Scroll to Scroll: Todays Parsha #1: Bereshit (In the Beginning) 1) Meaning of this weeks Torah portion and

summary of contents: Bereshit means in the beginning of course. We start with the 6 days of creation with YHWH resting on the Shabbat day. Man, or Adam, was made on day 6 and Eve was made later. After their expulsion from paradise, Adam and Eve have two sons, Cain and Abel and of course the former kills the latter. Afterwards, Cain flees YHWHs presence, first to Nod and then he goes build a city. As the human race begins to spread throughout the earth, the first ten generations are recounted and the life of righteous Noah is introduced. 2) Parsha (English-Genesis 1:1-6:8). This week we will read the entire portion. 3) Play by Play commentary where appropriate. 4) Point out key Hebrew words/terms. Color Commentary:

Bereshit bara Elohim et hashamayim ve'et ha'arets. Veha'arets hayetah tohu vavohu vechoshech al-peney tehom veruach Elohim merachefet al-peney hamayim. Vayomer Elohim yehi-or vayehi-or. Vayar Elohim et-ha'or ki-tov vayavdel Elohim beyn ha'or uveyn hachoshech.
Notes on the Special Use of Targums for this Parsha: To celebrate recycling back to Genesis, I am adding notes from the Targum studies of this Torah portion. Targums are translations with some commentary done on the Hebrew Tanakh in the Aramaic language. These Targums are NOT the same sources as the Aramaic (Peshitta) Tanakh which is complete, whereas these Targums come from different periods of time and different people and are fragmentary. The need for Targums arose after the Captivity in Babylon as the Jews became more fluent in Aramaic as an everyday language. Hebrew more and more became a liturgical language that had to be translated into their dialects. The Targums used here are known as Onkelos, Jonathan (not the same Jonathan ben Uzziel who

did the Prophets) and Jerusalem. Also the Septuagint, the Dead Sea Scrolls and other sources were consulted and compared. BERESHIT (1:1) = in the beginning. Onkelos Targum says BKADMIN (in the eternities/beginnings) indicating ancient understanding of more than one creation event happening at the same time. Within the word BERESHIT is also the first Messianic prophecy: BAR = son (Aramaic) BARA = created RESH = head/chief/beginning SHET = (the) six (Aramaic) So the Son is created BEFORE the 6 days of creation! Jonathan Targum on Genesis 1:2: And the Spirit of Mercies from before YHWH breathed upon the face of the waters! VAYOMER ELOHIM YEHI RAKIA (1:5) = and said Elohim: Let there be a SKY. This sky (rakia) is usually translated as firmament but literally means expanse, indicating a separation between SHMAYIM (heavens) and the waters. It is a different kind of sky from SHMAYIM, or the universe. In other places, RAKIA can also denote matter. Jonathan Targum on Genesis 1:14: And for making sacred the beginnings of months and years, the passing away of months and years, the revolutions of the sun, the birth of the moon and the cycling of the seasons. VAYAAS ELOHIM (1:16) = and made Elohim. Tense indicates these luminaries were made on the fourth day, meaning neither the sun nor the moon can be used to count days for the 7 day Shabbat cycle. YHWH didnt count from day 4 for Creation week and therefore neither should we. The 7 day count is independent of the sun, moon and stars. Jonathan Targum on Genesis 1:18: Afterwards the moon recited a triple (false) report against the sun and she (the moon) was demoted, and the sun was given the rank of the greater light to rule the day; and the moon to be the lesser light to rule the night, and the stars. And YHWH ordained them to their tasks in the greatest reaches of the heavens, to produce light upon the earth, and to minister by day and by night, to discern properly between the light of the day and the darkness by night. And YHWH saw that it was good. VAYIVRA ELOHIM ET-HA-TANANIM HA-GEDOLIM (1:21) = and Elohim created the great Tananim. The word TANANIM can be alternatively translated as dragons or sea-monsters or perhaps whales, according to some authorities. Others think these are the Leviathan and their mates.

VA REMES VE-CHAYETO (1:24) = creeping thingsor perhaps land animals. VAYOMER ELOHIM HA ADAM BETZALMANU (1:26) = and said Elohim, Let US make man in OUR image. Recalling the fact that multiple creations happened and that within BERESHIT is proof that the Son/Word was the first thing YHWH created, we need to further confirm this through Psalm 33:6 and Yochanan 1:1-5. YHWH sent the Word out of His Mouth and the Word created the heavens and the earth, by him, for him and through his hands as the Aramaic of Yochanan reads. Since it is Yshua who made these things as the Word, the US and OUR are YHWH talking with His Son whom He loved from when time began (Yochanan 17) since the Messiah has goings forth that have been from the eternities (Micah 5) from which a throne in heaven was set up for him to have eternal and universal dominion (Daniel 7). Jerusalem Targum: And the Memra (Word) of YHWH created man in His likeness, in the resemblance of the Presence of YHWH he created them, both the man and his helper. Jonathan Targum: In the image of YHWH He created him with 248 bones and with 365 nerves, and draped over them skin, and filled it with flesh and blood. This is an obvious riff on Talmudic commentaries that emphasized the positive commandments of YHWH at 248 and the negative as 365, the latter of course referring to the days of the year. It also relates to the original solar calendar. UMILU ET-HAARETS VECHIVESHUHA (1:28) = fill the earth up and conquer it. In order to do this command, man must endeavor to understand the inner workings of the earth, which he can only do through disciplined observation of the planet. The method of this observation is given in 1 Thessalonians 5:21-22, test everything, hold on to the good and avoid all evil. SHAVAT (2:3) = rested, but not because YHWH was tired because He never tires. Rather YHWH completed His work and stopped doing it. This is confirmed in 2:4 with ASAH (made) in past tense, denoting completion. Later Jewish sources though will speculate that certain events, like the building of the Temple, also in their way complete creation. In 2:3, Onkelos Targum says beine shimsetha, a metaphor meaning, from evening to evening. See Shemot / Exodus 3:6. This is also a confirmation of the day beginning at sunset. ASOT (2:4) = made. However, this word connotes a stronger sense of completeness than BARA and other similar words in Hebrew.

