked of Him.",

/ Samuel 1.17A n d it came to pass in due time, that Hannah conceived, and bore a son; and she called his name Samuel: because I have asked him of the Lord.',

61^ : " ^ ^ #,

taltfTW: v

NOTflD

:

1 2

1

s

a

,

a

7

260

,

VT,:

I

1

V

: V.I. :IV

HAFTARAH READING ROSH HASHANAHSECOND D A YJeremiah 31:2-20 The Prophet Jeremiah, who lived to see the destruction of the First Temple and the exile of his people, brings to them a message of hope for the future. Jeremiah urges that the exiles repent of their wrongdoings and return to a full faith in God. He, in turn, will restore them to their land and they shall live in peace once more. One of the important themes of Rosh Hashanah is Teshuvah, repentance of wrong and a return to right. The Haftarah emphasizes this theme.

I0V6*

"

L

J

:

~

A" :

-~

Therefere with affection have I drawn you. A g a i n I will build you, and you shall be built, O virgin 0( Israel; A g a i n shall you be adorned with your tabrets, A n d shall g o forth in the dances of those that make merry.

# ?

Jeremiah 31.1-3

261

Hear the word 0( the Lord, you nations, A n d declare it in the far-away isles and say: ' H e that scattered Israel does gather him, A n d keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.' For the Lord has ransomed Jacob, A n d H e redeems him from the hand of him that is stronger than he. Jeremiah 31 . 9-10

: :

Thus says the Lord:

,

a

voice is heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, ad bitter weeping, Rachel weeping for her children; She refuses to be comforted for her children, Because they are not. Thus says the Lord: Refrain your voice from weeping, A n d your eyes from tears; For your work shall be rewarded, says .he L o r d ; A n d they shall come back from the land of the enemy. A n d there is hope for your future, says the Lord, A n d your children shall return to their own border. I have surely heard Ephraim bemoaning himself: 'Thou have chastised me, and I was chastised, As an untrained calf; Turn me, and I shall be turned, For you are the Lord my G o d .

. . . T

-

r iit1

Zechariah 14.21

!

:

277

HAFTARAH READING SUKKOTSECOND D A Y First Kings 8:2-21 The Haftarah tells of the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem by King Solomon in the tenth century B.C.E. Some thirty thousand men of Israel had been involved in the construction of Solomon's Temple. Such a large number of workers were involved because,, in addition to the actual building work done in Jerusalem, the lumber had to be cut down in the Lebanon mountain country and transported by sea to Jaffa. Finally, from Jaffa began the transport overland, up to Jerusalem. Altogether, it was a long process which may have taken as much as twenty years. A t last, the Temple of Jerusalem was completed and the dedication festivities extended over fourteen days, of which the last seven were the days of Sukkot.A n d ail the men of Israel assembled themselves before king Solomon at the feast, in the month Ethanim, which is the seventh month. A n d all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took p p the ark. A n d they brought up the ark of the Lord, and the tent of meeting, and all the holy vessels that were in the Tent; even these d i d the priests and the Levites bring u p . A n d king Solomon and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled before him, were with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted or numbered for multitude. / Kings 8.2-53

' : ' ^ ^ :" :

278

Then spoke Solomon: The Lord has said that H e would dwell in the thick darkness. I have surely built You a house of habitation, A place for You to dwell in for ever. A n d the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel; and all the congregation of Israel stood. A n d he said: 'Blessed be the Lord, the G o d of Israel, who spoke with His mouth to David my father, and has with His hand fulfilled i t , saying: Since the day that I brought forth M y people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that M y name might be there; but I chose David to be over M y people Israel. N o w it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the G o d of Israel. But the Lord said to David my father: Whereas it was in your heart to build a house for M y name, you d i d well that it was in your heart; nevertheless you shall not build the house; but your son that shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for M y name. A n d the Lord has established His word that H e spoke; for I am risen up in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord promised, a n d have built the house for the name of the Lord, the G o d of Israel. A n d there have I set a place for the ark, wherein is the covenant of the Lord, which H e made with our fathers, when H e brought them out of the land of Egypt.'

: *:6 : : ' : , ' ^ ^ :' 6 . | ': ' . : , " ' : , : ' _ , ^ ^ ' = : :^^0 3 3 ;

/ Kings 8.12-21

279

T

TORAH READING SUKKOTINTERMEDIATE SABBATHExodus 33:12-34:26 The unfortunate Golden Calf experience had created an estrangement between God and Israel. Moses pleads for God's forgiveness of the people and also asks God's assurance that He will guide Israel in their further wanderings. God responds favorably to Moses' prayer on Israel's behalf. He instructs Moses to hew another set of stone Tablets to replace the first which he had broken on seeing the Golden Calf. Moses does so. A t this second Revelation on Mount Sinai, God makes known to Moses, too, His thirteen characteristics in ethical terms. These qualities include: Mercy, Graciousness, Patience, Generosity, Truth, and Forgiveness. Having forgiven Israel for their sin, God now renews His Covenant with them, repeating His promise of special blessings to Israel. But Israel, in turn, must reject all idolatry and lead their special sacred way of life which includes the observance of the Sabbath and holidays.The Lord said to Moses: " C a r v e two tablets of stone like the first, and I will inscribe upon the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you shattered. Be ready by morning, and in the morning come up to Mount Sinai and present yourself there to M e , on the t o p of the mountain. N o one else shall come up with y o u , and no one else shall be seen anywhere on the mountain; neither shall the flocks and the herds graze at the foot of this mountain.", 2 3

