פרשת השבוע בראשית
Parashah B'resheet • In the beginning
Genesis 1:1-6:8

This week's commentary

Torah

B'resheet (Genesis) 1:1-6:8

^1:1In the beginning G-d created the heavens and the earth. ^1:2Now the earth was formless and empty. Darkness was on the surface of the deep. G-d's Spirit was hovering over the surface of the waters.

^1:3God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. ^1:4God saw the light, and saw that it was good. G-d divided the light from the darkness. ^1:5God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. There was evening and there was morning, one day.

^1:6God said, "Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it divide the waters from the waters." ^1:7God made the expanse, and divided the waters which were under the expanse from the waters which were above the expanse, and it was so. ^1:8God called the expanse sky. There was evening and there was morning, a second day.

^1:9God said, "Let the waters under the sky be gathered together to one place, and let the dry land appear," and it was so. ^1:10God called the dry land Earth, and the gathering together of the waters he called Seas. G-d saw that it was good. ^1:11God said, "Let the earth put forth grass, herbs yielding seed, and fruit trees bearing fruit after their kind, with its seed in it, on the earth," and it was so. ^1:12The earth brought forth grass, herbs yielding seed after their kind, and trees bearing fruit, with its seed in it, after their kind: and G-d saw that it was good. ^1:13There was evening and there was morning, a third day.

^1:14God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of sky to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days and years; ^1:15and let them be for lights in the expanse of sky to give light on the earth," and it was so. ^1:16God made the two great lights: the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night. He also made the stars. ^1:17God set them in the expanse of sky to give light to the earth, ^1:18and to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness. G-d saw that it was good. ^1:19There was evening and there was morning, a fourth day.

^1:20God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth in the open expanse of sky." ^1:21God created the large sea creatures, and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarmed, after their kind, and every winged bird after its kind. G-d saw that it was good. ^1:22God blessed them, saying, "Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let birds multiply on the earth." ^1:23There was evening and there was morning, a fifth day.

^1:24God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures after their kind, cattle, creeping things, and animals of the earth after their kind," and it was so. ^1:25God made the animals of the earth after their kind, and the cattle after their kind, and everything that creeps on the ground after its kind. G-d saw that it was good.

^1:26God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." ^1:27God created man in his own image. In G-d's image he created him; male and female he created them. ^1:28God blessed them. G-d said to them, "Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it. Have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the sky, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." ^1:29God said, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree, which bears fruit yielding seed. It will be your food. ^1:30To every animal of the earth, and to every bird of the sky, and to everything that creeps on the earth, in which there is life, I have given every green herb for food." And it was so.

^1:31God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. There was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.

^2:1The heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. ^2:2On the seventh day G-d finished his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made. ^2:3God blessed the seventh day, and made it holy, because he rested in it from all his work which he had created and made.

^2:4This is the history of the generations of the heavens and of the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD G-d made earth and the heavens. ^2:5No plant of the field was yet in the earth, and no herb of the field had yet sprung up; for the LORD G-d had not caused it to rain on the earth. There was not a man to till the ground, ^2:6but a mist went up from the earth, and watered the whole surface of the ground. ^2:7The LORD G-d formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul. ^2:8The LORD G-d planted a garden eastward, in `Eden, and there he put the man whom he had formed. <sup>2:9</sup>Out of the ground the LORD G-d made every tree to grow that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. <sup>2:10</sup>A river went out of `Eden to water the garden; and from there it was parted, and became four heads. ^2:11The name of the first is Pishon: this is the one which flows through the whole land of Chavilah, where there is gold; ^2:12and the gold of that land is good. There is aromatic resin and the shoham stone. ^2:13The name of the second river is Gichon: the same river that flows through the whole land of Kush. ^2:14The name of the third river is Chiddekel: this is the one which flows in front of Ashshur. The fourth river is the Perat. ^2:15The LORD G-d took the man, and put him into the garden of `Eden to dress it and to keep it. ^2:16The LORD G-d commanded the man, saying, "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat: ^2:17but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it: for in the day that you eat of it you will surely die."

^2:18The LORD G-d said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him." ^2:19Out of the ground the LORD G-d formed every animal of the field, and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. Whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. ^2:20The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field; but for man there was not found a helper suitable for him. ^2:21The LORD G-d caused a deep sleep to fall on the man, and he slept; and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh in its place. ^2:22He made the rib, which the LORD G-d had taken from the man, into a woman, and brought her to the man. ^2:23The man said, "This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh. She will be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." ^2:24Therefore a man will leave his father and his mother, and will join with his wife, and they will be one flesh. ^2:25They were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.

^3:1Now the serpent was more subtle than any animal of the field which the LORD G-d had made. He said to the woman, "Yes, has G-d said, 'You shall not eat of any tree of the garden?'"