In 2:4, Onkelos Targum uses a word for generations that can, as Etheridge points out, also mean these are the recitals/oral histories of Adam, thus showing some of the sources behind the Written Torah. VEADAM AYIN LAAVOD HAADAMAH (2:5) = and there was no man to work the ground. However, there seems a word play and hint with the use of ADAM for man as opposed to other Hebrew terms, indicating that there was no ADAM to work the ground and thus harmonizing the events of Genesis 2 with that of the 6th day of Genesis 1. ADAMAHADAM (2:7) = both the words for Adam (man) and adamah (ground) are also cognates and directly related to the word ADOM, which can mean red and blood. NEFESH CHAYA (2:7) = Adam BECOMES a living soul. In other words, Adam doesnt HAVE a soul but instead Adam IS A SOUL. His NEFESH contains his emotions, memory and life forceall the things that make Adam unique to him. He only needs YHWHs spirit to make that nefesh live. EDEN (2:8) = literally means delight or pleasant in Hebrew. So the word may be an adjective rather than a place name as if to say YHWH planted trees in a delightful place or YHWH created a pleasant area to plant. It seems it becomes a formal place name or geographical marker AFTER Adam and Eve are expelled in 3:24. PISHONHAVILAH (2:11) = Some commentators think the Pishon is the Nile but Josephus and others believe it is the Ganges or Indus river. Between Kashmir and Pakistan, on the upper Indus river, there is a very ancient town that has been known as HAVELIAN for more than 5,000 years. The Gihon river though is more likely to be the Nile, also according to Josephus and others. The courses of these rivers must have shifted, either due to tributaries drying up and re-establishing themselves (we can track this back to the time with satellites) or because of the Flood. Jonathan says that when YHWH creates Eden (2:15) He: took the man from the mountain of worship, where he had been created, and made him to dwell in the garden of Eden, to do service in the Torah, and to keep its commandments. This idea again comes from the covenant (breet) that is from in the beginning (bereshit). Jerusalem Targum concludes the chapter (2:25) by saying that not only were Adam and Eve not ashamed at being naked but, they didnt know what shame was.

EZER KENEGDO (2:20) = the helper who stands in front of you. So the woman is meant to complement the man and stand in front of him, eye to eye and not head down like a servant. ETSEM MEATSAMAY UVESAR MIBESARI (2:23) = bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. This is both literalEve came out of Adams riband figurative, to express how deeply intimate he felt connected to his wife. Genesis 3 Targum notes: NACHASH (3:1) = serpent. However, the same word means divination, hinting that such practices come from Satan. KI YODEA ELOHIM (3:5) = like Elohim knowing. The word Elohim can refer to YHWH or to other mighty ones like angels. So it is possible the serpent was saying they could be like the angels. Ironically of course some of these same angels would become envious of them! VAYISHMEU ET-KOL YAHWEH MITHALECH BAGAN (3:8) = and they heard the SOUND (?) of YHWH moving through the garden (?) The issue here has to do with whether Adam and Eve heard the voice (kol) of YHWH moving through the garden or whether they heard sound (also kol) of YHWH moving, as if physically, through the garden. This comes down to the issue of anthropomorphism of YHWH, or ascribing to Him physical characteristics. If YHWH had some form of physicality or presence, then they heard that moving through the garden as if they could expect to see Him. But if it is just His Voice, then there is nothing attached to it. Jonathan then says Eve got a warning before she sinned And the woman beheld Sammael, the angel of death, and was afraid; yet she knew the tree was good to eat, and that it was medicine for the enlightenment of the eyes and a desirable tree by which to understand. This is simply a little midrash because YHWH had literally sent a message of death in His warning. The targumist simply personified the message and gave him a name. Jerusalem Targum adds this information regarding the curse: And it shall be that when the sons of the woman keep the commandments of the Torah, they will be prepared to strike you upon the head; but then they forsake the commandments of the Torah, you will be ready to wound them in the heel. Nevertheless for them there shall be a medicine but for you there shall not be a medicine, and they shall make a remedy for the (poison in) the heel in the days of King Mashiyach. for from the dust it is that you are to rise up and render