^ ' ' : & : 1

So Moses carved two tablets of stone, like the first, and early in the morning he went up on Mount Sinai, as the Lord had commanded him, taking the two stone tablets with him.4

Exodus 34.1-4

: ' :

1

J

\

280

The Lord came down in a cloud; H e stood with him there and proclaimed the name Lord. The Lord passed before h i m , and proclaimed: "The L o r d ! the Lord! a G o d compassionate and g r a cious, slow to anger, rich in steadfast kindness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving i n iquity, transgression, and sin; yet H e does not remit all punishment, but visits the iniquity of fathers upon children and children's children, upon the third and fourth generations."5 4 7 8

Moses hastened to bow low to the ground in homage, ' a n d said, " I f I have gained Yfiur favor, O Lord, pray, let the Lord go in our midst. Stiffnecked though this people be, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your o w n . "

:. . ^^^ ^ : # v m m : ^ ^3 :

r

-i.r

:

I1V 1

- p -

: ; ^ '1 ^ : " & :' ^ ^ , : : ^ :3

H e said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will work such wonders as have not been wrought on all the earth or in any nation; and all the people who are with you shall see how awesome are the Lord's deeds which I will perform for y o u . " M a r k well what I command you this d a y . I will drive out before you the Amorites', the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. Beware of making a covenant with the inhabitants of the land against which you are advancing, lest they be a snare in your midst. N o , you must tear down their altars, smash their pillars, and cut down their sacred posts; f o r you must not worship any other g o d , because the Lord, whose name is Impassioned, is an impassioned G o d ., 0 12 1 3 14

Exodus 34.5-14

281

Y o u shall observe the Feast 0 ( Unleavened Bread eating unleavened bread for seven days, as I have c o m manded y o u a t the set time of the month of A b i b , for in the month of A b i b you went forth from Egypt.,8

"Every first issue of the womb is Mine, from all your livestock that d r o p a male as firstling, whether cattle or sheep. B u t the firstling of an ass you shall redeem with a sheep; if you d o not redeem it, you must break its neck. A n d you must redeem every first-born among your sons. None shall appear before M e empty-handed.20

S i x days you shall work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor; you shall cease from labor even at plowing time and harvest time.2,

: :1 ^^ : $, :# * : ^ 5

ft

V

I !

it

. T

V

TT

AT T

T

Y o u shad observe the Feast of Weeks, of the first fruits of the wheat harvest; and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year. T h r e e times a year all your males shall appear before the Sovereign Lord, the G o d of Israel. I will drive out nations from your path and enlarge your territory; no one will covet your land when you g o up to appear before the Lord your G o d three times a year.22 23 2 4

: ^ # ^* ? :^ ^ # : 1 1 : 3

Y o u shall not offer the blood of M y sacrifice with anything leavened; and the sacrifice of the Feast of Passover shall not be left lying until morning.25

The choice first fruits of your soil you shall bring to the house of the Lord your G o d . You shall not boil a kid in its mother's milk.2 4

Exodus 34.18-26

282

HAFTARAH READING SUKKOTINTERMEDIATE SABBATHEzekiel 38:18-39:16

The Prophet Ezekiel predicts the restoration of Israel to their land. I t will not be a peaceful process. Powerful enemy armies shall attempt to block Israel's return. But the enemies shall suffer defeat. The tradition arose that this war of final victory for Israel would be waged during Sukkot.

A n d you, son of man, prophesy against G q g and say: Thus says the Lord G o d : Behold, I am against you, O G o g , chief prince of Meshech and Tubal; and I will turn you about and lead you on, and will cause you to come up from the uppermost parts of the north; and I will bring you upon the mountains of Israel. A n d I will smite your bow out of your left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand. You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you and all your bands, and the peoples that are with y o u ; I will give you to the ravenous birds of every sort and to the beasts of the field to be devoured. You shall fall upon the open f i e l d ; for I have spoken it, says the Lord G o d . A n d I will send a fire on M a g o g , and on them that dwell safely in the isles; and they shall know that I am the Lord. A n d my holy name I will make known in the midst of my people Israel; neither will I suffer M y holy name to be profaned any more; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy one in Israel.

