Restoring the Messianic Torah Portions

For an explanation of what TORAH PORTIONS are and why we use them - please scroll alllll the way down to the bottom and you'll find a brief history and explanation.

My favorite study materials for Torah Portions is currently: the Chumash by Art Scroll, The Midrash Says, and the Zohar (Pritzke Edition). Each book is divided into the traditional "portions".

It is tradition for the Leader of the Oral reading to pray the following prayers before and after the reading:

Blessing Before Reading the Torah portion







Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher kideshanu b’mitzvotav, v’tzivanu la’asok b’divrei Torah. v'ha'arev na Adonai eloheinu et divrei toratekha befinu uvfi amekha beit Yisrael. V'niyeh anachnu v'tze'etze'einu v'tze'etza'ei amekha beit Yisrael kullanu yodei sh'mekha v'lomdei toratekha lishmah. Barukh attah Adonai hamelamed Torah le'amo Yisrael.

Barukh attah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher bachar banu mikol ha'amim venatan lanu et torato. Barukh attah Adonai, noten haTorah.

Yevarekhekha Adonai v'yishmerekha, ya'er Adonai panav elekha vichunekha, yisa Adonai panav elekha v'yasem lekha shalom.

	Blessed art Thou, LORD our God, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to engross ourselves with the words of Torah. Please LORD, our God, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your desire. Blessed are You, LORD, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, LORD, Giver of the Torah. May the LORD bless you and keep watch over you; May the LORD make His Presence enlighten you, and may He be kind to you; May the LORD bestow favor on you, and grant you peace.

Blessings After Reading the Torah portion



Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, asher
natan lanu torat emet, v’chaiyei ‘olam nata betokheinu.
Barukh attah Adonai, notein haTorah.

Blessed art thou, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who
gave us the Torah of truth and set everlasting life in our midst.
Blessed art thou, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.

(These blessings are accompanied by traditional melodies which
are available on tape from a Jewish or Messianic Jewish supplier.)

Click on each portion - to see my notes on each one. Many will contain Rashi commentary, Midrash stories, excerpts from Zohar, pictures that go with the readings, along with the actual torah portion reading for each week. Also, notes I have taken from the group meetings are included.

PARASHOT FROM THE TORAH AND HAFTORAH

B'REISHEET (in the beginning)

GENESIS 1:1-6:8, Is. 42:5-43:10, Rev. 22:6-21

NOACH (Noah - rest)

Gen. 6:9-11:32, Is. 54:1-55:5, Mt. 24:36-46

LECH L'CHA (go forth, yourself)

Gen. 12:1-17:27, Is. 40:27-41:16, Rom. 4:1-25

VAYERA (and He appeared)

Gen. 18:1-22:24, 2Ki. 4:1-37, Lk. 1:26-38; 24:36-53

CHAYEI SARAH (life of Sarah)

Gen. 23:1-25:18, 1Ki. 1:1-31, Mt. 1:1-17

TOL'DOT (generations)

Gen. 25:19-28:9, Mal. 1:1-2:7, Rom. 9:1-13

VAYETSE (and he went out)

Gen. 28:10-32:2(3), Hos. 11:7-14:9(10), John 1:19-51

VAYISHLACH (and he sent)

Gen. 32:3(4)-36:43, Obad. 1:1-21, Heb. 11:11-20

VAYESHEV (and he settled)

Gen. 37:1-40:23, Amos 2:6-3:8, Mt. 1:1-6, 16-25

MIKETZ (at the end of)

Gen. 41:1-44:17, 1Ki. 3:15-4:1, Mt. 27:15-46

VAYIGASH (and he drew near)

Gen. 44:18-47:27, Ezek. 37:15-28, Lk. 6:12-16

VAY'CHI (and he lived)

Gen. 47:28-50:26, 1Ki. 2:1-12, 1Pet. 1:1-9

SH'MOT (names)

EXODUS 1:1-6:1, Is. 27:6-28:13, 29:22-23, Jer. 1:1-2:3, Matthew 22:23-33, 41-46; Mark 12:18-27, 35-37; Luke 20:27-44, Acts 3:12-15, 5:27-32, 7:17-36, 22:12-16, 24:14-16; 1Cor.
14:13-25; Hebrews 11:23-26

VA'ERA (and I appeared)

Ex. 6:2-9:35, Ezek. 28:25-29:21, Romans 9:14-17; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Rev. 16:1-21

BO (enter!)
Zohar and study notes on BO
Ex. 10:1-13:16, Jer. 46:13-28, Luke 2:22-24; John 19:31-37; Acts 13:16-17
Rom. 9:14-29; 2 Cor. 6:14-7:1; Revelations 8:6-9:12; 16:1-21 Rev. 16:15 Rev. 16:17