judgment and reckoning for all that you have done, in the day of the great judgment! CHAVAHADAM (3:20 and elsewhere) = Chavah means living and Adam means man or blood or earth. Together they are the living blood of man [on] earth. KOTNOT OR VAYALBISHEM (3:21) = leather garments and He clothed them. Or, as some others translate, shrouds of skin perhaps referring to the male foreskin and female hymen. Onkelos then reads in 3:22: And YHWH Elohim said, Behold, the man has become singular/alone in the world by himself. Jonathan: And YHWH Elohim said to the angels, who ministered before him, Behold, Adam is utterly unique on earth even as I am utterly unique in the heavens above; and it will be that they will arise from him who will know to discern between good and evil. Jonathan continues: Had he kept the commandments which I appointed to him, he would have lived and subsisted as the tree of life forever. But now, because he did not keep what I had prescribed, it is decreed against him that we keep him from the Garden of Eden. Jerusalem: For the Torah is the tree of life, and whoever keeps it in this life lives and sustains (himself) as the tree of life. The Torah is good to keep in this world as the fruit of the tree of life in the world that is coming. CHERUVIM (3:24) = cherubim, or angels. The following is from bible.ort.org: Rashi notes that they are angels of destruction. Man is told that he must eventually die and is banished from paradise. He can only return to paradise after death, and before doing so, he must pass by these angels of purgatory (Bachya). The prophet must also pass these angels to approach the Tree of Life and obtain a vision. This is the significance of the cherubim on the Ark (Exodus 25:18), and those seen in Ezekiel's vision (Ezekiel 1:5, 10:15). (Rambam on Exodus 25:18). Genesis 4 Targum notes VATELED ET-KAYIN VATOMER KANITI ISH-ET YAHWEH (4:1) = and (Eve) brought forth Cain, saying, I have gained (kaniti) a man from Yahweh. Cain means possession or to gain/get and as such there is no hint of morality of righteousness inherent in the meaning of his name.

VAYEHI MIKETS YAMIM (4:3) = Literally: and the days ended or and it was the end of days. More idiomatically (and easier) it means and an era came to an end or the age ended. This is because Cain was the first human being to be born without direct intervention from YHWH to make him. In other words, YHWH formed Adam from the dust and He formed Eve out of Adams rib, but Cain came about through the same natural reproduction as the rest of the human race. (No, this does not impact on our previous discussion of pre-Adamic races possibly being around and that is a separate topic for another time.) Jonathan and Jerusalem explain the phrase, sin crouches at your door (4:7): If you do not do your work in this world well, your sin is held over until the great day of judgment, and at the doors of your heart lay your sin. And into your hand I have delivered the power to overcome evil passion, and to you will be the desire, so that you will have the authority over it to become righteous and not sin. Cain in Jerusalem Targum is more respectful, saying, Nevertheless there is power before you (YHWH) to absolve and forgive me. Then Onkelos, which is normally extremely literal, gives more insight on Cains mark: And YHWH appointed a sign for Cain, sealed upon Cains face the mark of the Great Name and honorable, unless anyone finding him should strike him down. Septuagint and Targum Jonathan record Cains utterance to his brother: Let us go out into the field. The omission is very obvious and the Masoretic does not make sense without it or some other phrase in the text. But Jonathan Targum really expands this discussion excessively and concludes: And because of these words they had contention on the face of the field, and Cain rose up against his brother Abel and drove a stone into his forehead and killed him. VANAD TIHYEH VAARETS (4:12) = and separated you will on the earth. NAD (separate) may be related to NIDDAH (separation) rules that are given to men and women later on. It is our sin that separates us from YHWH. VAACHOT TUVAL KAYIN NAAMAH (4:21) = and the sister of Tuval Cain was Naamah. Some sources say this lady would become Noahs wife, perhaps due to the similar sound and meaning of their names, both meaning comfort. NOTE FOR 4:23: Some traditions state that Lamech has already killed Cain and Tuval Cain in spite of the mark and warning on Cain. If so, this would mean the first person to have more than one wife is also the first serial killer! But this would be true in any case, because Lamech has already admitted to killing two

people of some sort. Others think Cain died much later, with his city walls falling over top of him. Finally, when 4:26 says, at that time, men began to call on the Name of YHWH, Jerusalem ironically points out: That was the generation in whose days they began to err, and to make themselves idols, and gave to their idols the name of the Word of YHWH. Onkelos: In his days men ceased from praying in the name of YHWH. This was obviously an attempt to support the rabbinic ban on the name which had been in effect for centuries prior to this Targum but was not when the Torah was originally written! Genesis 5 Targum notes Genesis 5:5 Jerusalem: for before Eve had given birth to Cain, who was not like (Seth), and Abel was killed by (Cains) hand. And Cain was cast out, neither is his seed recorded in the Book of the Lineage of Adam. But afterwards was born one like (Abel), and he called his name Seth. When it comes to more info on Enoch (5:26), the Samaritan version says an angel took him, rather than YHWH directly. Jonathan, affirming mystical traditions, says: Enoch worshipped (or served) in truth before YHWH after he had fathered Methuselah three hundred years, and fathered other sons and daughters. And Enoch served in truth before YHWH; and behold, he was not with the sojourners of the earth; for he was withdrawn, and he ascended into the firmament of the Word before YHWH, and his name was called Metatron the Great Seraph. Other testimonies on Enoch: Onkelos: and Enoch pleased YHWH, because to do YHWHs will is literally the way to walk (halakh) with him. Jerusalem: For he was withdrawn by the Word from before YHWH. Peshitta Tanakh: For YHWH had not made him to die. Genesis 6 Targum notes The only divergence in the rest of the parsha is with some copies of Onkelos 6:78: And he said, I have created (them) to be good that they might be perfect upon

