Friday, November 30, 2018

CHUCK KOLB 11/30/2018

Chanukah Sameach!
Happy Chanukah! 


#ShabbatShalom - Welcome to Vayeshev (And He Lived), this week’s Torah portion. We are certain that you will be blessed as you go through this portion that will be read in synagogues around the world during this week’s Shabbat (Saturday) service.  Enjoy!


In last week’s Torah study, Vayishlach, Jacob returned from Haran with his entire household to settle in the Land of Canaan.  After all the twists and turns of Jacob’s life, he longed to settle down in the land God had promised. The opening Hebrew Scripture of Parasha Vayeshev uses the word yeshev, which means to settle. In Israel, a settlement is called a yishuv, and those who settle in Israel, especially within the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria, do so at great risk from Palestinian terrorists who often live nearby. In this Parasha, we learn about the trials of Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, whom God had given the gift of dreams and their interpretation.  Many of those dreams revealed Joseph’s future exalted position.

You can view this Parasha on our website complete with embedded links ...
Vayeshev – Jacob, Joseph and the Folly of Favoritism 

https://free.messianicbible.com/parasha/vayeshev-jacob-joseph-and-the-folly-of-favoritism/ 
http://free.messianicbible.com/category/torah

Parasha Reading Schedule 5779 
http://free.messianicbible.com/torah-reading-schedule 

Jewish holiday calendars & Hebrew date converter 
http://www.chabad.org/calendar/view/month_cdo/jewish/Jewish-Calendar.htm - https://www.hebcal.com 
https://yiddishkeit101.wordpress.com/category/hebrew-word-of-the-day 
http://www.wildolive.co.uk/feasts_of_the_lord.htm 

Why Are Christians Adopting Jewish Practice of Studying the Weekly Torah Portion?
https://theisraelbible.com/christians-adopting-jewish-practice-studying-weekly-torah-portion/ 
http://restoringtheway.org/messianic-homeschooling/ 

Can A Jew Be Messianic? 
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/117371/jew-messianic/ 

Restoring the Broken Relationship of the Garden with the Tabernacle 
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/restoring-the-broken-relationship-of-the-garden-with-the-tabernacle/ 

Are You a Watchman on the Wall? 
In many ways, Believers in the God of Israel and Messiah Yeshua are also called to be watchmen.   
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/are-you-a-watchman-on-the-wall/ 

Holy, Holy, Holy Is the Lord of Hosts – YHVH Sabaoth 
The name YHVH Sabaoth is used 235 times in the Bible. 
http://free.messianicbible.com/feature/holy-holy-holy-lord-hosts-yhvh-sabaoth/ 

The Prophetic Significance of the Passover Lamb 
http://free.messianicbible.com/holiday/the-prophetic-significance-of-the-passover-lamb/ 

Celebrate Yeshua HaMashiach's birthday - The Feast of Tabernacles !
http://conpats.blogspot.com/2017/10/chuck-kolb-10082017.html 

Simchat Torah: Celebrating Yeshua – the Word That Dwells Among Us
http://free.messianicbible.com/holiday/dancing-joy-simchat-torah/ 

Rabbi Friedman - The Soul and the Afterlife: Where Do We Go From Here? 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzFUXKk2B4I (43:40) https://www.sinai-indaba.com/ 

Is It a Man, Angel, or God?
The angel of the Lord appears many times in Scripture, but is it really an angel or is it God? 
https://free.messianicbible.com/feature/is-it-a-man-angel-or-god/ 

What is His Name? 

http://www.baruch-hashem.com/index.php/resources?start=22 

The Daniel Timeline 
http://www.davidjayjordan.com/Danieltimeline.html 

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Parshat Vayeishev

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/article_cdo/aid/3202/jewish/Vayeishev-in-a-Nutshell.htm 
http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default.asp?tDate=12/1/2018 

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Chaim Richman ... 