* ] * ': . & . : ^ 1 ' : ' /' ^&^ : , ' :

)

,

:

,

> :

A

:

Ezekiel 39.1-7

283

TORAH READING SHEMINI A T Z E R E TDeuteronomy 14:22-16:17 The Torah reading deals with a variety of laws which Israel must fulfill when they settle in their own land. Moses spells them out in detail. These laws will help guarantee justice for all of the people. Among them are the following: TithesOne tenth of their yearly farm produce was to be set aside for taking to the Sanctuary where they and their families were to eat it in festive gathering before God. Other tithes, mentioned elsewhere in the Torah, were to be set aside for use by the Levites who owned no land and by the poor who might lose their land. Year of ReleaseIn every seventh or Sabbatical year loans of money were to be cancelled in order to give the poor an opportunity to rise from their poverty. Release of Hebrew SlavesAfter six years of service Israelites must free all persons who, because of need, sold themselves into slavery. Such unfortunate people are to be given the chance to start life as free men and women again. Observance of the Three Pilgrimage FestivalsThese are Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot. On these holidays, Israel shall make pilgrimages to their Sanctuary and bring thanksgiving sacrifices to God.2 2

Y o u shall set aside every year a tenth2 3

part of all the yield of your sowing that is brought from the field. Y o u shall consume the tithes of your new grain and wine and o i l , a n d the firstlings of your herds and flocks, in the presence of the Lord your G o d , in the place where H e will choose to establish His name, so that you may learn to revere the Lord your G o d forever.

r1fcnppS3

TfeWfi

Deuteronomy 14.22-23

284

Every third year you shall bring out the full tithe of your yield of that year, but leave it within your settlements. T h e n the Levite, who has no hereditary portion as you have, and the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow in your settlements shall come and eat their fill, so that the Lord your G o d may bless you in all the enterprises you undertake.28 2,

% : J

.

T

>

:

' q

:

:

'"

Deuteronomy 14.28-29

{ :^T

Every seventh year you shall practice remission of debts. This shad be the nature of the remission: every creditor shall remit the due that he claims from his neighbor; he shall not dun his neighbor or kinsman, for the remission proclaimed is of the Lord.1 2

m

Deuteronomy 15.1-2

: ' : . ^ ^ ) :

Beware lest you harbor the base thought, "The seventh year, the year of remission, is a p p r o a c h i n g , " so that you are mean to your needy kinsman and give him nothing. H e will cry out to the Lord against you, and you will incur guilt. G i v e to him readily and have no regrets when you d o so, for in return the Lord your G o d will bless you in all your efforts and in all your undertakings., 10

Deuteronomy 15.9-10

' : : '

28

I f a fellow Hebrew, man or woman, is sold to you, he shall serve you six years, and in the seventh year you shall set him free. ' W h e n you set him free, d o not let him g o empty-handed:12 1

Deuteronomy 15.12-13

?- , ^ $ ' : T j p y p :

Observe the month of A b i b , and offer a passover sacrifice to the Lord your G o d , for it was in the month of A b i b , at night, that the Lord your G o d freed you from Egypt.

) " :$

Deuteronomy 16.1

Y o u shall count off seven weeks; start to count the seven weeks when the sickle is first put to the standing grain. Then you shall observe the Feast of Weeks for the Lord your G o d , offering your freewill contribution according as the Lord your G o d has blessed y o u ., 10

^ && .1 : # ,! ^^ TITO Deuteronomy 16.9-10 *! : 1 $3 0 1: :3 ?

:

* :

| v !

;' ': .'..

/ Samuel 15.1-3

A n d Saul smote the Amalekites, from Havilah as you g o to Shur, that is irt front of Egypt. A n d he took A g a g the king of the Amalekites alive, and utterly destroyed all the people with the edge of the sword.

? ^ ^ ^ : :

/ Samuel 15.7-8

Then came the word of the Lord to Samuel saying: ' I repent that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following M e , and has not performed M y commandments. A n d it grieved Samuel; and he cried to the Lord all night.

. 1 ^ 6 :T H T . T

I Samuel 15.10-11 301

A n d Samuel said: 'Has the Lord as great delight in burntofferings and sacrifices, As in listening to the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, A n d to listen than the fat of rams, For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, A n d stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, H e has also rejected you from being king.

hit &: ^^^^ ^

/ Samuel 15.22-23

302

#T T

ADDITIONAL TORAH READING SABBATH O F PARAHHumbers 19:1-22 Israel is instructed to offer a group sacrifice of a Red Heifer completely unblemished and one which has never been used for labor. Its ashes were to be used for purposes of purification. The rite of the Red Heifer is in the category of laws called "Hukim." Those laws or commandments that the Israelites were commanded to perform, by God, without any reason or explanation being offered as to their necessity.