the earth; but they have not been perfect in their outspreading, and YHWH said, I will blot them out. But Noah found favor in the eyes of YHWH. VAYIRU BENEY HA ELOHIM (6:2) = and saw the sons of Elohim. It is possible that Elohim is referring to earthly powers, or mighty ones and so some translate as sons of rulers. Others of course maintain these are angels we have explored that before. NEPHILIM (6:4) = Literally, fallen ones, leading some to propose they are the sons of fallen angels but fallen can also relate to the fallen or immoral state of humanity at this time, which is why YHWH says He will not abide MAN forever and limit HIS lifespan. VAYINACHAM (6:6) = and He (YHWH) regretted. Some translations say repented but this implies that YHWH did wrong by making man. Instead, YHWH had REGRET that man had become so wicked.

Torah Question of the Week: The Nephilim are also called men of renownwhat are they famous for? END PART 1

PART 2: THE HAFTORAH Torah Question of the Week: The Nephilim are also called men of renownwhat are they famous for? No one really knows, but my best guess is, creating the civilization that may have existed up until that time. I am however open to other suggestions.

1) Haftorah portion: (English- Isaiah 42:5-43:10) and discuss common themes with the Torah portion. Read entire portion first. 2) Our linguistic commentary

Koh-amar ha'El Yahweh bore hashamayim venoteyhem roka ha'arets vetse'etsa'eyha noten neshamah la'am aleyha veruach laholechim bah. Ani Yahweh kraticha vetsedek ve'achzek beyadecha ve'etsorcha ve'etencha livrit am le'or goyim. Lifkoach eynayim iverot lehotsi mimasger asir mibeyt kele yoshvey choshech.
BORE HASHAMAYIM VENOTEYCHEM ROKA HAARETS (42:5) = made the heavens and stretched them out and (Who) spread out the earth. RAKIA and NATAH both mean to incline, stretch out in the sense of sculpting Creation. In a bad sense, perversion happens when what is made perfect is stretched out beyond its original shape and this is true physically as well as morally. VEETENCHA LIVRIT AM LEOR GOYIM (42:6) = and fashioned you into a covenant for the people and a light for the nations. Covenant (breet) is in Creation (Bereshit) and light (AUR) in in the Aramaic word for the Torah (AURAYTA). These concepts are all connected at the most base level. ANI YAHWEH HU SHEMI UCHVODI LEACHER LO ETEN UTEHALITI LAPSIIM (42:8) = I am Yahweh. I will not give My Name to another or My Praise to carved images. One of the clearest statements in all Tanakh that we are not to substitute YHWHs Name for other gods or titles that He did not sanction. It is interesting that the same Rabbis who perpetuated the ban on His Name marry this Haftorah with Bereshit, since 4:26 clearly says, At that time, men began to call on the name of Yahweh! HARISHONOT HINEH VAU VECHADASHOT ANI MAG ID BETEREM TITSMACHAH ASHMIA ETCHEM (42:9) = Behold, the previous things have come to pass and I am declaring NEW (chadash) things and I am telling you of

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them BEFORE they spring forth. This is a key clue about how to determine the New Moon. CHADASH is the same word as CHODESH, the word which means new moon. As we see here, the NEW things that are declared are BEFORE they spring forth. The waxing crescent of the new moon has SPRUNG forth alreadypossibly for as much as 2 days since it was born so that cannot be NEW! SHIRU LYAHWEH SHIR CHADASH (42:11) = Sing to Yahweh a new song. Again, following the same theme above, this NEW song has NEVER gone forth but just was bornlike the new moon. Classic Torah Thought for the Week: The Adventures of Rabbi Adam