Weekly Torah Portion: Vayeshev 

Parashat Vayeshev begins the painful story of brothers whose enmity toward their precocious younger brother Yosef and the preferential treatment he receives from their father is so great that it tears the family apart and sets the groundwork for centuries of bondage in Egypt. But it also chronicles the origins of the two messianic figures who will play a role in Israel's future redemption: Messiah son of Yosef and Messiah son of David. 

Vayeshev (Genesis 37:1 - 40:23) Parashat Vayeshev is read on Shabbat: Kislev 23, 5779 / December 1, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRdxs5QtR0g (18:14) 
https://www.youtube.com/user/henryporter2/videos 
Published on Nov 29, 2018 - The Temple Institute  
https://www.templeinstitute.org/events.htm 
http://www.templeinstitute.org/ 
Weekly Newsletter - http://is.gd/4BUvi 

Special ... Broadcasting from Jerusalem with Rabbi Chaim Richman, Yitzchak Reuven 
Temple Talk Radio: Noah’s Dove, Jacob and the Secret of the Chanukah Oil 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BdRibwk1e3E (46:11) 
Published on Nov 28, 2018 - The Temple Institute 
The Power of the Chanukah Lights 
Renewing the Miraculous in Our Lives 

Get ready for a special, unforgettable pre-Chanukah edition of Temple Talk, as our hosts prepare for the upcoming Festival of Lights and share fascinating insights and traditions about this special holiday. Yitzchak Reuven and Rabbi Chaim Richman examine the historic as well as esoteric sources and provide rich background as to what Chanukah is really all about and what special message it has today for Jews the world over. Plus: What is the connection between a recent, unique archaeological discovery in Jerusalem, the Airbnb boycott of Jewish houses in Judea and Samaria, and Chanuka? Tune into this week's Temple Talk for the answer! 

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The Coming Temple - Full Documentary

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKTO8YYs29c (48:17) NuBeat Music 12/21/16 
Filmed in the Old City of Jerusalem, this ground-breaking documentary investigates the research of renowned Biblical archaeologists, Bob Cornuke, David Sielaff and Earnest L. Martin who claim that Solomon and Herod's Temples never stood on the Haram al Sharif, also known as the Temple Mount. If they are right, then there is nothing to stop the Jewish people building their long awaited for Third Jewish Temple in the actual site where the Temples once stood. 

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Todah Rabah - beloved Rabbi Naphtali “Tuly” Weisz ...  

https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/  https://israel365.com/ 

The Portion of Vayeishev
https://theisraelbible.com/reading-plan/genesis/portion-vayeishev/ 
https://theisraelbible.com/weekly-torah-portion/ 

The Israel Bible side-by-side English and Hebrew text along with audio being read in Hebrew.
https://theisraelbible.com/bible/genesis/chapter-1#verse-1 
https://theisraelbible.com/hebrew-alphabet-chart/ 
https://theisraelbible.com/proper-noun-directory/ 
https://theisraelbible.com/glossary/ 
https://theisraelbible.com/maps 

Chanukah and the Future of the State of Israel
by Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo
As mentioned before, this approach opens a completely new way of understanding history. Judaism suggests that at certain times God sends emanations to this world so as to awaken human beings to act, just as Pharaoh received his dreams in order that Joseph’s imprisonment would come to an end. A later example of this is the story of Chanukah. The Jews knew that logically there was no chance of a successful uprising against the Greeks, but God created a notion of revolt within the minds of the Maccabees. The greatness of these few Jews was manifest in their correct reaction to this heavenly directive. They realized what needed to be done, however preposterous. In the case of emanations, as with the Maccabees, the main challenge is in “hearing” the message, correctly interpreting it and subsequently knowing what it demands of us. This itself requires divine assistance and moral integrity and is not available to all.
(In fact, it can be dangerous.)
 https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/117842/chanukah-and-the-future-of-the-state-of-israel-opinion/ 
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/chanukah-and-the-future-of-the-state-of-israel/ 