The Lord spoke to Moses and A a r o n , saying: This is the ritual law that the Lord has commanded: Instruct the Israelite people to bring y o u a red cow without blemish, in which there is no defect and on which no yoke has been laid.2

. : J

rt

iT

i

st

v

T

Numbers 19.1-2

^

HAFTARAH READING SABBATH O F PARAHEzekiel 36:16-38 A n extra portion of the Torah is read, in addition to the Sidrah, on this Sabbath. I t is from Numbers 19: 1-22 and deals with laws of bodily purification. This was prescribed for Israel to purify them of the sin of the Golden Calf.

303

The Haftarah from the Book of Ezekiel offers the the Prophet to the exiled people. They must purify morally, too, as did their ancestors long ago in the I n turn, for their purification from wrongdoing, God them and restore them to the land of their fathers.

message of themselves wilderness. will forgive

For I will take you from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and I will bring you into your own land. A n d I will sprinkle clean water on you and you shall be clean; from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols, will I cleanse y o u . A new heart also will I give y o u , and a new spirit will I put within y o u ; and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you a heart of flesh. A n d I will put M y spirit within you, and cause you to walk in M y statutes, and you shall keep M y ordinances, and d o them. A n d you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; and you shall be M y people and I will be your G o d .

' . ^: ' :' ''*' : '' :' ^ '' :

Ezekiel 36.24-28

304

ADDITIONAL TORAH READING SABBATH O F HA-HODESHExodus 12:1-20 Israel is to remember Aviv or Nissan, as the month on the Hebrew calendar in which there took place the great event of deliverance from Egypt. This event marked the beginning of a new era in Jewish history and is recalled at the beginning of every new month.

The Lord said to Moses and A a r o n in the land of Egypt: This month shall mark for you the beginning of the months; it shall be the first of the months of the year for y o u .2

Exodus 12.1-2

* : . : '

Y o u shall observe the [Feast of] Unleavened Bread, for on this very day I brought your ranks out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day throughout the generations as an institution for all time. I n the first month, from the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread until the twenty-first day of the month at evening.17 1 8

" : ' : & : 1

Exodus 12.17-18

305

HAFTARAH READING SABBATH O F HA-HODESHEzekiel 45:16-46:18 The Sabbath before the beginning of the month, Nissan, is designated as Shabbat Hahodesh. A n extra portion of the Torah is read, in addition to the Sidrah, on this Sabbath. I t is from Exodus 12:1-20 and it tells of the Paschal sacrifice on the first Passover just before the departure from Egypt. The Haftarah from the Book of Ezekiel touches on the Passover sacrifices, too, as the Prophet describes the restored Temple in Jerusalem. These special readings are intended to set our mood and our thoughts to the forthcoming Festival of Passover.

A l l the people of the land shall give this offering for the prince in Israel.

Ezekiel 45.16In the first month, in the fourteenth d a y of the month, you shall have the Passover; a feast of seven days; unleavened bread shall be eaten. A n d upon that day the prince shall prepare for himself and for all the people of the land a bullock for a sin-offering. A n d for the seven days ot the feast he shall prepare a burntoffering to the Lord, seven bullocks and seven rams without blemish daily for the seven days; and a he-goat daily for a sin-offering. A n d he shall prepare a meal-offering, an ephah for a bullock, and an ephah for a ram, and a hin of oil to an ephah. In the seventh month, in the fifteenth day of the month, in the feast, he shall d o the same for the seven d a y s ; to the sin-offering as well as the burnt-offering, and the meal-offering as well as the o i l .

: : 6 ! : ' : ' :* ^^^ ; ' :

I

:.

,

- :

Ezekiel 45.21-25JUo

T T

HAFTARAH READING SABBATH HAGADOL Malachi 3:4-24 The Haftarah is from the Book of Malachi. The last of the Prophets, Malachi delivers his message about 450 B.C.E. The Second Temple has been rebuilt by now. But Malachi is not completely happy about his people's religious faith. I t must be strengthened and their loyalty to God's teachings must be complete. When the people will have reached the stage of true religiosity, there will follow a full redemption of Israel and mankind. Elijah will come as an advance messenger and announce the beginning of the Messianic era. This reading from Malachi on the Sabbath immediately before Passover sets the mood for the Holiday of Redemption.

From the days of your fathers you have turned aside From M y ordinances, and have not kept them. Return to M e , and I will return to y o u , Says the Lord of hosts. But you say; ' H o w shall we return?' W i l l a man rob G o d ? Yet you rob M e . But you say: ' H o w have we robbed you?' In tithes and heave-offerings. You are cursed with the curse, Yet you rob M e , Even this whole nation. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, That there may be food in M y house, A n d try M e now herewith, Says the Lord of hosts, If I will not open to you the windows of heaven, A n d pour you out a blessing, That there shall be more than enough. Malachi 3.7-10

' " : ! ' : ' ' : T T T X*;JT > T :

:

307

Remember the law of Moses M y servant, W h i c h I commanded to him in H o r e b for all Israel, Even statutes and ordinances. Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet Before the coming Of the great and terrible day of the Lord. A n d he shall turn the heart of the fathers to the children, A n d the heart of the children to their father; Lest I come and smite the land with utter distruction.