^3:2The woman said to the serpent, "Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat, ^3:3but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, G-d has said, 'You shall not eat of it, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'"

^3:4The serpent said to the woman, "You won't surely die, ^3:5for G-d knows that in the day you eat it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like G-d, knowing good and evil."

^3:6When the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit of it, and ate; and she gave some to her husband with her, and he ate. ^3:7Both of their eyes were opened, and they knew that they were naked. They sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. ^3:8They heard the voice of the LORD G-d walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD G-d among the trees of the garden.

^3:9The LORD G-d called to the man, and said to him, "Where are you?"

^3:10The man said, "I heard your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself."

^3:11God said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?"

^3:12The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate."

^3:13The LORD G-d said to the woman, "What is this you have done?"

The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."

^3:14The LORD G-d said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all cattle, and above every animal of the field. On your belly shall you go, and you shall eat dust all the days of your life. ^3:15I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel."

^3:16To the woman he said, "I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth. In pain you will bring forth children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you."

^3:17To Adam he said, "Because you have listened to your wife's voice, and have eaten of the tree, of which I commanded you, saying, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground for your sake. In toil you will eat of it all the days of your life. ^3:18Thorns also and thistles will it bring forth to you; and you will eat the herb of the field. ^3:19By the sweat of your face will you eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken. For you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

^3:20The man called his wife Chavah, because she was the mother of all living. ^3:21The LORD G-d made coats of skins for Adam and for his wife, and clothed them.

^3:22The LORD G-d said, "Behold, the man has become like one of us, knowing good and evil. Now, lest he put forth his hand, and also take of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever..." ^3:23Therefore the LORD G-d sent him forth from the garden of `Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken. <sup>3:24</sup>So he drove out the man; and he placed Keruvs at the east of the garden of `Eden, and the flame of a sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.

^4:1The man knew Chavah his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Kayin, and said, "I have gotten a man with the LORD's help." ^4:2Again she gave birth, to Kayin's brother Hevel. Hevel was a keeper of sheep, but Kayin was a tiller of the ground. ^4:3As time passed, it happened that Kayin brought an offering to the LORD from the fruit of the ground. ^4:4Hevel also brought some of the firstborn of his flock and of the fat of it. The LORD respected Hevel and his offering, ^4:5but he didn't respect Kayin and his offering. Kayin was very angry, and the expression on his face fell. ^4:6The LORD said to Kayin, "Why are you angry? Why has the expression of your face fallen? ^4:7If you do well, will it not be lifted up? If you don't do well, sin crouches at the door. Its desire is for you, but you are to rule over it." ^4:8Kayin said to Hevel, his brother, "Let's go into the field." It happened, when they were in the field, that Kayin rose up against Hevel, his brother, and killed him.

^4:9The LORD said to Kayin, "Where is Hevel, your brother?"

He said, "I don't know. Am I my brother's keeper?"

^4:10The LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood cries to me from the ground. ^4:11Now you are cursed because of the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. ^4:12From now on, when you till the ground, it won't yield its strength to you. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth."

^4:13Kayin said to the LORD, "My punishment is greater than I can bear. ^4:14Behold, you have driven me out this day from the surface of the ground. I will be hidden from your face, and I will be a fugitive and a wanderer in the earth. It will happen that whoever finds me will kill me."

^4:15The LORD said to him, "Therefore whoever slays Kayin, vengeance will be taken on him sevenfold." the LORD appointed a sign for Kayin, lest any finding him should strike him.

^4:16Kayin went out from the LORD's presence, and dwelt in the land of Nod, on the east of `Eden. <sup>4:17</sup>Kayin knew his wife. She conceived, and gave birth to Chanokh. He built a city, and called the name of the city, after the name of his son, Chanokh. <sup>4:18</sup>To Chanokh was born `Irad. `Irad became the father of Mechuya'el. Mechuya'el became the father of Metusha'el. Metusha'el became the father of Lamekh. <sup>4:19</sup>Lamekh took two wives: the name of the one was `Adah, and the name of the other Tzillah. ^4:20`Adah gave birth to Yaval, who was the father of those who dwell in tents and have cattle. <sup>4:21</sup>His brother's name was Yuval, who was the father of all who handle the harp and pipe. <sup>4:22</sup>Tzillah also gave birth to Tuval-Kayin, the forger of every cutting instrument of brass and iron. Tuval-Kayin's sister was Na`amah. ^4:23Lamekh said to his wives,

 "`Adah and Tzillah, Hear my voice,
      You wives of Lamekh, listen to my speech,

 For I have slain a man for wounding me,
      A young man for bruising me.

 ^4:24If Kayin will be avenged seven times,
      Truly Lamekh seventy-seven times."