Throughout this past year we have seen on many occasions both lofty insights and seismic pitfalls of what we call the Oral Law of the Rabbis. Very often the claim is made that when the Written Torah was given on Mount Sinai to Moshe, a secret Oral Torah was passed on to the elders who would eventually become the Great Assembly, then the Sanhedrin and finally Orthodox Judaism in its current form. These are the actual words of the Sayings of the Fathers, or Pirkei Avot: Moses received the Law on Sinai and delivered it to Joshua; Joshua in turn handed it down to the Elders; from the Elders it descended to the prophets and each of them delivered it to his successors until it reached the men of the Great Assembly. The last, named originated three maxims: "Be not hasty in judgment; Bring up many disciples; and, Erect safe guards for the Law." (Rodkinson Mishnah, Sayings of the Fathers, 1:1) These safeguards for the Law that Rodkinson mentions we would call FENCES today, or syag in the Aramaic dialect of the Mishnah (yes the Talmud was done in Aramaic, not Hebrew). Now, even though the Talmud itself continuously admits that the Rabbis are debating one another and in effect making new rulings throughout the Middle Ages and even into the Renaissance, they hold to the idea that the core of their rulings come from this Oral Law and to be sure, that core was around in the time of Yshua as well which is why he said Mat 15:1 Then the scribes and the Pharisees who were from Urishlim drew near to Y'shua and said, Mat 15:2 "Why do your disciples transgress against the traditions of the elders and do not wash their hands when they eat bread?" Mat 15:3 Then Y'shua answered and said to them, "Why also do you transgress against the Commandments of Elohim because of your traditions? Mat 15:4 For Elohim said, 'Honor your father and mother, and anyone who reviles his father and his mother let him be put to death.'" Mat 15:5 "But you say anyone who says to a father or to a mother, 'My offering is

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whatever you have gained by me,' then he does not need to honor his father or mother. Mat 15:6 And you nullify the Word of Elohim because of your tradition. Now though I want to throw in my surprise for this week. While I cannot possibly sanction Rabbinic Oral Law going all the way back to MosheI can in this instance support the core of Oral Law going back to Adam! Why would I do this? Because, as we are about to see, having that core go back to Adam is not necessarily a good thing! Let me explain. First, Adam gets a job to do that would be the envy of any rabbi.
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So from the soil Yahweh God fashioned all the wild animals and all the birds of heaven. These he brought to the man to see what he would call them; each one was to bear the name the man would give it. 20 The man gave names to all the cattle, all the birds of heaven and all the wild animals. (Genesis 2:19-20 NJB) The concept of naming the essence of things goes back to the very beginnings of our race. As believers, it is a core tenet of our faith to assert that monotheismYHWH walking in the gardenwas the original faith and paganism came later only to have monotheism return with greater force later. And so in the early forms of pagan-corrupted belief, Adam naming all the creatures gets perverted into the story of a god-hero named Bel or Marduk. He is said to have combatted the evil serpent Tiamat (perhaps from Hebrew TANIYN Genesis 1:25?) with 100 sacred words or names that cast a magic spell over the beats-serpent. From it carcass the earth was said to be made. However, this idea surprisingly also survived into the Rabbinic period. The founder of Hasidim, a form of Orthodoxy that is akin to what Pentecostalism is in Christianity, took the title of Baal Shem Tov which translates as Master of the Good Name in English, so here again the Rabbis love to name things and then they love to classify and codify that which they have named. And all this at last brings us back to Adam the Rabbi. YHWH gave Adam only two commandments to worry about. First, be fruitful and multiplyno problem there. But the second command created the first rabbinic fence or Oral Law within the Torah
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Then Yahweh God gave the man this command, 'You are free to eat of all the trees in the garden. 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you are not to eat; for, the day you eat of that, you are doomed to die.' (Genesis 2:16-17 NJB) In other words, that Tree of Knowledge is not kosher. Dont eat from it! Simple right? Clear as day right? No fruit from that tree! And if Adam just teaches that precept to Eve and ONLY that precept, all will be well, not just for them, but for the human race.

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But that doesnt happenand the question is, why? Its tempting to blame the serpent. He was, after all, the craftiest of all the animals. He knew how to flatter, persuade and cajole. But, at the end of the day, if the ORIGINAL instructions and ONLY the original instructions are followed, if nothing is added to nor taken away from that instruction, the serpent is powerless to deceive anyone. He can lie and pontificate all day long and it wont matter one bit. So thats why I say that the culprit to all our problems was nothing less than the first bit of Oral Law in history. Adam has two commandments to keep and teach and 1 talmid (student) to teach in the form of Eve. And yet, Adam just couldnt help building the first Rabbinic fence which he passed down to Eve
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The woman answered the snake, 'We may eat the fruit of the trees in the garden.

But of the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden God said, "You must not eat it, nor touch it, under pain of death." (Genesis 3:2-3 NJB) Now lets wait a minute here! Where did YHWH say not to TOUCH the tree or its fruit? He never did! He said dont EAT the fruitnothing about touching it. But some might argue: So what? Its a sensible precaution. If I dont TOUCH the fruit, I cant eat it! Well heres why we should never go beyond what YHWH has told us, because all the serpent has to do is challenge the Oral Law
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Then the snake said to the woman, 'No! You will not die! 5 God knows in fact that the day you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods, knowing good from evil.' 6 The woman saw that the tree was good to eat and pleasing to the eye and that it was enticing for the wisdom that it could give. So she took some of its fruit and ate it. She also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate it. (Genesis 3:4-6 NJB) So Eve takes the fruit and TOUCHES it then smells it. Nothing bad happens, because YHWH did not connect touching or smelling the fruit with death. But for Eve, this is evidence that it MUST be okay to eat the fruit and that is what brings about her death, her husbands death and by the way, the death of the entire human race before Yshua!!! So much for Oral Law! From there the serpent puts on his little teacher hat and gives a MIDRASH on the commands and says several true statements, but cleverly arranges them in a fashion as to tell an overall lie. It is true, for example, that 1) YHWH knows good and evil. 2) The day they eat of the Tree of Knowledge they will be like YHWH, knowing good and evil. 3) YHWH, the one True Elohim, does not die. But heres the lie. The lie is to tacitly suggest that YHWH has denied Adam and Eve this fruit because He fears they will become His competition. This then leads to the even greater lie that once they have this knowledge and are like Elohim in that regard, they