B'SHALACH (when he let go)

Ex. 13:17-17:16, Judges 4:4-5:31, Luke 2:22-24; John 6:25-35; 19:31-37; Acts 13:16-17; 1 Cor. 10:1-3; 2 Cor 8:1-15; Rev. 8:6-9:12, 16:1-21, 19:1-20:6

YITRO (Jethro abundance)

Ex. 18:1-20:23, Is. 6:1-7:6; 9:5-7; Matthew 5:8-30, 15:1-11, 19:16-30; Mark 7:5-15, 10:17-31; Luke 18:18-30; Acts 6:1-7; Romans 2:17-29, 7:7-12, 13:8-10; Ephesians 6:1-3; 1Timothy 3:1-14; 2Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5-9; Hebrews 12:18-29; James 2:8-13; 1Peter 2:9-10

MISHPATIM (judgments)

Ex. 21:1-24:18, 2 Kings 12:1-2:17; Jer. 34:8-22, 33:25-26; Matthew 5:38-42, 15:1-20; Mark 7:1-23; Acts 23:1-11; Hebrews 9:15-22, 10:28-39


T'RUMAH (offering)

Ex. 25:1-27:19, 1Ki. 5-6:13, 2Cor. 9:1-15; Hebrews 8:1-6, 9:23-24, 10:1

T'TSAVEH (you shall command)

Exodus 27:20-30:10, Ez. 43:10-27, 1 Samuel 15:2-15:34, Phil. 4:10-20; Heb. 13:10-16

KI TISA (when you elevate)

Ex. 30:11-34:35, 1Ki. 18:1-39, Ezekiel 36:26-36:38; Luke 11:14-20; Acts 7:35-8:1; 1Cor. 10:1-13;
2Cor. 3:1-18

VAYAKHEL (and he assembled)

Ex. 35:1-40:38; 1Ki. 7:13-26, 7:40- 8:21; 2Cor. 9:1-15; Heb. 9:1-14; Revelations 11:1-13

P'KUDEI (accoutings of)

Ex. 38:21-40:38, 1Ki. 7:51-8:21, Heb. 8:1-12

VAYIKRA (and He called)

LEVITICUS 1:1-6:7(5:26), Is. 43:21-44:23, Heb. 10:1-18

TSAV ( command!)

Lev. 6:8(1)-8:36, Jer. 7:21-8:3; 9:22-23, Heb. 10:19-25

SH'MINI (eighth)

Lev. 9:1-11:47, 2Sam. 6:1-7:17, Heb. 7:1-19

TAZRIA (she bears seed)

Lev. 12:1-13:59, 2Ki. 4:42-5:19, Lk. 7:18-35

M'TSORA (infected one)

Lev. 14:1-15:33, 2Ki. 7:3-20, Mt. 23:16-24:2, 30-31


ACHAREI MOT (after the death)


Lev. 16:1-18:30, Romans 3:19-10:13; 1 Cor 5:1-13; 2 Cor 2:1-11; Gal 3:10-14; Hebrews 7:23-10:25

K'DOSHIM (holy ones)

Lev. 19:1-20:27, Ez. 20:2-20, 1Cor. 6:9-20

EMOR (say!)

Lev. 21:1-24:23, Ez. 44:15-31, Lk. 14:12-24

B'HAR (on the Mount)

Lev. 25:1-26:2, Jer. 32:6-27, Lk. 4:16-21

B'CHUKOTAI (in My statutes)

Lev. 26:3-27:34, Jer. 16:19-17:14, Mt. 21:33-46

B'MIDBAR (in the wilderness)

NUMBERS 1:1-4:20, Hos. 2:1-22, Rom. 9:22-33

NASO (elevated)

Num. 4:21-7:89, Jud. 13:2-25, Jn. 12:20-36

B'HA'ALOT'CHA (in your making go up)

Num. 8:1-12:16, Zech. 2:14-4:7, Rev. 11:1-19

SH'LACH L'CHA (send for yourself!)

