Hebrew Roots and Torah Portions–Are Torah Portions Valid for Messianics
What Are Torah Portions?
Torah Portions have, what I believe to be, a beautiful and meaningful tradition and even history attached to them. Although they are of a man-made construct, designed for the systematic and timely reading of the entire Torah each sacred calendar year, Torah Portions are built upon the foundation of the Torah.
What do I mean by a man-made construct? Well, we essentially have the five-books of Moses which we in Hebrew Roots and the Messianic Community refer to as the Torah (aka: the Pentateuch consisting of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy). As Torah Observant Believers in Yahoshua Messiah, we view Torah as our constitution; the foundation upon which we live our lives. The Torah contains the Words of the Creator of the Universe. It is the Creator’s instructions, rules, commandments and regulations intended for all the peoples of the world to live by. This of course, is contrary to the standard teachings of Judaism and even Christians worldwide. Yet Father clearly stated that Torah was intended for all:
One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. (Exo 12:49 KJV)
Lev 24:22 Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country: for I am the LORD your God.
Num 15:15 One ordinance shall be both for you of the congregation, and also for the stranger that sojourneth with you, an ordinance for ever in your generations: as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD.
Num 15:16 One law and one manner shall be for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you.
And then as Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah:
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus.
Now, Father sees this “One Law fits all” as being of the utmost importance. So important is this principle, that He sent us His only begotten Son. Sadly, Christianity places the focus of Yeshua’s earthly ministry upon the Master’s death, burial and resurrection. As vitally important as the death, burial and resurrection of Yahoshua is to the world, the Gospel of the Kingdom message that He brought, taught and modeled for us is also vitally important. Torah was, is and remains the fulcrum of the Gospel of the Kingdom message.
Once Torah was delivered to us in the Sinai Wilderness, we were instructed to have it read to us in its entirety every seven-years at the Feast of Tabernacles (aka: Sukkot):
10 And Moses commanded them, saying, At the end of every seven years, in the solemnity of the year of release, in the feast of tabernacles, 11 When all Israel is come to appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose, thou shalt read this law before all Israel in their hearing. 12 Gather the people together, men, and women, and children, and thy stranger that is within thy gates, that they may hear, and that they may learn, and fear the LORD your God, and observe to do all the words of this law: 13 And that their children, which have not known any thing, may hear, and learn to fear the LORD your God, as long as ye live in the land whither ye go over Jordan to possess it. (Deu 31:10-13 KJV)
Was the reading of Torah only to take place at Shemitah during the Feast of Tabernacles every seven-years? No. It is safe to conclude that Torah was to be read annually at every sacred assembly of the nation (reference: Deuteronomy 12:5; 16:16; Joshua 8:34, 35; Jeremiah 36:6; Nehemiah 8:1). In fact, it became the responsibility and practice of the righteous of YHVH to dwell upon Torah day and night:
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. 2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.3 And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. 4 The ungodly are not so: but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away. 5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous. 6 For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psa 1:1-6 KJV)
Indeed, it was not a common thing for the average Israelite to possess Torah Scrolls, at a minimum as recently as the first millennium C.E. Torah Scrolls in ancient Israel were kept primarily in the possession of the Levitical Priests and the Kings and royal houses of Israel. Beyond this period, owning or having direct access to Torah was the privilege of the Jewish elite of society that possessed the influence and financial resources to commission a scribe to produce a set of Torah Scrolls. Even then, it took many months for scribes to complete their copying of the 305,000 letters that are said to make up the whole of Torah (reference chabad.org). Otherwise, we would have to await the assembling together of ourselves in a public forum, such as a Feast Day, or more so, on the weekly Shabbats. And this reading of Torah on the weekly Shabbat is what Torah Portions is somewhat all about.
Torah Portions is simply a system by which the entire Torah is read annually.
I stated earlier that Torah Portions for all intents and purposes is a man-made construct for the systematic and timely reading of the entire Torah each sacred calendar year. Our present day Torah Portion system is apportioned into 54-separate, or what Jews refer to as parshas or parashot. This apportionment was done in accordance with the Calculated Jewish Calendar.
Now if you’ve been following me on this blog and podcast program for any length of time you would know that I follow the “observational calendar” which differs somewhat from the Jewish Calendar. (Read or listen to our installments entitled “When Tradition Eclipses Torah” and “Living a Life Beyond the Norm–Lessons Learned From the Levitical Priesthood” for more discussion on the calendars if you are interested.) For purposes of this thoughts and reflections, I will forgo any discussion on the calendars.
Each of the 54-separate parshas or parashahs were designed to be read in sequence each Sabbath in synagogues throughout the world. There is only one Torah Portion, so regardless where any Jew may find him/herself in the world at any given time during the sacred calendar year, if they are attending synagogue services on the Shabbat or during the week, they will hear the same portion of Torah read as would be heard by their counterparts around the world.