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will also be like Him and have eternal life! Instead, they already HAD eternal life and they LOST it because they disobeyed Him! This is what going beyond the Commandment does. Keeping it brings life and expanding or clarifying from the mans point of view brings death! And finally, in years past I sort of opened myself up to trouble on this teaching by suggesting that Eve was the first Rabbi because she is the first one to TEACH A FENCE, which she does to the serpent. However, I got pushback on that idea from some very determined ladies who pointed out the command was given to Adam and it was Adams responsibility to teach it to Eve. If Eve got the commandment wrong or didnt get it at all, is that her fault? Wasnt she just being submissive to her husband? Well, yes and no, because technically speaking the phrase your yearning shall be for your husband and he shall rule over you only comes AFTER the Fall. Prior to that, Eve is called EZER-KENEGDO, or the helper who stands in front, meaning she is eye to eye with Adam and may not at that point be under him per se. And is it necessarily the fault of a rabbi if his student fails after being diligently taught or rebels later, when Adam was not present at the time the serpent came to Eve? Because of the vagueness on this point, it is hard to be certain, but it is that precise lack of certainty that is my overriding pointthat IS the problem! Once the bad teaching gets out and spreads and keeps getting passed down as Gospel (forgive the pun), the line between the teacher and the student being at fault blurs to a great extent. That is why, at this Set-Apart time of year when everything re-sets, even the Torah readings back to Genesis 1, we should re-set ourselves and re-dedicate ourselves to the Written Torah of Moshe as kept by our Mashiyach, Maran Yshua, because we should not ever fall under this rebuke of his Joh 5:37 And the Father who sent me testifies concerning me. You have never heard His voice, nor have you seen His appearance. Joh 5:38 And His Word does not dwell in you because you do not believe in him whom He sent. Joh 5:39 Search the Scriptures, because in them you think you have that life that is eternal, and they testify concerning me. Joh 5:40 And you do not desire to come to me, that you may have that life that is eternal. May we then all take careful thought at this time and cling to the Word and who through eternal life comes!

3) Renewed Covenant portion: (English). Yochanan 1:1-18 (all the way through with applicable footnotes.) 4) Highlight common themes in Aramaic (terms in footnotes which I will read):

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5) Apply these themes/issues to modern issues in the Netzari faith. (We must know where we came from to know where we are going. This time of the year is all about renewal and repentance, progressing into a new and more righteous life and deeper relationship with Abba YHWH. We do this is the SEVENTH month which, like the seventh day or Shabbat is a process of perfecting and re-setting.) 6) Relate to all or part of an Appendix portion of AENT or footnotes from a portion (18 NT Misconceptions: #1 Fulfilling the Torah and #2 Destroying the Torah). STUDY QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED NEXT WEEK 1) How does one word in Genesis 1:1 that cannot normally be translated become part of what we are told about Yshua in the book of Revelation? 2) There is something very odd going on with the way the 6 creation days are referred to, what is it? 3) What does the phrase greater light to rule the day and lesser night to rule the night prove about the original Biblical calendar? 4) How does the image of Noah in the ark hint at our future destinymore than one answer is possible. 5) Inherent in the curse YHWH gives Adam there is a clue about our future glory. What is that clue? (There may be more than one correct answer here too but I have only one in mind.)

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Special Bonus Torah Thought for the Week: In Spirit and in Truth (Ruach veEmet/Simon Says) The times of Sukkot may have just passed, but its glow and warmth is very much still with me and I believe also with all of you. Regardless as to which calendar you used to celebrate it, Sukkot is so deep, mysterious and beautiful that it has the ability and power to change hearts and minds forever for the better. And so, just as the Classic Torah Thought for the Week from 2012 commemorates the beautiful recycling back to Genesis, the fact that Sukkot reached almost to the furthest extent of this week needs to also be taken into account and honored and marked properly in our Torah walk. As I write these words of course, Sukkot is still going on. I had spent some of the feast with my beautiful core group of brothers and sisters here in Georgia and then came to Florida where Jaye and I also enjoy the privilege of many other wonderful believers, each one of them precious in our eyes. This moment right now is the early afternoon following the late evening of our return back home. And because of certain events that happened particularly in Florida, I am feeling a great urge from the Ruach to write about what has inspired me in recent days. There was an older gentleman, clearly from a prophetic-deliverance church style background, which was doing the feast with us in great respect but also wanted to talk about the works of the Ruach that he had experienced. For the sake of convenience I will not use his real name but call him Simon. I want to say at the outset that while Simons approach is radically different from my own and also that I will be very gently kidding about him in a loving way, I believe him to be a good and faithful servant of Yah who may, perhaps, be about to stamp his passport from the Land of the Ruach into two other worlds he may not know as well: the world of the Word and the world of Torah observance. Before getting into some of my adventures with Simon, let me explain my metaphors here a bit more clearly. Many of you who have been with me for a while know that I will sometimes explain that my greatest job among all the things I do is to defend the Text. Often that metaphor takes the form of guarding the gatewhich is a job for a lowly but very happy servant. I both feel determination and humility in guarding that gate. And that gate is in the country of the Word or Davar. Simon, for his part, also guards his gate, from his country of the Spirit, or Ruach. In using this metaphor it is, to be sure, a bit of an oversimplification. You guys all know that often I talk about what the Ruach shares with me, including this very essay here right now, and I know Simon cares very deeply for what is written in the Word.