Num. 13:1-15:41, Josh. 2:1-24, Heb. 3:7-4:1

KORACH (Korah- bald)

Num. 16:1-18:32, 1Sam. 11:14-12:22, Acts 5:1-11

CHUKAT (ordinance of)

Num. 19:1-22:1, Jud. 11:1-33, Jn. 3:10-21

BALAK (Balak-destroyer)

Num. 22:2-25:9, Mic. 5:6-6:8, Rom. 11:25-32

PINCHAS (Phinehas- dark skinned)

Num. 25:10-29:40(30:1), 1Ki. 18:46-19:21, Jn. 2:13-25

MATOT (tribes)

Num. 30:1(2)-32:42, Jer. 1:1-2:3, Phil. 3:7-21

MAS'EI (journeys of)

Num. 33:1-36:13, Jer. 2:4-28, 3:4, 4:1-2, Jas. 4:1-12

D'VARIM (words)

DEUTERONOMY 1:1-3:22, Is. 1:1-27, Acts 9:1-21

V'ET'CHANAN (and I pleaded)

Dt. 3:23-7:11, Is. 40:1-26, Mt. 23:31-39

EKEV (as a result)

Dt. 7:12-11:25, Is. 49:14-51:3, Heb. 11:8-13

R'EH (see!)

Dt. 11:26-16:17, Is. 54:11-55:5, Jn. 7:37-52

SHOF'TIM (judges)

Dt. 16:18-21:9, Is. 51:12-52:12, Mt. 5:38-42; 18:15-20, Acts 3:13-26; 7:35-53, 1 Cor. 5:9-13; 1 Tim 5:17-22, Hebrews 10:28-31

KI TETSE (when you go out)

Dt. 21:10-25:19, Is. 54:1-10, Mt. 5:31-32, 19:3-12, 22:23-32; Mk 10:2-12, 12:18-27; Lk 20:27-38;
1 Cor9:4-18; Ga 3:9-14; 1 Ti 5:17-18

KI TAVO (when you enter in)

Dt. 26:1-29:9(8), Is. 60:1-22, Lk. 21:1-4


NITSAVIM (you are standing)


Dt. 29:10(9)-30:20, Is. 61:10-63:9, Rom.9:30-10:13; Hebrews 12:14-15

VAYELECH (and he went)


Dt. 31:1-30, Hos. 14:2-10, Joel 2:11-27, Mic. 7:18-20,
Hebrews 13:5-8

HA'AZINU (give ear!)


Dt. 32:1-52, 2Sam. 22:1-51, Rom.10:14-21; Romans 12:14-21;  Hebrews 12:28-29

V'Zot HAB'RACHAH (and this the blessing)

Dt. 33:1-34:12, Josh. 1:1-18, Rev. 22:1-5

CHAGIM Holidays/Festivals HOLIDAY READINGS

CHANUKKAH (Feast of) Dedication

Num. 7:1-11, Zech. 2:14-4:7, 1Ki. 7:40-50, Jn. 9:1-7, 10:22-39

TU B'SH'VAT 15th of Sh'vat

Ps. 104:16-17, Ps. 120-134, Mt. 7:13-24, 28-29

PURIM Lots (story of Queen Esther)

Ex. 17:8-16, Esther, Ps.3:3, Heb.:11

PESACH Passover

Ex. 12:21-51, Josh. 3:5-7, 5:2-15, 6:1, 27, Jn.1:29-31, 10:14-18

YOM HASHOAH Holocaust Memorial Day

Dt. 4:30-40, Rev. 6:9-11

YOM HA'ATZMA'UT Day of Independance (Israel)

Dt. 11:8-21, Is. 10:32-11:12, Mt.24:29-44

LAG B'OMER 33rd day counting the omer (no special reading)

SHAVUOT (Feast of) Weeks (Pentacost)

Ex. 19:1-20:23, Ez. 1:1-28, 3:12, Jn. 1:32-34, Mt. 3:11-17

TISH'AH B'AV 9th of AD (temple destroyed)

Dt. 4:25-40, Jer. 8:13-9:23, Mt. 23:1-3, 16-23, 34-24:3

ROSH HASHANAH Head of the Year (New Year)

Gen. 21:1-34, 1Sam. 1:1-2:10, 1Thes. 4:13-18

YOM KIPPUR Day of Atonement


Morning Reading:  Lev. 16; Isaiah 57:14-58:14; Rom 3:21-26; Heb 7-8; Numbers 29:7-11; Isa 52:13-53:12

Afternoon Reading:  Lev. 17-18; Jonah 1-4; Micah 7:18-20; Heb 9-10


SUKKOT (Feast of) Booths/Tabernacles

Lev. 22:26-23:44, Num.29:12-16, Zech.14:1-24, Rev.7:1-10

HOSHANA RABBAH Great Deliverance

Num. 26-34, Jn. 7:1-2, 37-42

SH'MINI ATSERET 8th day Conclusion (of Sukkot)

Dt. 14:22-16:17, 1Ki. 8:54-9:1, Mt. 17:1-9

SIMCHAT TORAH Joy of the Torah

Dt. 33-34, Gen. 1:1-2:3, Num. 29:35-30:1, Josh.1:1-18,
Mt. 5:17-48


HISTORY OF TORAH PORTIONS:

Thematic analysis of Scripture is based on the following premises.
1) Moses wrote the Torah as five separate books as the Ruach HaKodesh inspired him.
2) Since Adonai had him separate those words into five separate books, we surmise that each book has a unique message or theme.
3) Within each book, the words are written with two paragraph-like divisions interrupting the
flow of the words
4) Since Adonai commanded Moshe to separate the individual books into smaller paragraph-like sections or Parshiot, we surmise that each Parsha was written as a separate unit because each of those Parshiot is trying to convey a unique thought, theme, concept or understanding. Therefore, since Adonai inspired these divisions, we think they are VERY important. We use these God-breathed divisions as the basis of our thematic analysis of Scripture. Once you begin to interpret the Scriptures thematically, you will immediately SEE that Adonai wrote His words in a manner consistent with the intent that they be interpreted thematically.

Using the ancient Torah reading schedule is a great way to study the entire Word of God. PORTIONS are more than just a Torah study, they are studies of the entire Word of God —Genesis through Revelation.

Torah Portions -

The four levels of Torah study are divided into "portions" that correspond with each other and that pertain to that particular time of year. i.e. during Hanukkah - the portions studied deal with the dedication of the temples and the end day temple.

Torah Portions are designed to be read publicly on each sabbath, so that the entire torah is studied in a year.

As portions are read...at the end of each chapter, a discussion/question time takes place, along with further readings from the midrash, talmud, etc..

Jesus and Torah Portions:

Jesus stood in a Nazareth synagogue and read from the scroll of the Scriptures. By this time the people of Israel had apportioned the Pentateuch (the Torah of Moses: Genesis through Deuteronomy) into readings for each week. These portions of scripture were read aloud in the synagogue every Saturday morning. Today, people across the world continue to read a portion from the Scroll of Moses every week, studying through the Torah over the course of one year.

The words of the Torah formed the foundation of the life of faith and faithfulness practiced by all of the saints of the Old Testament, the prophets of Israel, and the disciples of Jesus. When Jesus thwarted the temptations of the Adversary he used the words of the Torah. Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3 he stated:

It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4)

The "words that come from the mouth of God" are the words of the Torah. The Torah was revealed in fullness by the living example of Jesus.


History of "Portions":

When God brought restoration and returned the Israelites from captivity, Ezra and Nehemiah and the men of their generation set to work creating a system to encourage Torah study. They wanted to ensure that the people would not slip into idolatry again. They created a system for the synagogue to ensure that the people heard the Torah read every week.

To this day, the Jewish world studies a portion of the Torah every Sabbath. Jews read the Torah aloud in synagogues on Sabbaths, Mondays and Thursdays. Monday and Thursday were the ancient market days when rural people came into town. At this time, they also had the opportunity to hear the Word of God. On Sabbath days, the people assembled according to the commandment.

Since the days of the Apostles, the Torah continues to be read every week in the same manner. An annual lectionary, the Torah reading schedule allows all Israel to study the same passages of Scripture simultaneously as they work through the Torah from week to week. The lectionary divides the Torah into 2-6 chapter readings for each week. Corresponding readings from the Prophets are tacked onto the weekly Torah readings. The reading cycle begins in the fall, after the Feast of Tabernacles, with Genesis 1:1. Approximately twelve months later, it concludes with the last verses of the book of Deuteronomy.

Reading along with the weekly Torah Schedule is a great way to study through the Torah every year. When you do, you are studying in synchronization with all Israel. Synagogues, study halls, and Messianic congregations all over the world will be examining the same passages of Scripture along with you.

In each of the weekly readings, the portions (Hebrew: parashot) are named after the first word or distinctive phrase in the passage. In the days of the Apostles, the Bible was not divided into chapters and verses. People indicated different scripture passages by referring to the first Hebrew word or phrase of the passage. If a rabbi said, "In the place where it says, 'After the death of Aaron's two sons...'" he would be referring to parashat Acharei Mot, Leviticus 16:1-18:30. Acharei Mot means "after the death of." In the same way, each portion of Torah (Parasha) is named after its opening words, and each book of the Torah is named after its opening parasha.

Torah portions are meant to be studied throughout the week then read in a community setting on Sabbath. The New Testament portions vary as communities are trying to find the parts that fit together with each portion. Portions are designed so that the entire Torah is studied and read aloud each year.

At the end of each chapter that is read, a discussion and question time follow. The young and old are encouraged to ask questions and discuss what they discovered during their week of study on that chapter.