$ ' : ypri) :" ' ': :

Malachi 3.22-24

308

- TORAH READING PASSOVERFIRST D A YExodus 12:21-51 Moses instructs the Elders of Israel in the laws of Passover. I n turn, the Elders are to teach these laws to the people. A l l the future generations of Israel are to observe the Passover traditions so that children, in every generation, shall see them observed. As they watch the ceremonies of Passover, children will be encouraged to ask for explanation. I n response, they are to be told of great events relating to God's deliverance of Israel from their Egyptian slavery. Now, the last of the ten plagues, the death of the Egyptian first-born sons, takes place. Pharaoh is alarmed and he summons Moses and Aaron to his palace in the middle of the night. The Egyptian tyrant wants Israel out of his land as soon as possible. Moses and Aaron gladly comply and they immediately proceed to inform their Israelite brethren of the new found freedom. I n short order Israel is on their Exodus march.

PASSOVER 1ST D A Y 'Moses then summoned all the elders of Israel and said to them, " G o , pick out lambs for your families, and slaughter the passover offering. T a k e a bunch of hyssop, d i p it in the blood that is in the basin, and apply some of the blood that is in the basin t o the lintel and t o the two doorposts. None of you shall go outside the door of his house until morning. *For when the Lord goes through to smite the Egyptians, H e will see the blood on the lintel and the two doorposts, and the Lord will pass over the door and not let the Destroyer enter and smite your home.2 M 2

^ : ' *10 ?^ :^^^' " , $ ' :k

309

Y o u shall observe this as an institution for all time, for you and for your descendants. A n d when you enter the land which the Lord will give y o u , as H e has promised, you shall observe this rite. A n d when your children ask you, W h a t do you mean by this rite?' y o u shall say, I t is the passover sacrifice to the Lord, because H e passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses.' "24 2 5 2 6 , 2 7 ,

The people then bowed low in homage. A n d the Israelites went and d i d so; just as the Lord had commanded Moses and A a r o n , so they d i d .2 8

I n the middle of the night the Lord struck down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, from the first-born of Pharaoh who sat on the throne to the first-born of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the first-born of the cattle. A n d Pharaoh arose in the night, with all his courtiers and all the Egyptiansbecause there was a loud cry in Egypt; for there was no house where there was not someone d e a d . ' H e summoned Moses and A a r o n in the night and said, " U p , depart from among my people, you and the Israelites with y o u ! G o , worship the Lord as you said! Take also your flocks and your herds, as you said, and be gone! A n d may you bring a blessing upon me also!"2 7 3 0 3 32

T h e Egyptians urged the people on, to make them leave in haste, for they said, " W e shall all be d e a d . " S o the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls wrapped in their cloaks upon their shoulders. T h e Israelites had done Moses' bidding and borrowed from the Egyptians objects of33 34 35

= =;: # : ' ' : ^ ; _ : - ! : ^rijpb ^ : ^ :' '' " " .6 ':" ^ 3: ? '/ " " ' :

1

|

v

* .*

T

!

:

310

37

silver and g o l d , and clothing. A n d the Lord had disposed the Egyptians favorably toward the people, and they let them have their request; thus they stripped the Egyptians. T h e Israelites journeyed from Raamses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, aside from children.3 4

0 ^ * : 1

Exodus 12.21-37

A n d they baked unleavened cakes of the dough that they had taken out of Egypt, for it was not leavened, since they had been driven out of Egypt and could not delay; nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves. T h e length of time that the Israelites lived in Egypt was four hundred and thirty years; a t the end of the four hundred and thirtieth year, to the very day, all the ranks of the Lord departed from the land of Egypt. T h a t was for the Lord a night of vigil to bring them out of the land of Egypt; that same night is the Lord's, one of vigil for all the children of Israel throughout the ages.3 , 40 4 , 42

Exodus 12.39-42

^ ' ' : :. | : . . '^.

' I n the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, there shall be a passover sacrifice to the Lord, ' a n d on the fifteenth day of that month a festival. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days. ' The first day shall be a sacred occasion: you shall not work at your occupations. MaftirNumbers 28.16-184 7 8

' ' : ? : \

311

HAFTARAH READING PASSOVERFIRST D A YJoshua3f~!7, 5.2-15,6.1-2

Under Joshua, the successor to Moses, Israel crosses the Jordan to the Promised Land. A t Gilgal they celebrate Passover for the first time in their own country. I n preparation for the Passover observance, all of the Israelite males are circumcised. They then eat the first matzot to be made of wheat grown in their own land.A t that time the Lord said to Joshua: 'Make knives of flint, and circumcise again the children of Israel the second time.'

!"!TP,NTH,

H p T l ^ , :" ^ -

Joshua 5.?