^4:25Adam knew his wife again. She gave birth to a son, and named him Shet. For, she said, "God has appointed me another child instead of Hevel, for Kayin killed him." ^4:26There was also born a son to Shet, and he named him Enosh. Then men began to call on the LORD's name.

^5:1This is the book of the generations of Adam. In the day that G-d created man, he made him in G-d's likeness. ^5:2He created them male and female, and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created. ^5:3Adam lived one hundred thirty years, and became the father of a son in his own likeness, after his image, and named him Shet. ^5:4The days of Adam after he became the father of Shet were eight hundred years, and he became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:5All the days that Adam lived were nine hundred thirty years, then he died.

^5:6Shet lived one hundred five years, and became the father of Enosh. ^5:7Shet lived after he became the father of Enosh eight hundred seven years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:8All the days of Shet were nine hundred twelve years, then he died.

^5:9Enosh lived ninety years, and became the father of Kenan. ^5:10Enosh lived after he became the father of Kenan, eight hundred fifteen years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:11All the days of Enosh were nine hundred five years, then he died.

^5:12Kenan lived seventy years, and became the father of Mahalal'el. ^5:13Kenan lived after he became the father of Mahalal'el eight hundred forty years, and became the father of sons and daughters ^5:14and all the days of Kenan were nine hundred ten years, then he died.

^5:15Mahalal'el lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Yered. ^5:16Mahalal'el lived after he became the father of Yered eight hundred thirty years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:17All the days of Mahalal'el were eight hundred ninety-five years, then he died.

^5:18Yered lived one hundred sixty-two years, and became the father of Chanokh. ^5:19Yered lived after he became the father of Chanokh eight hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:20All the days of Yered were nine hundred sixty-two years, then he died.

^5:21Chanokh lived sixty-five years, and became the father of Metushelach. ^5:22Chanokh walked with G-d after he became the father of Metushelach three hundred years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:23all the days of Chanokh were three hundred sixty-five years. ^5:24Chanokh walked with G-d, and he was not, for G-d took him.

^5:25Metushelach lived one hundred eighty-seven years, and became the father of Lamekh. ^5:26Metushelach lived after he became the father of Lamekh seven hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:27All the days of Metushelach were nine hundred sixty-nine years, then he died.

^5:28Lamekh lived one hundred eighty-two years, and became the father of a son, ^5:29and he named him Noach, saying, "This same will comfort us in our work and in the toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD has cursed." ^5:30Lamekh lived after he became the father of Noach five hundred ninety-five years, and became the father of sons and daughters. ^5:31All the days of Lamekh were seven hundred seventy-seven years, then he died.

^5:32Noach was five hundred years old, and Noach became the father of Shem, Cham, and Yefet.

^6:1It happened, when men began to multiply on the surface of the ground, and daughters were born to them, ^6:2that G-d's sons saw that men's daughters were beautiful, and they took for themselves wives of all that they chose. ^6:3The LORD said, "My Spirit will not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; yet will his days be one hundred twenty years." ^6:4The Nefilim were in the earth in those days, and also after that, when G-d's sons came to men's daughters. They bore children to them: the same were the mighty men who were of old, men of renown.

^6:5The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. ^6:6The LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him in his heart. ^6:7The LORD said, "I will destroy man whom I have created from the surface of the ground; man, along with animals, creeping things, and birds of the sky; for I am sorry that I have made them." ^6:8But Noach found favor in the LORD's eyes.

The Blessing After Torah
Ba-rooch ah-ta Adonai, eh-lo-hay-noo meh-lech ha-oh­lahm, ah-sher na-tahn la-noo toe-raht eh-met, v’cha-yaye oh-lahm na-ta b’toe-chay-noo. Ba-rooch ah-ta Adonai,  no-tain ha-torah. Blessed are you, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has given us a Torah of truth, and has planted eternal life in our midst. Blessed are You, O Lord, Giver of the Torah.	Click here to listen to this sung by Cantor Kenneth B. Cohen of Temple Sholom, Greenwich, CT

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Haftarah

The Blessing of the Haftarah

Ba-rooch, ah-ta Adonai, eh-lo-hay-noo, meh-lech ha-oh­lahm, ah-sher ba-char been-vee-eem toe-veem, v’ra-tza b’deev­ray-hem, ha-neh-eh-ma-reem, beh-eh-meht. Ba-rooch ah-ta, Adonai, ha-bo-char ba-torah, oo-v’Mo-sheh ahv-doe, oo-v'yees­ra-ale ah-mo, oo-veen-vee-aye ha-eh-met, va-tzeh-dek. Blessed are you, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who selected good prophets, and was pleased with their words which were spoken truthfully. Blessed are You, O Lord, Who chooses the Torah, Your servant Moses, Your people Israel, and prophets of truth and righteousness.

Click here to listen to this sung by an unknown male soloist from Temple Mount Sinai in El Paso, TX.

Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 42:5-43:10 (A)
Yesha'yahu (Isaiah) 42:5-21 (S)

 ^42:5Thus says G-d the LORD, he who created the heavens, and stretched them forth; he who spread abroad the earth and that which comes out of it; he who gives breath to the people on it, and spirit to those who walk therein: ^42:6I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness, and will hold your hand, and will keep you, and give you for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Goyim; ^42:7to open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison-house. ^42:8I am the LORD, that is my name; and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to engraved images. ^42:9Behold, the former things have happened, and new things do I declare. Before they spring forth I tell you of them. ^42:10Sing to the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth; you who go down to the sea, and all that is therein, the isles, and the inhabitants of it. ^42:11Let the wilderness and the cities of it lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar does inhabit; let the inhabitants of Sela sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains. ^42:12Let them give glory to the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands. ^42:13The LORD will go forth as a mighty man; he will stir up his zeal like a man of war: he will cry, yes, he will shout aloud; he will do mightily against his enemies. ^42:14I have long time held my shalom; I have been still, and refrained myself: now will I cry out like a travailing woman; I will gasp and pant together. ^42:15I will lay waste mountains and hills, and dry up all their herbs; and I will make the rivers islands, and will dry up the pools. ^42:16I will bring the blind by a way that they don't know; in paths that they don't know will I lead them; I will make darkness light before them, and crooked places straight. These things will I do, and I will not forsake them. ^42:17They shall be turned back, they shall be utterly disappointed, who trust in engraved images, who tell molten images, You are our gods. ^42:18Hear, you deaf; and look, you blind, that you may see. ^42:19Who is blind, but my servant? or deaf, as my messenger whom I send? Who is blind as he who is at shalom, and blind as the LORD's servant? ^42:20You see many things, but don't observe. His ears are open, but he doesn't hear. ^42:21It pleased the LORD, for his righteousness' sake, to magnify the law, and make it honorable. ^42:22But this is a people robbed and plundered; they are all of them snared in holes, and they are hid in prison-houses: they are for a prey, and none delivers; for a spoil, and none says, Restore. ^42:23Who is there among you who will give ear to this? who will listen and hear for the time to come? ^42:24Who gave Ya`akov for a spoil, and Yisra'el to the robbers? Didn't the LORD? he against whom we have sinned, and in whose ways they would not walk, neither were they obedient to his law. ^42:25Therefore he poured on him the fierceness of his anger, and the strength of battle; and it set him on fire round about, yet he didn't know; and it burned him, yet he didn't lay it to heart.

^43:1But now thus says the LORD who created you, Ya`akov, and he who formed you, Yisra'el: Don't be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name, you are mine. ^43:2When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you: when you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, neither shall the flame kindle on you. ^43:3For I am the LORD your G-d, the Holy One of Yisra'el, your Savior; I have given Egypt as your ransom, Kush and Seva in your place. ^43:4Since you have been precious in my sight, and honorable, and I have loved you; therefore will I give men in your place, and peoples instead of your life. ^43:5Don't be afraid; for I am with you: I will bring your seed from the east, and gather you from the west; ^43:6I will tell the north, Give up; and to the south, Don't keep back; bring my sons from far, and my daughters from the end of the earth; ^43:7everyone who is called by my name, and whom I have created for my glory, whom I have formed, yes, whom I have made. ^43:8Bring forth the blind people who have eyes, and the deaf who have ears. ^43:9Let all the nations be gathered together, and let the peoples be assembled: who among them can declare this, and show us former things? let them bring their witnesses, that they may be justified; or let them hear, and say, It is truth. ^43:10You are my witnesses, says the LORD, and my servant whom I have chosen; that you may know and believe me, and understand that I am he: before me there was no G-d formed, neither shall there be after me.

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B'rit Hadashah

The Blessing of the B'rit Chadasha
Ba-rooch ah-ta Adonai, Eh-lo-hay-noo meh-lech ha-oh­lahm, ah-shehr na-tahn la-noo ma-she-ahch Yeshua, v’ha-deeb­rote shell Ha-breet Ha-cha-da-sha, ba-rooch ah-ta Adonai, no­tain Ha-breet Ha-cha-da-shah. Blessed are You, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has given us Messiah Yeshua and the commandments of the New Covenant. Blessed are You, O Lord, Giver of the New Covenant.