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Nevertheless, it does seem to me that most of us are either dominated by one country or the other. I dont say this as a criticism but as a method for explaining something very important. Our kingdom is one kingdom under Abba YHWH and He rules over both countries of Ruach and Emet, because Yshua taught that both were needed, which is why he said this in Yochanan 4 (Joh 4:5) And he came to a city of Shamria, which is called Shekar on the side of a field that Ya'akov had given to Yosip his son. (Joh 4:6) And there was there a spring of water that had belonged to Ya'akov, and Y'shua was tired from the effort of the road. And he sat on the well, and it was the sixth hour. (Joh 4:7) Then a woman came from Shamrin to draw water and Y'shua said to her, "Give to me water to drink." (Joh 4:8) For his disciples had entered into the city to buy food for themselves. (Joh 4:9) That Samaritan woman said to him, "How is it you are a Yehudean, and you ask from me to drink, for I am a woman Samaritan? For Yehudeans do not have social dealings with the Samaritans." (Joh 4:10) Y'shua answered and said to her, "If only you had known the gift of Elohim, and who this is who said to you, 'Give to me to drink,' you would have asked him and he would have given you living waters." (Joh 4:11) That woman said to him, "My Master, you have no bucket and the well is deep. Where are your living waters?" (Joh 4:12) Why are you greater than our father Ya'akov who gave us this well and from it drank his sons and his sheep? (Joh 4:13) Y'shua answered and said to her, "All who drink from these waters will thirst again. (Joh 4:14) But everyone who drinks of the waters that I give him will be forever without any thirst at all. But those waters that I give to him will become in him a spring of water that will spring up into life that is eternal." (Joh 4:15) That woman said to him, "My Master, give to me from these waters that I will not thirst again, nor have to come and draw from here. (Joh 4:16) Y'shua said to her, "Go call your husband and come here." (Joh 4:17) She said to him, "I have no husband." Y'shua said to her, "You have said well that 'I have no husband.' (Joh 4:18) For you have had five husbands, you! And the one that you have now is not your husband. This you have spoken is true." (Joh 4:19) That woman said to him, "My Master, I see that you are a prophet. (Joh 4:20) Our forefathers worshipped in this mountain, and you say that in

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Urishlim is the place that it is necessary to worship. (Joh 4:21) Y'shua said to her, "Woman believe me, the hour is coming that not in this mountain nor in Urishlim will they worship the Father. (Joh 4:22) You worship something that you do not know. But we worship what we know, for life is from the Yehudeans. (Joh 4:23) But the hour is coming, and now is when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, indeed. For the Father, He seeks worshippers as these. (Joh 4:24) For Elohim is Spirit, and those who worship, they must worship Him in spirit and in truth." Later on, Yshua will expand greatly on what worshipping in truth really means, and then we will get to the spirit part (Joh 17:14) I have given to them Your Word (Davar/Miltha) and the world hates them because they are not of the world as I am not of the world. (Joh 17:15) It is not that I plead You take them from the world, but that You might keep evil from them. (Joh 17:16) For they are not from the world, as I am not from the world. (Joh 17:17) Father sanctify them by your Truth, for Your Word is Truth. (Luk 4:4) Y'shua answered and said to him, "It is written that man should not live by bread alone, rather, by every Word of Elohim." (Act 14:3) And those days many were there and were openly preaching about Master YHWH. And He was witnessing concerning the Word of His Grace with miracles and with wonders that he was accomplishing by their hands. So we see a few things. First, that Word and Truth are referring to the same exact thing: Abba YHWHs Written Scripture. But we also saw in Acts 14 that the Word is followed by what we would also call the Ruach, and the Ruachs utterances and the signs and miracles that are based in the Word and clearly seen through the Ruach. In other words, these are two sides of the same Kingdom Coin. And yet, many of us look at our passports that either say Ruach or Davar and act as if the other country didnt exist or, if it does, that it is of secondary importance. So many from my country of Davar will look with disdain at the Ruachites and say, You might want to crack open a Bible once in a while between all these displays of yours. If I wanted to see falling and twisting with music I would take in a Hip Hop concert with break dancing. Then of course the Ruachites would shoot back, Where is your love, joy and victory brother? Have you planned for that surgery to detach your nose from out of that book and really live unto Elohim? Who is right? Both of them. Who is wrong? Also, both of them. And this brings us back to the ambassador from the country of RuachSimonwho was