For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness until the whole nation, even the men of war that came out of Egypt, were consumed, because they hearkened not unto the voice of the Lord; to whom the Lord swore that H e would not let them see the land which the Lord swore to their fathers that H e would give us, a land flowing with milk and honey. A n d H e raised up their children in their place; them d i d Joshua circumcise; for they were uncircumcised, because they had not been circumcised on the [ourney.

. ^ 5 '! 1^0^^]3^.^5 ' :1^ * . 1 : ^

Joshua 5.6-7

312

A n d the children of Israel encamped in G i l g a l ; and they kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the month at evening in the plains of Jericho. A n d they d i d eat of the produce of the land on the day after the Passover, unleavened cakes and parched corn, in that same d a y . A n d the manna ceased on the day after they had eaten of the produce of the land; the children of Israel d i d not have manna any more; but they d i d eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year.

^ 5 ' ^ / ^ ^ : " &^ :^

Joshua 5.10-12

313

2;TORAH READING PASSOVERSECOND D A YLeviticus 22:26-23:44

Moses instructs Israel in the observance of the Sabbath and the Holy Days. These shall be days of rest for all of the people with an opportunity to contemplate the sacredness of life and man's relationship with God, the Creator and the Liberator. I n addition to the Sabbath which shall be observed every seventh day, Israel shall observe Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Succot. Each of these Holy Days, aside from being holy convocations, shall bring to Israel the meaning and purpose of their existence.The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak JV to the Israelite people and say to them: These are M y fixed times, the fixed times of the Lord, which you shall p r o claim as sacred occasions. O n six days work may be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a sabbath of complete rest, a sacred occasion. You shall d o no work; it shall be a sabbath of the Lord throughout your settlements. These are the set times of the Lord, the sacred occasions, which you shall celebrate each at its appointed time: I n the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, at twilight, there shall be a passover offering to the Lord, a n d on the fifteenth day of that month the Lord's Feast of Unleavened Bread. You shall eat unleavened bread for seven days.2 3 4 5 4

! VT : J"_

Leviticus 23.1-65

: | : . ' ^ : dp 3#' ^ ? : 3 : ! ! ^ ^ :. $ ^. :

:

' F r o m the day after the sabbath, the P " W

*

day that you bring the sheaf of wave D*PD ^ offering, you shall keep count [until] y^tf i ^ i l Y l > weeks ^ | .elapsed: ^ A . ->> seven full have

^ 314

D^f

Leviticus 23.15

2 1

O n that same day you shall hold a celebration; it shall be a sacred occasion (or y o u ; you shall not work at your occupations. This is a law for all time in all your settlements, throughout the generations.

|' & ' : :

Leviticus 23.21

23

24

T h e Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Israelite people thus: In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, you shall observe complete rest, a sacred occasion commemorated with loud blasts. Y o u shall not work at your occupations; and you shall bring an offering by fire to the Lord. T h e Lord spoke to Moses, saying: M a r k , the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. It shall be a sacred occasion for y o u : you shall practice self-denial, and you shall bring an offering by fire to the L o r d ; y o u shall d o no work throughout that day. For it is a Day of Atonement, on which expiation is made on your behalf before the Lord your G o d .25 24 27 2 8

: * 1 6 :, ^ : ^^ & ! ' J? . : :2 , ^ & ^8 ? ":; ^ 3

Leviticus 23.23-28

T h e Lord spoke to Moses, saying: S a y to the Israelite people. O n the fifteenth day of this seventh month there shall be the Feast of. Booths to the Lord, [to last] seven days.33 34

Leviticus 23.33-34

' : ^ ^ :

315

I n the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month, there shall be a passover sacrifice to the Lord, ' a n d on the fifteenth day of that month a festival. Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days.14 7

' : , "T

\

.

V

A T

MaftirNumbers 28.16-17

: T (

HAFTARAH READING PASSOVERSECOND D A YSecond Kings 23:1-9 and 21-25 During the reign of King Josiah, a great change took place in the Kingdom of Judea. Manasseh, who preceded Josiah as the Judean ruler, had misled his people for fifty-five years. Manasseh introduced a pagan religion and all of the Torah's teaching was forgotten among the people. When Josiah succeeded Manasseh as king, he carried out repairs to the Jerusalem Temple. As the work was being done, a Torah scroll was discovered. I t was brought to King Josiah. He studied its teachings and was moved to change his peop!e s whole way of life. Josiah eliminated all of the paganism and restored Judaism in the land. The Haftarah tells of Josiah's cleansing of the Temple and its restoration to the worship of God. That important task completed, Josiah and his people celebrate Passover with great rejoicing.,

316

A n d the king sent, and they gathered before him all the elders of Judah and of Jerusalem. A n d the king went up to the house of the Lord, and all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem with him, and the priests, and the prophets, and all the people, both small and great; and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant which was found in the house of the Lord. A n d the king stood on a platform, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep His commandments, and his testimonies, and His statutes, with all his heart, and all his soul, and to confirm the words of this covenant that were written in this book; and all the people pledged themselves to the covenant. A n d the king c o m manded Hilkiah the H i g h Priest, a n d the priest of the second order, and the keepers of the door, to bring out of the temple of the Lord all the vessels that were made for Baal, and for the Asherah, and for all the host of heaven; and he burned them outside of Jerusalem in the fields of Kidron, and carried their ashes to Beth-el.