Mattityahu (Matthew) 1:1-17; 19:3-9

^1:1The book of the generation of Yeshua the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Avraham. ^1:2Avraham became the father of Yitzchak. Yitzchak became the father of Ya`akov. Ya`akov became the father of Yehudah and his brothers. ^1:3Yehudah became the father of Peretz and Zerach by Tamar. Peretz became the father of Chetzron. Chetzron became the father of Ram. ^1:4Ram became the father of `Amminadav. `Amminadav became the father of Nachshon. Nachshon became the father of Salmon. ^1:5Salmon became the father of Bo`az by Rachav. Bo`az became the father of `Oved by Rut. `Oved became the father of Yishai. ^1:6Yishai became the father of David the king. David became the father of Shlomo by her who had been the wife of Uriyah. ^1:7Shlomo became the father of Rechav`am. Rechav`am became the father of Aviyah. Aviyah became the father of Asa. ^1:8Asa became the father of Yehoshafat. Yehoshafat became the father of Yoram. Yoram became the father of `Uzziyah. <sup>1:9</sup>`Uzziyah became the father of Yotam. Yotam became the father of Achaz. Achaz became the father of Chizkiyahu. ^1:10Chizkiyahu became the father of Menashsheh. Menashsheh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Yoshiyahu. ^1:11Yoshiyahu became the father of Yekhonyah and his brothers, at the time of the exile to Bavel. ^1:12After the exile to Bavel, Yekhonyah became the father of She'alti'el. She'alti'el became the father of Zerubbavel. ^1:13Zerubbavel became the father of Avichud. Avichud became the father of Elyakim. Elyakim became the father of Azur. ^1:14Azur became the father of Tzadok. Tzadok became the father of Yakhin. Yakhin became the father of Eliud. ^1:15Eliud became the father of El`azar. El`azar became the father of Mattan. Mattan became the father of Ya`akov. <sup>1:16</sup>Ya`akov became the father of Yosef, the husband of Miryam, from whom was born Yeshua, who is called Messiah. ^1:17So all the generations from Avraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Bavel fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Bavel to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

^19:1It happened when Yeshua had finished these words, he departed from the Galil, and came into the borders of Yehudah beyond the Yarden. ^19:2Great multitudes followed him, and he healed them there. ^19:3Perushim came to him, testing him, and saying, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason?"

^19:4He answered, "Haven't you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female, ^19:5and said, 'For this cause a man shall leave his father and mother, and shall join to his wife; and the two shall become one flesh?' ^19:6So that they are no more two, but one flesh. What therefore G-d has joined together, don't let man tear apart."

^19:7They asked him, "Why then did Moshe command us to give her a bill of divorce, and divorce her?"

^19:8He said to them, "Moshe, because of the hardness of your hearts, allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it has not been so. ^19:9I tell you that whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and he who marries her when she is divorced commits adultery."

Loukas (Luke) 3:23-38; 10:1-12

^3:23Yeshua himself, when he began to teach, was about thirty years old, being the son (as was supposed) of Yosef, the son of Eli, ^3:24the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Malki, the son of Yannai, the son of Yosef, ^3:25the son of Mattityahu, the son of `Amos, the son of Nachum, the son of Chesli, the son of Naggai, <sup>3:26</sup>the son of Machat, the son of Mattityahu, the son of Shim`i, the son of Yosef, the son of Yehudah, ^3:27the son of Yochanan, the son of Rhesa, the son of Zerubbavel, the son of She'alti'el, the son of Neri, ^3:28the son of Malki, the son of Addi, the son of Kosam, the son of Elmadan, the son of `Er, <sup>3:29</sup>the son of Yeshua, the son of Eli`ezer, the son of Yoram, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, ^3:30the son of Shim`on, the son of Yehudah, the son of Yosef, the son of Yonam, the son of Elyakim, <sup>3:31</sup>the son of Mal'ah, the son of Manah, the son of Mattatah, the son of Natan, the son of David, <sup>3:32</sup>the son of Yishai, the son of `Oved, the son of Bo`az, the son of Salmon, the son of Nachshon, <sup>3:33</sup>the son of `Amminadav, the son of Aram, the son of Yoram, the son of Chetzron, the son of Peretz, the son of Yehudah, ^3:34the son of Ya`akov, the son of Yitzchak, the son of Avraham, the son of Terach, the son of Nachor, <sup>3:35</sup>the son of Serug, the son of Re`u, the son of Peleg, the son of `Ever, the son of Shelach ^3:36the son of Kenan, the son of Arpakhshad, the son of Shem, the son of Noach, the son of Lamekh, ^3:37the son of Metushelach, the son of Chanokh, the son of Yered, the son of Mahalal'el, the son of Kenan, ^3:38the son of Enosh, the son of Shet, the son of Adam, the son of G-d.