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having a summit meeting with the ambassador from the country of Davarme. In both a public teaching and more intimate and private conversation, we began to the play the old kids game of Simon says. In this version though if Simon says what is right the Davar keeps quiet. But if not, its the equivalent of the phraseYou didnt say Simon says! So SIMON SAYS, the gifts of the Ruach are given as signs of faith and favor to believers and the DAVAR is silent, because thats true. Then SIMON SAYS that we all need to pray without ceasing to be used properly by the Father through the gifts He gives and the DAVAR is once again silent. But then I hear, And of course we know the baptism of the Holy Spirit through speaking in tongues and thats when Davar says, You didnt say Simon says! The DAVAR then has the task of raining a bit on Simons parade and challenging him to prove that people arent filled or baptized by the Ruach with OTHER gifts of prophecy, teaching or gathering people together. Show me the Davarso says the Davarthat the only kind of baptism that exists is YOUR kind when, on at least some of the gifts lists, tongues appears close to the bottom. Prophets and teachers arent also immersed by the Ruach? Really? Is that what you are going with brother? To his credit, Simon took the rebuke well. He didnt argue back or rationalize or justify. Instead he admitted he needed more time, a nice vacation perhaps, in the country of Davar. But then he asked me, Does this mean you dont speak in tongues? Do you find no value in that? Do you find no value in the gifts that save countless millions? Okay, so now MY passport needed stamping into HIS country! He had more experience there. He had seen things I couldnt even imagine. So I had to admit there was value to his side of the equation, because the DAVAR also said both countries needed each other. And so I told him, unless we are talking about Aramaic or Hebrew, no I dont speak in tongues per se nor do I feel diminished in my walk with Abba YHWH for not doing so or inferior to those who do. Further, if he meant angelic tongues, it was not for me to judge whether he did or didnt speak them in kosher process, but my only concerns would simply be that ALL directions in the Word about tongues be followed and that we check the FRUITS of such a gift to really see what is going on. I then pointed out that NO ONE, I dont care how gifted they are, hears the Ruach 100% perfectly and 100% all the time and for the times when they dont hear Abba YHWH, because after all He may have His own reasons for being silent, thats the time to pray and seek His Written Word. Simon totally agreed with my position.

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Also to Simons credit and the credit of the entire gathering, I have to say I FINALLY saw the gift of tongues used PROPERLY according to 1 Corinthians 14 and other key places. They spoke and they really interpreted immediately for the edification of the assembly. And no more than 2 people spoke at once. Those of you who know me well know what a fierce critic I can be on this issue and how this is really saying something for me. Team Ruach here though did it right and I am proud of them because of it. Go team! But then, right when I am feeling warm and open and happy, ready to buy that Team Ruach T shirt and cap--what happens? SIMON said, you know brother, when you pray in a tongue the Enemy cant hear you. Well, thats when DAVAR not only spoke up but he brought the Davar Police force with himWhere SIMON, in MY WORD, did you ever read that? Uh, in my experience that is Davar: Thats not what I asked. Where is that Scripture? By the way, you have the right to remain silent while you THINK about your answer, and I would if I were you, exercise that right. Its a valid question but you see what I have seen is Davar: If you give up the right to remain silent and think it through, anything you say can and will be held against you. In other words, still waiting for that verse brother Then finally Simon SAID, Maybe I should rethink that one. Davar: Hope you enjoyed your visit to my countryplease come backoften! Heres your passport back. And so, I think each ambassador learned something from the other and without confrontation, name calling or raised voices. Simon learned that without the Davar backing up his experiences, the Enemy could be deceiving him and he wouldnt know it. But Team Davar learned something valuable too. We talk about FRUITS as being the way to know from the Word who is true and who is not and yet, we are not always eager to SHOW OUR fruits boldly and with joy. Instead we just go back and study when theres a whole wide world out there that needs saving and correction and above all SHALOM! The fact is Yshua wants Ruachites and Davarites to be ONE COUNTRY ruled by him. And it is also the case that Ruachites hear and read the WORD every day and that Davarites feel the Ruach every day, so maybe its time we stopped the Civil War that often rages between us, since we are often fighting and we are still from the same country.

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And finally, Simon I think really held up his charge well. He also took additional instruction from the Scriptures that not ALL gifts are meant for ALL believers, but that Abba YHWH chooses whom He will give what and also answers prayers for gifts WHEN and only when, they line up with His Will. And for my part, I took away from Simon a need to show my faith not just in knowledge but in POWER as well, and to meld my strengths with those whose gifts tend from the other way, because Davarites protect Ruachites with checking Scripture and Ruachites vindicate Davarites by showing the proof of their faith in the kingdom. So now the Summit is overmaybe now the treaty talks can begin in earnest. Oh and as a PS he also asked to buy an AENT and did so before we left. Score 1 for Team Davar and Team Ruach! Im Andrew Gabriel Roth and thats your Torah Thought for the Week! Next week we will be exploring Noach or Genesis 6:9-11:32. Our Haftorah portion will be Isaiah 54:1-55:5 and our Renewed Covenant reading will be from Matthew 24:36-44. Torah 101 will return with the Noach portion also next week. Stay tuned!

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