Sanhedrin Invites 70 Nations to Hanukkah Dedication of Altar for the Third Temple
by Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz 

The nascent Sanhedrin released a declaration to the 70 nations for Hanukkah to be read at a ceremony in Jerusalem on the last day of the holiday. The ceremony will include the consecration of a stone altar prepared for use in the Third Temple. The declaration is intended as an invitation to the nations to participate in the Temple and to receive its blessings. 
https://www.breakingisraelnews.com/117830/70-nations-hanukkah-altar-third-temple/

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2 FREE bumper stickers - I Stand with Israel 

http://www.shilohisraelchildren.org/free-bumper-stickers/ 
Hebrew “Trump 2016” Bumper Sticker 
https://israel365.com/store/i-love-israel/hebrew-trump-2016-bumper-sticker 

Jared and Ivanka Special w Joseph, Arabella and Theodore ... 
Shana tova u'metuka! #RoshHashanah - 5779 
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bngu5vDFBxE/
34 #MedalOfHonor at WH - 5779
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Instavid Child Tax Credit and #TaxReform - 5779 
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Ivanka's Happy Birthday 10/30/81 - 5779    
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Peas and Carrots - 5779 
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Happy Thanksgiving! - 5779 
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqgk4BEhpCr/ 

https://www.instagram.com/ivankatrump/ 
https://twitter.com/ivankatrump  
http://ivankatrump.com/ 

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Todah Rabah - beloved Ted Belman writing from Jerusalem, Israel for 17+ years ...  
THERE IS NO DIPLOMATIC SOLUTION 


T. Belman writes,  It bothers me the most when liberal Jews or their leadership, support antisemitic Muslim immigration on the basis that we Jews were once immigrants.  Jewish immigrants shared American values, hated no one and wanted to be American. Muslim immigrants don’t share American values, hate Jews (at least a large majority do) and don’t want to integrate. Like Engelhard says, there is no comparison.
Please stop playing with my Holocaust, Geraldo/Cortez 
Ignorance? Anti-Semitism? There is no comparison between today’s militant migrants
and Holocaust survivors and no excuse for the spurious comparison.

by Jack Engelhard, INN
It appears that throughout this entire great country, we have but one proper news channel, Fox News, and even over there we can use a day without Juan Williams. Or Geraldo Rivera. There he was, saying that it is wrong to use the Holocaust to score political points, as Rep-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) just did – which would have been a good place for him to stop.
https://www.israpundit.org/please-stop-playing-with-my-holocaust-geraldocortez/ 
http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/23072

How Mohammed Bin Salman Put Saudi Arabia in Debt to Trump and Netanyahu
The crown prince seeks support to blunt criticism over Khashoggi murder,
but despite his charm offensive in the Arab world, he is still getting a hostile reception
 by Zvi Bar’el, HAARETZ
Tunisia’s decision to invite Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for a visit had local journalists up in arms last week. “Inviting bin Salman to Tunisia is an insult to the revolution and its values,” the Tunisian journalists union announced, upon learning of the invitation. “He’s an enemy of freedom of expression. Some 100 Egyptian journalists also issued a statement condemning the visit of bin Salman to Cairo, where he was received Monday with all the requisite flourishes.oth countries, while the social networks in Egypt, where he landed on Monday, and Tunisia and Algeria, where bin Salman is also expected to visit, were roiling against the visit of the “holder of the saw,” as one tweet called him, and not just because of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
https://www.israpundit.org/how-mohammed-bin-salman-put-saudi-arabia-in-debt-to-trump-and-netanyahu/ 
https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/.premium-how-mohammad-bin-salman-put-his-kingdom-in-debt-to-trump-and-netanyahu-1.6695165 

Ted Belman, editor and publisher of Israpundit 
https://youtu.be/2_2jJpjU3zA (5:10) ILTV ISRAEL DAILY 10/9/17 http://www.iltv.tv/ 

Ted Belman - 12/3/17 
https://youtu.be/EO5kIMNtZwA (1:08:08) Alexander Gendler 12/3/17 
The “Jordan-is-Palestine” idea, as the preferred resolution for the Israel-Palestine conflict. The conference was organized together with Mudar Zahran, Secretary-General of the Jordan Opposition Coalition, who lives in England under the protection of that country's police.