^10:1Now after these things, the Lord also appointed seventy others, and sent them two by two ahead of him into every city and place, where he was about to come. ^10:2Then he said to them, "The harvest is indeed plentiful, but the laborers are few. Pray therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he may send out laborers into his harvest. ^10:3Go your ways. Behold, I send you out as lambs among wolves. ^10:4Carry no purse, nor wallet, nor sandals. Greet no one on the way. ^10:5Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Shalom be to this house.' ^10:6If a son of shalom is there, your shalom will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you. ^10:7Remain in that same house, eating and drinking the things they give, for the laborer is worthy of his wages. Don't go from house to house. ^10:8Into whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat the things that are set before you. ^10:9Heal the sick who are therein, and tell them, 'The Kingdom of G-d has come near to you.' ^10:10But into whatever city you enter, and they don't receive you, go out into the streets of it and say, ^10:11'Even the dust from your city that clings to us, we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, that the Kingdom of G-d has come near to you.' ^10:12I tell you, it will be more tolerable in that day for Sedom than for that city.

Yochanan (John) 1:1-18

^1:1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with G-d, and the Word was G-d. ^1:2The same was in the beginning with G-d. ^1:3All things were made through him. Without him was not anything made that has been made. ^1:4In him was life, and the life was the light of men. ^1:5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness hasn't overcome it. ^1:6There came a man, sent from G-d, whose name was Yochanan. ^1:7The same came as a witness, that he might testify about the light, that all might believe through him. ^1:8He was not the light, but was sent that he might testify about the light. ^1:9The true light that enlightens everyone was coming into the world.

^1:10He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world didn't recognize him. ^1:11He came to his own, and those who were his own didn't receive him. ^1:12But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become G-d's children, to those who believe in his name: ^1:13who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of G-d. ^1:14The Word became flesh, and lived among us. We saw his glory, such glory as of the one and only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth. ^1:15Yochanan testified about him. He cried out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me, for he was before me.'" ^1:16From his fullness we all received grace upon grace. ^1:17For the law was given through Moshe. Grace and truth came through Yeshua the Messiah. ^1:18No one has seen G-d at any time. The one and only Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, he has declared him.

Corinthians Aleph (First Corinthians) 6:15-20; 15:35-58

^6:15Don't you know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Shall I then take the members of Messiah, and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be! ^6:16Or don't you know that he who is joined to a prostitute is one body? For, "The two," says he, "will become one flesh." ^6:17But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. ^6:18Flee sexual immorality! "Every sin that a man does is outside the body," but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. ^6:19Or don't you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit which is in you, which you have from G-d? You are not your own, ^6:20for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify G-d in your body and in your spirit, which are G-d's.

^15:35But someone will say, "How are the dead raised?" and, "With what kind of body do they come?" ^15:36You foolish one, that which you yourself sow is not made alive unless it dies. ^15:37That which you sow, you don't sow the body that will be, but a bare grain, maybe of wheat, or of some other kind. ^15:38But G-d gives it a body even as it pleased him, and to each seed a body of its own. ^15:39All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds. ^15:40There are also celestial bodies, and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial differs from that of the terrestrial. ^15:41There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory. ^15:42So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption. ^15:43It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. ^15:44It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body and there is also a spiritual body.

^15:45So also it is written, "The first man, Adam, became a living soul." The last Adam became a life-giving spirit. ^15:46However that which is spiritual isn't first, but that which is natural, then that which is spiritual. ^15:47The first man is of the earth, made of dust. The second man is the Lord from heaven. ^15:48As is the one made of dust, such are those who are also made of dust; and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. ^15:49As we have borne the image of those made of dust, let's also bear the image of the heavenly. ^15:50Now I say this, brothers, that flesh and blood can't inherit the Kingdom of G-d; neither does corruption inherit incorruption.

^15:51Behold, I tell you a mystery. We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, ^15:52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last shofar. For the shofar will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we will be changed. ^15:53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ^15:54But when this corruptible will have put on incorruption, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then what is written will happen: "Death is swallowed up in victory."

 ^15:55"Death, where is your sting?
      She'ol, where is your victory?"

^15:56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. ^15:57But thanks be to G-d, who gives us the victory through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. ^15:58Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the Lord's work, because you know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.

Romans 5:12-21

 ^5:12Therefore, as sin entered into the world through one man, and death through sin; and so death passed to all men, because all sinned. ^5:13For until the law, sin was in the world; but sin is not charged when there is no law. ^5:14Nevertheless death reigned from Adam until Moshe, even over those whose sins weren't like Adam's disobedience, who is a foreshadowing of him who was to come. ^5:15But the free gift isn't like the trespass. For if by the trespass of the one the many died, much more did the grace of G-d, and the gift by the grace of the one man, Yeshua the Messiah, abound to the many. ^5:16The gift is not as through one who sinned: for the judgment came by one to condemnation, but the free gift came of many trespasses to justification. ^5:17For if by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; so much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, Yeshua the Messiah. ^5:18So then as through one trespass, all men were condemned; even so through one act of righteousness, all men were justified to life. ^5:19For as through the one man's disobedience many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one will many be made righteous. ^5:20The law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly; ^5:21that as sin reigned in death, even so might grace reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yeshua the Messiah our Lord.

