Why it is so important to read this week's Torah portion?
Table of Contents
Read the transcript below, or watch the video by Joseph Shulam.
Shalom from Netivyah and from the Shepherd of Israel Israel Congregation in Jerusalem.
We have been working together with Brad TV for almost a year, approaching a year, recording the Torah portions that are read in every synagogue around the world on the Sabbath days.
And I want to encourage you to go to YouTube or to Facebook, to the Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry page, and follow, and listen, and read the Torah portions.
Why is that important? First of all, that’s what our forefathers did since the days of Ezra and Nehemiah. Ezra and Nehemiah established this practice around the fourth century BC, and it’s a practice that’s still going on in every synagogue, including all Messianic synagogues that I know of that keep this practice.
But this practice is commanded for the Gentiles in the New Testament. But somehow, a lot of church leaders, denominational leaders, have taken a dumb pill. They read it and they ignore it. They read that the apostles kept the feasts and they ignore it. They read what not to do and they ignore it. They read what Jesus commanded to do and they ignore it.
I’ll just give you one example. Jesus said:
“When you give alms, when you give charity, when you contribute money, do it so that your right hand doesn’t know what your left hand is doing. Don’t do it in public. Do it discreetly.”(Matthew 6, summarized in Joseph’s words)
But that’s not what happens in most churches. It happens in every synagogue, but not in most churches.
But the disciples and the apostles gathered together in Jerusalem in Acts 15. They discussed what to do with the Gentiles, and the idea was we don’t need to circumcise the Gentiles. Jacob, which in English is called James, makes a decision based on Amos chapter 9, verses 11 to 13.
In which Amos receives the word from the Lord and says:
“I will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down.”(Joseph explains: not physically, but spiritually. There were idols in the Temple. Tammuz was worshiped in the Temple by Jews, even by priests.)
“I will rebuild it and set it up again, so that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord — not only the Jews — even all the nations, all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” says the Lord who does all these things.(Amos 9:11–12, paraphrased)
“Known to God from eternity are all His works.”(Acts 15:18)
Then James concludes in Acts 15:
“Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God, but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, from sexual immorality…”(Joseph explains: the Greek word is porneia, meaning prostitution, pornography, and every illicit sexual relationship.)
“…from things strangled…”(Joseph explains: meat that was not properly slaughtered — kosher for Jews, halal for Muslims.)
And then James adds:
“For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogue every Sabbath.”(Acts 15:21)
Now there is an embedded recommendation by James, the brother of Yeshua, that the Gentiles hear the word of the Lord read in the synagogue every Sabbath.
To read it, to hear it, they had to go to the synagogue. Not everybody had a Bible. Not everybody had an iPad or iPhone, or even a book. Only in the synagogues did people have the scroll of the Torah, which weighs about fifteen to twenty kilos. It’s not a portable little book.
So this recommendation, dear brothers, is available to you now.
You can go to YouTube, you can go to Facebook, and just write Joseph Shulam or Brad TV. Simple.
And you’ll find all the weekly portions that we recorded, teaching from them, almost for a year. It’s available to you no matter where you live — whether you live in Harare, Zimbabwe, or Recife, Brazil, or Timbuktu, or Manama on the Persian Gulf.
Wherever you have a smartphone, an iPad, or a computer, it’s available to you free, no charge.
We received the word of God free, and we give it free — in print, in electronic form, on YouTube, on Facebook, and in every other form. If you go to the Netivyah webpage, you can download all of our magazines. Beautiful, full-color magazines, very important topics, all free.
Yes, dear brothers and sisters, enjoy it. Take advantage of it. Take advantage of the gifts that are freely given to you, that are purely from the word of God.
God bless you all. Be faithful. Amen.
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Joseph Shulam
Founder
Joseph is the pioneering founder of Netivyah, one of Israel’s first official Messianic non-profits. Dedicated to restoring the Jewish roots of the faith, he has authored numerous books and lectured globally for over 50 years.
Glossary
Amen (אָמֵן) means “truly” or “let it be so” and is said as an affirmation of faith, agreement, and trust in God.
Kosher (כָּשֵׁר) means “fit” or “proper.” In the Torah, God instructed certain foods to be fit (kosher) and unfit for eating. Today, kosher most commonly refers to food and practices that meet rabbinic Jewish dietary standards.
Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) means peace and completeness, and is often used as a greeting in Israel, both when meeting and parting.
Synagogue (beit knesset בֵּית כְּנֶסֶת) is a Jewish place of prayer, study, and community gathering.
Tabernacle (mishkan, מִשְׁכָּן) refers to the portable sanctuary where God’s presence dwelt among Israel in the wilderness.
Tammuz (תַּמּוּז) is the name of the 4th month of the Hebrew calendar, usually falling around June or July
Torah (תּוֹרָה) means “instruction” or “teaching” and often refers especially to the Five Books of Moses. Psalm 119:1 reminds us that those who walk in God's Torah are blessed.
Yeshua (יֵשׁוּעַ) is the Hebrew name of Jesus, meaning "salvation"
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