3 ways to help Ted Belman ... 
Please send checks payable to Ted Belman, 
Dan #33, Unit 25, Jerusalem, 93509, ISRAEL 
Or go to Israel Institute for Strategic Studies 
and use your credit card and mention "Israpundit" 
Donators will get a US tax deductible receipt. 
http://www.strategic-israel.org/  
http://www.israpundit.org/donate/ 

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Courtesy of Bible Gateway via Jewish Voice ... 
Free Map! Where are the Lost Tribes of Israel today?

https://www.salemoffers.com/campaign/lost-tribes-map-fall-2017-b/ 
http://jvmi.convio.net/assets/pdfs/lost-tribes-map.pdf (1 page pdf) 
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Yavoh ~ He is coming ! 
Yahweh - Yeshua -  Ruach Ha-Kodesh 
Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh אֶהְיֶה אֲשֶׁר אֶהְיֶה   
BREAKING NEWS FROM ISRAEL 
Minute by minute updates here ... 
Watching for Yeshua Ha-Mashiach   
http://www.kolbonews.com/ 
http://conpats.blogspot.com/ 
http://thelibertymill.com/ 
https://rwnofficial.com/
http://www.citizensunited.org/ 
https://www.contendingfortruth.com/ 
https://aim4truth.org/  https://intelnews.org/ 
http://itccs.org/  http://evil.news/ 
https://iomovies.to/  http://123tv.live/ 
http://free.messianicbible.com/  
Pray at the Kotel - the Western Wailing Wall 
http://free.messianicbible.com/enter-prayer-wall/ 
Entire Media News on this Planet 
click continue to use PressDisplay.com 
http://www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx 


Happy Chanukah!  

Chanukah Exclusive

8 Epic Latke Sliders on 12/3/18 Today Show 9AM 
https://www.today.com/on-the-show 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/holidays/latke-sliders-makes-an-instant-chanukah-party/
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqyzjlxF9V8/ 

Eight Nights of Latkes!
https://www.joyofkosher.com/holidays/eight-nights-of-latke-recipes/ 

8 Nights of Crispy Chanukah Delights 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/holidays/crispy-chanukah-desserts/

I am totally obsessed with this!
Free Ebook: How To Cook Everything With Olive Oil 

https://www.joyofkosher.com/page/31-days-of-evoo-free-ebook/ 

An easy and gourmet Friday night dinner...
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/sheet-pan-chicken-a-lorange/ 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/browse/13-kugel-recipes/

Going out for a meal? Take this along with you!
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/take-along-cake/ 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/masala-chai-cookies/

An easy Tex-Mex style dinner! 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/mexican-skirt-steak-with-corn/ 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/honey-cornbread/ 

Yemenite Oven Baked 1 Hour Shabbat Menu 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/holidays/yemenite-oven-baked-1-hour-shabbat-menu/ 
vid> https://youtu.be/e8Ep5HSD6ME (6:09) 11/26/18 

A fun and family-friendly dinner...
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/corn-flake-crumb-baked-chicken/
https://www.joyofkosher.com/browse/perfect-potatoes-3-new-unexpected-ways-to-prepare-your-fave-side-dish/ 

Keeping warm while keeping lean!
https://www.joyofkosher.com/browse/3-ingredient-fat-free-soups/
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/one-pot-winter-veggie-pasta/ 
vid> https://youtu.be/PfhB8XP7i5A (0:58) 1/15/17 