Ephesians 5:21-32

^5:15Therefore watch carefully how you walk, not as unwise, but as wise; ^5:16redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ^5:17Therefore don't be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. ^5:18Don't be drunken with wine, in which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, ^5:19speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; singing, and singing praises in your heart to the Lord; ^5:20giving thanks always concerning all things in the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, to G-d, even the Father; ^5:21subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Messiah.

^5:22Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. ^5:23For the husband is the head of the wife, and Messiah also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body. ^5:24But as the assembly is subject to Messiah, so let the wives also be to their own husbands in everything.

^5:25Husbands, love your wives, even as Messiah also loved the assembly, and gave himself up for it; ^5:26that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, ^5:27that he might present the assembly to himself gloriously, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. ^5:28Even so ought husbands also to love their own wives as their own bodies. He who loves his own wife loves himself. ^5:29For no man ever hated his own flesh; but nourishes and cherishes it, even as the Lord also does the assembly; ^5:30because we are members of his body, of his flesh and bones. ^5:31"For this cause a man will leave his father and mother, and will be joined to his wife. The two will become one flesh." ^5:32This mystery is great, but I speak concerning Messiah and of the assembly. ^5:33Nevertheless each of you must also love his own wife even as himself; and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Colossians 1:14-17

^1:9For this cause, we also, since the day we heard this, don't cease praying and making requests for you, that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, ^1:10that you may walk worthily of the Lord, to please him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of G-d; ^1:11strengthened with all power, according to the might of his glory, for all endurance and perseverance with joy; ^1:12giving thanks to the Father, who made us fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the holy ones in light; ^1:13who delivered us out of the power of darkness, and translated us into the Kingdom of the Son of his love; ^1:14in whom we have our redemption, the forgiveness of our sins; ^1:15who is the image of the invisible G-d, the firstborn of all creation. ^1:16For by him were all things created, in the heavens and on the earth, things visible and things invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things have been created through him, and for him. ^1:17He is before all things, and in him all things are held together.

Timothy Aleph (First Timothy) 2:11-15

^2:11Let a woman learn in quietness with all subjection. ^2:12But I don't permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness. ^2:13For Adam was first formed, then Chavah. ^2:14Adam wasn't deceived, but the woman, being deceived, has fallen into disobedience; ^2:15but she will be saved through her child-bearing, if they continue in faith, love, and sanctification with sobriety.

Messianic Jews (Hebrews) 1:1-13; 3:7-4:11; 11:1-7

^1:1God, having in the past spoken to the fathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, ^1:2has at the end of these days spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom also he made the worlds. ^1:3His Son is the radiance of his glory, the very image of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself made purification for our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; ^1:4having become so much better than the angels, as he has inherited a more excellent name than they have. ^1:5For to which of the angels did he say at any time,

 "You are my Son,
      Today have I become your father?"

and again,

 "I will be to him a Father,
      And he will be to me a Son?"

^1:6Again, when he brings in the firstborn into the world he says, "Let all the angels of G-d worship him." ^1:7Of the angels he says,

 "Who makes his angels winds,
      And his servants a flame of fire."

^1:8but of the Son he says,

 "Your throne, O G-d, is forever and ever;
      The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your Kingdom.

 ^1:9You have loved righteousness, and hated iniquity;
      Therefore G-d, your G-d, has anointed you with the oil of gladness above your fellows."

^1:10And,

 "You, Lord, in the beginning, laid the foundation of the earth.
      The heavens are the works of your hands.

 ^1:11They will perish, but you continue.
      They all will grow old like a garment does.

 ^1:12As a mantle you will roll them up,
      And they will be changed;

 But you are the same.
      Your years will not fail."

^1:13But of which of the angels has he said at any time,

 "Sit at my right hand,
      Until I make your enemies the footstool of your feet?"

^3:7Therefore, even as the Holy Spirit says,

 "Today if you will hear his voice,

 ^3:8Don't harden your hearts, as in the provocation,
      Like as in the day of the trial in the wilderness,

 ^3:9Where your fathers tested me by proving me,
      And saw my works for forty years.

 ^3:10Therefore I was displeased with that generation,
      And said, 'They always err in their heart,
      But they didn't know my ways;'

 ^3:11As I swore in my wrath,
      'They will not enter into my rest.'"

^3:12Beware, brothers, lest perhaps there be in any one of you an evil heart of unbelief, in falling away from the living G-d; ^3:13but exhort one another day by day, so long as it is called "today;" lest any one of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. ^3:14For we have become partakers of Messiah, if we hold fast the beginning of our confidence firm to the end: ^3:15while it is said,

 "Today if you will hear his voice,
      Don't harden your hearts, as in the rebellion."