: , * : . ' - ^ " ' /

// Kings 23.1-4

A n d the king commanded all the people, saying: K e e p the passover before the Lord your G o d , as it is written in this book of the covenant.' For such a passover was not kept from the days of the Judges that judged Israel, nor in all the days of the kings of Israel, nor of the kings of J u d a h ; but in the eighteenth year of king Josiah was this passover kept before the Lord in Jerusalem.,

& " " : | ^ :?'' :^ ' :& "

M

II Kings 23.21-23 317

! TORAH READING I N T E R M E D I A T E SABBATH O F PASSOVERExodus 33:12-34:26 After Israel had worshipped the Golden Calf and the first Tablets of the Law had been shattered, Moses again goes up to Sinai to receive new Tablets. Discouraged, and disappointed by Israel's wrongdoing with the Golden Calf, Moses pleads for God's assurance of His support. God reassures Moses of His graciousness and mercy and Moses' faith is strong again. Moses then brings down a new set of Tablets with the Ten Commandments.

The Lord came down in a cloud; H e stood with him there and proclaimed the name Lord. 'The Lord passed before him and proclaimed: "The L o r d ! the Lord! a G o d compassionate and g r a cious, slow to anger, rich in steadfast kindness, extending kindness to the thousandth generation, forgiving i n iquity, transgression, and sin; yet H e does not remit all punishment, but visits the iniquity of fathers upon children and children's children, upon the third and fourth generations."5 7 8

: . ^^^ '^ : ! :

Moses hastened to bow low to the ground in homage, a n d said, " I f I have gained Your favor, O Lord, pray, let the Lord g o in our midst. Stiffnecked though this people be, pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for Your o w n . ",

: . : ,

H :

V

_

1

T

318

H e said: I hereby make a covenant. Before all your people I will work such wonders as have not been wrought on all the earth or in any nation; and all the people who are with you shall see how awesome are the Lord's deeds which I will perform for y o u . " M a r k well what I command you this day. I will drive out before you the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. ' Beware of making a covenant with the inhabitants of the land against which you are advancing, lest they be a snare in your midst. N o , you must tear down their altars, smash their pillars, and cut down their sacred posts; ' f o r you must not worship any other g o d , because the Lord, whose name is Impassioned, is an impassioned G o d .1 0 2 1 3 4

; TJXf

X

I

A

T I

I

J\T T

X ^

Exodus 34.5-14T h r e e times a year all your males shall appear before the Sovereign Lord, the G o d of Israel.23

^ : ^ ^ ':" ^ ^. : : - :

Exodus 34.23

^ , :

319

HAFTARAH READING I N T E R M E D I A T E SABBATH O F PASSOVEREzekiel 37:1-14 The Haftarah is from the Book of Ezekiel. The Prophet Ezekiel was among the exiles who were taken captive by Nebuchadnezzar to Babylonia in 598 B.C.E. Together with his fellow exiles, Ezekiel settled at Tel Aviv on the Chebar Canal. The exiles were very unhappy in a foreign land. What hope was there for a return to Palestine? Ezekiel had deep faith that God would restore them to their homeland and he preached many messages of hope to his people. The Haftarah, is an excellent example of Ezekiel's optimism. He sees himself in the midst of a valley of dry bones. These are the remains of the dead. Suddenly, God breathes spirit into these bones and they are covered with flesh and they come alive. What is the meaning of this prophetic vision? Ezekiel goes on to explain. The people of Israel will be reborn as a nation. To the Hebrew exiles in Babylon, Ezekiel's dramatic message brings hope and faith in God's eventual redemption of them.The hand of the Lord was upon me, ^ / T " T $ ? " and the Lord carried me out in a spirit, T p r D T O T ' HjiT and set me down in the midst of the ^ ^ ^ :^ valley, and it was full of bones; and H e -,. j " _% made me pass by them round about, ? ^ l]?221 ?20, 1 1

and

behold, there were very many in,

:

^ . u n \

the open valley; and, lo, they were very dry. A n d H e said to m e : Son of man, can these bones live?' A n d I answered: r> 1 J r- J v L TU !j . J O Lord G o d , You know. Then H e said,

: ^ V . ^ L .(J1 , > 11

to m e : Prophesy over these bones, and ^ say to them: O you dry bones, hear the word of the L o r d : Thus says the Lord G o d to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter into you. and you shall live. A n d I will lay sinews upon you, and will bring up flesh upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in y o u ,

ITfctfl

:nfiTW.W?>Hlfe^ ' |2 ; ^ Q - ^ ; ^ ^ -^ T T - -..- D M Ity U2VV T t t T p ]