This ain't your mama's cholent...(spoiler alert: it's even better!)
https://www.joyofkosher.com/holidays/how-to-turn-any-stew-into-a-shabbat-cholent/ 
Happy Chanukah! - https://www.growandbehold.com/jamiegeller 

Breakfast for Dinner!
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/shakshuka-ish/ 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/mexican-bread-challah/ 

Win a Fabulous Jerusalem Apartment While Supporting the Land You Love
https://unitedwithisrael.thedreamraffle.com/?a=jok till 12/6/18 

Win a Trip to Israel
https://www.joyofkosher.com/page/win-a-trip-to-israel-with-colavita/
FREE DOWNLOAD: My Make Ahead Mezze Recipe eBook (32 page pdf) 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/browse/dips-spreads-and-salad-free-recipe-ebook/ 

FREE Ultimate Challah eBook
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Free Mezze Ebook
https://mailchi.mp/jamiegeller/mezze-ebook 

Download my FREE Modern Israeli Summer ebook with over 20 fresh & easy recipes. 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/israel/modern-israeli-summer-free-recipe-ebook/

Finally! A Healthy Meal Plan for the Whole Family: Fresh Families by Jamie 
https://freshfamilies.us/ 
https://freshfamilies.us/register/ 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6lQsuWGrrA (1:01) 

Today Show - Make Jamie Geller’s tasty brisket with apples and honey cake 
https://www.today.com/video/make-jamie-geller-s-tasty-brisket-with-apples-and-honey-cake-1315037763843 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/easy-twists-on-holiday-favorites-as-seen-on-the-today-show/
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/as-seen-on-the-today-show-easy-oven-seared-soy-silan-brisket/

The Perfect Week for Matzo... As Seen on The Today Show
https://www.joyofkosher.com/2018/03/the-perfect-week-for-matzo-as-seen-on-the-today-show/
w vid Use matzo in 4 different ways for Passover!
https://www.today.com/video/use-matzo-in-4-different-ways-for-passover-1198725699778
https://www.today.com/food/easiest-most-delicious-matzo-ball-recipe-passover-t125845
Matzo Balls by Jamie Geller 
https://www.today.com/recipes/matzo-balls-recipe-t125837 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/best-ever-matzo-ball-soup/ 

Watch Jamie cooking Brisket with Megyn Kelly on The Today Show
by Shifra Klein 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/2018/01/jamie-gellers-brisket-101-as-seen-on-the-today-show/
https://www.today.com/video/make-3-hearty-winter-meals-with-this-delicious-classic-beef-brisket-recipe-1164913219668 
https://www.amazon.com/Jamie-Gellers-Brisket-101-LEFTOVER/dp/1976983851/ 

Camp Zeke http://www.campzeke.org 
$1,000 off camp for new families - first come, first served!
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Free 2017 - 63 page cookbook - recipes by Alexandra Zohn, MA, HHC 
http://www.campzeke.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/2017-Camp-Zeke-Cookbook.pdf 

Missing an ingredient? Improvise 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/jamies-tips-for-cooking-substitutions/ 

The Most Popular Recipe - Year 2017
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/potato-kugel-cups/ 
https://youtu.be/ApKzja2XnWE (6:39) 
The Most Popular Recipes 
https://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/search?query=Most%20Popular%20Recipes 

Extra Virgin Olive Oil - EVOO Colavita recipes
https://colavitarecipes.com/recipe/white-bean-and-avocado-toast/ 
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https://colavitarecipes.com/recipe/sun-dried-tomato-hummus/ 
https://colavitarecipes.com/recipe/quinoa-oat-clusters-fruit-nuts/ 

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The answer is, it's made with love from Israel !   
https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/my-jewish-food-memories/ 
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https://www.joyofkosher.com/from-jamie/my-love-affair-with-jerusalem/ 

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Jacob lived [yeshev] in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan. 
Genesis 37:1


Shabbat Shalom - Parasha Vayeshev - Favor, Inheritance and a Grand Destiny !!!