^3:16For who, when they heard, rebelled? No, didn't all those who came out of Egypt by Moshe? ^3:17With whom was he displeased forty years? Wasn't it with those who sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? ^3:18To whom did he swear that they wouldn't enter into his rest, but to those who were disobedient? ^3:19We see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

^4:1Let us fear therefore, lest perhaps a promise being left of entering into his rest, anyone of you should seem to have come short of it. ^4:2For indeed we have had good news preached to us, even as they also did, but the word they heard didn't profit them, because it wasn't mixed with faith by those who heard. ^4:3For we who have believed do enter into that rest, even as he has said, "As I swore in my wrath, they will not enter into my rest;" although the works were finished from the foundation of the world. ^4:4For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, "God rested on the seventh day from all his works;" ^4:5and in this place again, "They will not enter into my rest."

^4:6Seeing therefore it remains that some should enter therein, and they to whom the good news was before preached failed to enter in because of disobedience, ^4:7he again defines a certain day, today, saying through David so long a time afterward (just as has been said),

 "Today if you will hear his voice,
      Don't harden your hearts."

^4:8For if Yehoshua had given them rest, he would not have spoken afterward of another day. ^4:9There remains therefore a Shabbat rest for the people of G-d. ^4:10For he who has entered into his rest has himself also rested from his works, as G-d did from his. ^4:11Let us therefore give diligence to enter into that rest, lest anyone fall after the same example of disobedience.

^11:1Now faith is assurance of things hoped for, proof of things not seen. ^11:2For by this, the elders obtained testimony. ^11:3By faith, we understand that the universe has been framed by the word of G-d, so that what is seen has not been made out of things which are visible. ^11:4By faith, Hevel offered to G-d a more excellent sacrifice than Kayin, through which he had testimony given to him that he was righteous, G-d bearing witness with respect to his gifts; and through it he, being dead, still speaks. ^11:5By faith, Chanokh was taken away, so that he wouldn't see death, and he was not found, because G-d translated him. For he has had testimony given to him that before his translation he had been well pleasing to G-d. ^11:6Without faith it is impossible to be well pleasing to him, for he who comes to G-d must believe that he exists, and that he is a rewarder of those who seek him. ^11:7By faith, Noach, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with G-dly fear, prepared a teivah for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Kefa Bet (Second Peter) 3:3-14

^3:1This is now, beloved, the second letter that I have written to you; and in both of them I stir up your sincere mind by reminding you; ^3:2that you should remember the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and the mitzvot of us, the emissaries of the Lord and Savior: ^3:3knowing this first, that in the last days mockers will come, walking after their own lusts, ^3:4and saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? For, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation." ^3:5For this they willfully forget, that there were heavens from of old, and an earth formed out of water and amid water, by the word of G-d; ^3:6by which means the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. ^3:7But the heavens that now are, and the earth, by the same word have been stored up for fire, being reserved against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. ^3:8But don't forget this one thing, beloved, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ^3:9The Lord is not slow concerning his promise, as some count slowness; but is patient with us, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. ^3:10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will be dissolved with fervent heat, and the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. ^3:11Therefore since all these things are thus to be destroyed, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy living and G-dliness, ^3:12looking for and earnestly desiring the coming of the day of G-d, by reason of which the heavens being on fire will be dissolved, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? ^3:13But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which dwells righteousness.

^3:14Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in shalom, without blemish and blameless in his sight.

Revelation 21:1-5; 22:1-5     

^21:1I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. ^21:2I saw the holy city, New Yerushalayim, coming down out of heaven from G-d, made ready like a bride adorned for her husband. ^21:3I heard a loud voice out of heaven saying, "Behold, G-d's dwelling is with people, and he will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and G-d himself will be with them as their G-d. ^21:4He will wipe away from them every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; neither will there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain, any more. The first things have passed away."

^21:5He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new." He said, "Write, for these words of G-d are faithful and true."

^22:1He showed me a river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of G-d and of the Lamb, ^22:2in the middle of its street. On this side of the river and on that was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruits, yielding its fruit every month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. ^22:3There will be no curse any more. The throne of G-d and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants serve him. ^22:4They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. ^22:5There will be no night, and they need no lamp light; for the Lord G-d will illuminate them. They will reign forever and ever.

The Blessing of the Messiah
Ba-rooch ah-ta Adonai Eh-lo-hay-noo, meh-lekh ha-oh-lahm, ah-sher keed-sha-noo beed-va-reh-kha v'na-tahn la-noo et Yeshua M'shee-khay-noo, v'tzee-va-noo l'he-oat oar la-oh-lahm. O-mein. Blessed are You, O Lord our G-d, King of the Universe, Who has sanctified us in Your Word, and given us us Yeshua, our Messiah, and commanded us to be a light to the world. Amen.

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