320

and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.' So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold a commotion, and the bones came together, bone to its bone. A n d I beheld, and, lo, there were sinews upon them and flesh came up, and skin covered them above; but there was no breath in them. Then He said to me: Prophesy to the breath, prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath: Thus says the Lord G o d : C o m e from the four winds, O breath, and breathe upon these slain, that they may live.' So I prophesied as H e commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they lived, and stood up on their feet, an exceeding great host. Then H e said to me: Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel; behold, they say: O u r bones are dried up, and our hope is lost; we are clean cut off. Therefore prophesy, and say to them: Thus says the Lord G o d : Behold, I will open your graves and cause you to come up out of your graves, O M y people; and I will bring you into the land of Israel. A n d you shall know that I am the Lord, when I have opened your graves, and caused you to come up out of your graves, O M y people. A n d I will put M y spirit in y o u , and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land; and you shall know that I the Lord have spoken, and performed it, says the Lord.', ,

: 17 # , ^ : . ' : ^ *:' & : ' * * : # ' : ' ' ' :' ' '' ' : 1 1

Ezekiel 37.1-14

321

TORAH READING PASSOVERSEVENTH D A YExodus 13.17-15.26 The Torah reading tells of Israel's experiences immediately after the Exodus from Egypt. Hardly had Pharaoh given the Israelites their freedom, than he is sorry for his decision. He quickly mobilizes his army and begins his pursuit of the Israelites. I t is his purpose to overtake them and to bring them back into Egyptian slavery. I n the meantime, the Israelites are close by the Red Sea when word reaches them of the army's approach. They are stunned by the news. They fall into a panic and cry out in complaint to Moses. Was this the purpose of gaining freedom for them that they should now be massacred by the angry Pharaoh? Moses, who had complete faith in God, reassures the Israelites that He will certainly save them from the enemy. I t is night and a strong east wind brings on an ebb tide. The waters diminish and Moses leads the people across in safety. By daybreak, when the Egyptian army arrives on the scene, a powerful storm has brewed up. The waters break out into powerful waves. The Egyptian army, in a rage, charges madly into the waters, horses and chariots, men and all. They become bogged down as the waters envelope them and they quickly sink to the sandy bottom. Pharaoh's madness has brought further disaster and final defeat upon the Egyptians. On the occasion of this miraculous deliverance, Moses and Israel break into a Song of Thanksgiving to God. This dramatic poem presents an unforgettable portrayal of all that happened.The Lord stiffened the heart of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he gave chase to the Israelites. As the Israelites were departing boldly,8

Exodus 14.8

" ; :

322

But Moses said to the people, " H a v e no (ear! Stand by, and witness the deliverance which the Lord will work for you today; for the Egyptians whom you see today you will never see again. The Lord will battle for y o u ; you hold your peace!"13 14

Exodus 14.13-14

# ^ 6 : '' ' : :

1

:.-

. k\

.:

;

T

"

T

IT

:

A n d you lift up your rod and hold out your arm over the sea and split it, so that the Israelites may march into the sea on dry ground.1 4

Exodus 14.16

". '11

T h e n Moses held out his arm over the sea and the Lord drove back the sea with a strong east wind all that night, and turned the sea into dry ground and the waters were split.21

Exodus 14.21B u t the Israelites marched through the sea on d r y ground, the waters forming for them a wall on their right and on their left.2,

:

Thus the Lord delivered Israel that day from the Egyptians. Israel saw the Egyptians dead on the shore of the sea. A n d when Israel saw the wondrous power which the Lord had wielded against the Egyptians, the people (eared the L o r d : they had faith in the Lord and in His servant Moses. Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the Lord. They said:30 3 1

I will sing to the Lord, for H e has triumphed gloriously; Horse and driver H e has hurled into the sea.

? : " : ": " " 1 T

M

r

T

r T1-T>TT

Exodus 14.29-15.1

: IT JT

1 . I If

323

W h o is like You, O Lord, among the celestials; W h o is'like You, majestic in holiness, Awesome in splendor, working wonders!1 1

:

Exodus 15.11

HAFTARAH READING PASSOVERSEVENTH DAY Second Samuel 22 The Torah reading for this day includes the Song of Thanksgiving at the Red Sea. The Haftarah is a Song of Thanksgiving by David, the second king of Israel. After years of struggle with enemies surrounding Palestine, King David succeeded in establishing a dynasty which would remain in power for nearly 500 years. Having established his throne at last, David composes this Song of Thanksgiving to God, Who has given him victory and delivered him from his enemies.

A n d David spoke unto the Lord the words of this song in the day that the Lord delivered him out of the hand of all his enemies, and out of the hand of Saul; and he said: The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The G o d who is my rock, in H i m I take refuge; M y shield, and my horn of salvation, my high tower, and my refuge; M y saviour, You save me from v i o lence. Praised, I cry, is the Lord, A n d I am saved from my enemies.

: '