 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Welcome to Vayeshev (And He Lived), this week’s Torah portion.
 
We are certain that you will be blessed as you go through this portion that will be read in synagogues around the world during this week’s Shabbat (Saturday) service.  Enjoy!
 
VAYESHEV (And He Lived)
Genesis 37:1–40:23; Amos 2:6–3:8; Romans 8:18–39
 
“Jacob lived [yeshev] in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.” (Genesis 37:1)
 
In last week’s Torah study, Vayishlach, Jacob returned from Haran with his entire household to settle in the Land of Canaan.  After all the twists and turns of Jacob’s life, he longed to settle down in the land God had promised.
 
The opening Hebrew Scripture of this Parasha uses the word yeshev, which means to settle.
 
In Israel, a settlement is called a yishuv, and those who settle in Israel, especially within the disputed territories of Judea and Samaria, do so at great risk from Palestinian terrorists who often live nearby.
 
In this Parasha, we learn about the trials of Jacob’s favorite son, Joseph, whom God had given the gift of dreams and their interpretation.  Many of those dreams revealed Joseph’s future exalted position.
 
By relating these dreams to his brothers, however, Joseph fueled their jealousy, which had already been aroused by their father’s favoritism toward Joseph, son of his favored wife, Rachel.
 

Joseph's Sheaves (1919 Bible Primer)
 
The Folly of Favoritism 
“Now Israel [Jacob] loved Joseph more than all his sons, because he was the son of his old age; and he made him a varicolored tunic.”  (Genesis 37:3)
 
Jacob made no secret of the fact that he loved Joseph more than any of his other children, and he gave him a special coat of many colors.
 
By giving him this coat, Jacob was proclaiming Joseph’s sovereignty and leadership over all his other sons, since in the patriarchal age, Semitic chiefs wore coats of many colors as an insignia of rulership.
 
Perhaps Jacob should have foreseen the negative effects of sibling rivalry that usually result from such favoritism, since he was also a victim of this kind of dysfunction.
 
His mother, Rebecca, favored Jacob but his father, Isaac, favored Jacob's brother Esau.  This caused a great deal of animosity between the two brothers.  Rather than learn from his parents' mistakes, however, Jacob simply perpetuated their parental weaknesses.
 
Instead of following Jacob's example, we can make a choice to learn from our parents’ mistakes and decide today not to carry on with unhealthy parent-child relationships that have been modeled for us by previous generations.
 
Of course, to make such a change requires us to be set free from the past, and that begins with repentance and forgiveness—repentance for judging our parents (and perhaps for being a troublesome child), and forgiving them for their mistakes.
 
Everlasting spiritual new beginnings are found in the freedom that Messiah Yeshua (Jesus) offers when we repent of our sins and receive His forgiveness.
 

Family gathers together on Erev Shabbat for a special meal.

Favor Follows Joseph into the Pit 
The name Yosef (Joseph) is associated with the modern kabbalistic (Jewish mysticism) term yesod, meaning foundation, from the expression, “Tzadik yesod olam”a righteous man is the foundation of the world.
 
Indeed, Joseph had a great destiny upon his life, the twists and turns of which would provide a foundation for the survival of his family; and in the fullness of time, a freedom that provides a foundation for Jewish life and salvation.
 
Jacob’s favored son is so important that he is allotted more text in the Tanakh (Old Testament) than any other character except Moses.
 
But he was not immediately ready to fulfill his divine purpose. Either Joseph needed to learn humility, which he gained through painful and difficult trials, or through his trials, God positioned him to fulfill that destiny.  Perhaps both.
 
The drama began when Jacob dispatched Joseph on a mission to check on his brothers.  Unbeknownst to both of them, the jealous siblings had already plotted to kill Joseph.
 
Their plan might have succeeded except for the protests of Reuven, who urged them to throw Joseph into a pit instead.  He secretly intended to rescue him later.  But Reuven never had the opportunity to save his brother, since the other brothers sold Joseph, at Judah’s suggestion, to an Ishmaelite caravan.
 
“They sold Joseph for twenty pieces of silver to the Ishmaelites.”  (Genesis 37:28)
 

This Butterfield mosaic of Joseph being sold is displayed in the Keble
College Chapel at Oxford.
 
Once in Egypt, Joseph was sold to Potiphar, an Egyptian captain of Pharaoh’s guard, who soon discovered the greatness within Joseph.  Potiphar came to trust Joseph so implicitly that he placed him in charge of all of his affairs.
 
Meanwhile, Joseph’s brothers returned to their father with his coat of many colors.  They dipped it in blood to deceive their father into thinking that a wild animal had killed his beloved son.
 
It was Judah, fourth son of Jacob and future ruler of the twelve tribes of Israel, who led the decision to sell Joseph rather than kill him.
 
“Then Judah said to his brothers, ‘What do we gain by killing our brother and covering up his blood?  Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites, but let us not do away with him ourselves.  After all, he is our brother, our own flesh."  (Genesis 37:26–27)
 
Judah seems to be a complex character,
with signs of integrity as well as duplicity. 
 

Jacob Receiving the Bloody Tunic of Joseph, by Jan Lievens
  
Keeping Hope Alive through Inheritance  
There is a curious interruption in the narrative of Joseph’s story, as the Scriptures turn to the episode of Judah.
 
At this point, Judah had married the daughter of a Canaanite, Shua:
 
“There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and cohabited with her.”  (Genesis 38:2)
 
Shua conceived and had a son named Er, who married Tamar.  But Er died without giving Tamar a child because the Lord was displeased with this son of Judah and prematurely took his life.
 
Judah then urged his second-born son, Onan, to take Tamar as a wife.  It was the duty of the brother of a man who died without children to marry his widow in order to perpetuate his brother's line.
 
“Then Judah said to Onan, ‘Join with your brother's wife and do your duty by her as a brother-in-law, and provide offspring for your brother.’”  (Genesis 38:8)
 
This kind of familial responsibility may seem alien to us, but God later included it in the laws found in the Book of Deuteronomy:
 
“When brothers live together, and one of them dies childless, the wife of the deceased man shall not marry outside to a strange man; her brother-in-law shall come to her, and take her to himself as a wife, and perform levirate marriage.
 
“The firstborn son whom she bears will then perpetuate the name of the dead brother, so that his name will not be obliterated from Israel.”  (Deuteronomy 25:5–6)
 

Reading from the Torah scroll.
 
Why would God maintain a custom that predates even Abraham
One reason is grounded in eternal inheritance.  Another is “for the express purpose of keeping alive the hope of resurrection in the minds of the chosen people.”  (Elliott’s Commentary for English Readers, Deuteronomy 25:5)
 
By keeping the inheritance within the family, this law of levirate marriage kept alive the hope of an earthly resurrection of the family name. 
 
We see this in the Book of Ruth:  the wealthy Bethlehem landowner Boaz (who foreshadowed Yeshua) gave this hope of resurrection and eternal inheritance to the widow Ruth (who foreshadowed those who follow Yeshua) when he became her bridegroom and she his bride.  (Ruth 4)
 
The hope of our spiritual, eternal resurrection and inheritance was fulfilled when Yeshua became the “Bridegroom” of all chosen people—Gentiles and Jews—creating a marriage covenant with all those who enter into that covenant with Him.  Those who become His Bride receive His eternal inheritance.
 
All Believers who put their hope in Yeshua as Savior have the hope of the resurrection sealed into their spirit.
 
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Yeshua HaMashiach!  According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Yeshua HaMashiach from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.”  (1 Peter 1:3–4)
 

The Marriage of Ruth and Boaz, by Jean-Baptiste Auguste Leloir
(Museum Georges Garret)

Obedience Is Rewarded  
Still, we can well imagine that sin might get in the way of this hope, and it did in the case of Judah's second son, Onan.  In fact, the Lord was displeased with him, too, because he refused to raise up a son for his brother.  In judgment, the Lord took his life also.
 
Instead of admitting that his sons died early because of their sin, Judah blamed the widow, Tamar.  And though he promised her that his third and last son, Shelah, would give her a son, he did not want to risk losing him as well.
 
He told Tamar to wait as a widow until Shelah grew to maturity.  But when Shelah became a man, Judah still did not give him to Tamar as her husband, so she took matters into her own hands.
 
Tamar disguised herself as a cult prostitute and lured Judah into an encounter that resulted in her becoming pregnant.  Approximately three months later, when her pregnancy became evident, Judah ordered her executed for harlotry; but it was then that Tamar displayed Judah’s seal, cord, and staff, which Judah had given Tamar as pledge of payment for her services.
 
“As she was being brought out, she sent this message to her father-in-law, ‘I am with child by the man to whom these belong.’  And she added, ‘Examine these: whose seal and cord and staff are these?’"  
(Genesis 38:25) 
 

Judah and Tamar, by School of Rembrandt
 
Judah then realized that though Tamar’s actions were less than perfect, she had acted to fulfill the familial responsibility to raise up a child for her husband under the family name.  He realized that she was more righteous than he was, so he set her free.
 
Tamar gave birth to twins, one of whom, Perez, became a forefather of Boaz, who became the great-grandfather of King David, who became a forefather of the Messiah.  (see Matthew 1; Ruth 4:18–22)
 
Judah is considered, in traditional Judaism and in the Tanakh, the father of the Mashiach (Messiah), who we know to be Yeshua (Salvation), the Lion from the tribe of Judah.
 
“The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from his descendants, until the coming of the one to whom it belongs, the one whom all nations will honor."  (Genesis 49:10)
 

Versailles Synagogue (Photo by Djampa)
  
From Pit to Palace  
What does this story show us?  It shows us that God, by His mercies, can redeem us and take us from the depths of despair to the heights of fulfilled dreams.
 
Although Judah made some very bad decisions that tremendously hurt people, and although he fell into immorality, God still chose to bring forth the Messiah of all mankind through his lineage.
 
Similarly, Joseph’s dark descent into a pit, his betrayal by his brothers, his period of slavery in Egypt, and abandonment in a dungeon for a crime he did not commit served to position him to be exalted over all of Egypt, next to Pharaoh.
 
In this exalted position Joseph was able to arrange for all of Egypt to have enough food to eat during the seven-year famine throughout the region.  The people living around Egypt, including his own brothers who came to Joseph seeking food, survived the famine because of Joseph’s wise leadership. 
 

Jewish men pray at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.
 
Each of us may have to endure challenging situations in life as we journey toward fulfilling our calling in God.
 
When times are the darkest—when we have fallen into a pit, either by those who sin against us, or by our own sin—we can take heart because this is not the end of the story.  God promises to make all things work together for our good:
 
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”  (Romans 8:28)
 
It is during life’s dark times that the light of Yeshua seems brightest.
 
Yeshua said, “I am the Light of the world.”  His light of truth and eternal love can sustain us through the darkest of nights as we continue to place our faith and trust in Him.
 
“Then Yeshua spoke to them again:  'I am the light of the world.  Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.'"  (John 8:12)
 
Even when Israelis are being attacked by rockets from Gaza and throughout Israel by Palestinian terrorists, Yeshua can shine His light through the darkness.
 
 
Let your light shine as we approach the Hanukkah season and help us bring the Good News of Yeshua to the Holy Land.
 
"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD rises upon you."  (Isaiah 60:1)
 
"For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel."  (Luke 2:30–32)
  
Shabbat Shalom from the Entire Bibles For Israel Family!
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