Yes, Torah Portions are a uniquely Jewish tradition and practice. As best as I can trace, Torah Portions seem to have its start around the time of Nehemiah and Ezra, just after we returned to the Land after being in Babylonian Captivity for 70-years. During those 70-years of captivity, the overwhelming majority of Israelites had lost much of their language, and worse, had forgotten most, if not all, of Torah. Thus, when we were repatriated to our Land of Promise, it fell to Nehemiah and Ezra to get us back on track in terms of being a People of the Book. And some of the most stirring pros you’ll ever come across in the Tanach you find in this chapter. Allow just a few verses to be read of the 8th Chapter of Nehemiah:
And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel. 2 And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month. And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law. 4 And Ezra the scribe stood upon a pulpit of wood, which they had made for the purpose; 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people; (for he was above all the people;) and when he opened it, all the people stood up: 6 And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground…and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. 8 So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha, and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people, This day is holy unto the LORD your God; mourn not, nor weep. For all the people wept, when they heard the words of the Torah. 13 And on the second day were gathered together the chief of the fathers of all the people, the priests, and the Levites, unto Ezra the scribe, even to understand the words of the law. 14 And they found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month: 15 And that they should publish and proclaim in all their cities, and in Jerusalem, saying, Go forth unto the mount, and fetch olive branches, and pine branches, and myrtle branches, and palm branches, and branches of thick trees, to make booths, as it is written. 16 So the people went forth, and brought them, and made themselves booths, every one upon the roof of his house, and in their courts, and in the courts of the house of God, and in the street of the water gate, and in the street of the gate of Ephraim. 17 And all the congregation of them that were come again out of the captivity made booths, and sat under the booths: for since the days of Jeshua the son of Nun unto that day had not the children of Israel done so. And there was very great gladness. 18 Also day by day, from the first day unto the last day, he read in the book of the law of God. And they kept the feast seven days; and on the eighth day was a solemn assembly, according unto the manner. (Neh 8:1-18 KJV)
Indeed, after reading this and other passages of the Cephers of Ezra and Nehemiah, it is not too much of a stretch, if you ask me, to point to Nehemiah and Ezra as the originators, or at the very least, we can see the inspiration for the development of Torah Portions through their story.
According to www.jewishencyclopedia.com, Torah was divided into 153 parts to read over a 3-year cycle. This system “prevailed in Palestine proper till the exiles from Spain brought this custom into the Holy Land.” Over succeeding centuries, the Torah was broken into 54-weekly lessons known as “Parashah” (plural “Parashiyyot) to be read in annual cycles. Each Parashah is marked in Hebrew Bibles by the particular number of the portion for the week and is entitled by the “names which are taken from the first word (e.g., 1, “Bereshit”) or from the first striking word (e.g., 2, “Noah”), or sometimes from two words (e.g., 3, “Lek Leka”; 50, “Ki Tabo”) (ibid).
How Torah Portions Work
The way it works in orthodox Jewish churches today is that the first parashah of the week is read on the afternoon of the preceding Shabbat on which the whole portion is read. Additionally, the first parashah of the week is read also on Mondays and Thursdays before the Shabbat on which the entire portion is to be read, unless a new moon, feast or fast falls upon those appointed days. The whole Torah Portion cycle begins and ends and begins anew on Simchat Torah according to www.hebrew4christians.com. In case you are unaware, Simchat Torah generally occurs on the day after Shemini Atzeret, or the Last Great Day. Shemini Atzeret is the day after the 7th day of the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, which occurs in the 7th month of the sacred calendar year. The Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot and Last Great Day round out the year’s mandated Feasts of YHVH. Many of us in our Faith Community, like that which is done with Passover and Unleavened Bread where we combine the two holidays into simply one 8-day celebration we reference as Passover, we combine Tabernacles and Last Great Day to be referred to as the Feast of Tabernacles or Sukkot, an 8-day celebration. Throughout the year, the portions are read (or even chanted) in Jewish synagogues and in some Messianic services around the world. Yes, leap years are factored into the annual apportionment of the Torah, but the assigned readings are made clear in the annotations of Jewish Bibles.
I get it, a lot of rules hang around the use of Torah Portion in Rabbinic Judaism today. But what else is new? Rabbinic Judaism is designed to put a fence around Torah, and this is just one more fence that the rabbis have erected. Nevertheless, in the Messianic realm, we do not tend to follow these strict rules (for the most part that is). We are simply interested in using the system that has been put in place for communal reading of Torah each week.
Yeshua and Torah Portions
I contend that our Master, Yahoshua Messiah participated in the reading of an early version of Torah Portions. The reference for this is found in Luke 4:15-19 which reads:
15 And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. 16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. 17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (likely the Haftorah for that particular week’s portion. Haftorahs are generally established passages from the prophets and history books of the Tanach or Old Testament). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, 19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. 20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. (Luk 4:15-19 KJV)
I am not dogmatic about this as an example of our Savior using Torah Portions. I am simply pointing out the possbility.
Cons to Using Torah Portions
In terms of the cons associated with the use of Torah Portions by Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah, I will say that we have been called to worship YHVH in Spirit and in Truth. The reading and even study of Torah is an important element of our worship. When we rely upon man-made systems to aid us in our worship of YHVH, we run the risk of failing to worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. We become reliant upon a man-made system. Although the use of Torah Portions does NOT entirely bar the move of the Spirit in our worship and study, Torah Portion may not give the move of the Spirit the room to work . Instead of relying upon the Spirit’s timing, we become reliant upon man’s timing. We also run the risk of worshiping the Torah Portion. What I mean by worshiping Torah Portions is that we place so much emphasis upon getting that Torah Portion reading in at the prescribed time and in the prescribed manner, that we run the risk of completely losing sight of what Father is trying to say to us in His Word for that Portion. In other words, we run the risk of putting the Torah Portion system above the content of Torah. And lastly, the use of Torah Portions may impact a member’s study of Torah. Certainly, it is a must for Torah Observant Believers in Yeshua Messiah to study Torah, not just read it. Unfortunately, Torah Portions for the most part, have been designed for use in organized assembly worship. Therefore, those who would become dependent upon Torah Portions as their only exposure to Torah and the Tanach in general, may not find it convenient or even palatable to actually delve deep into study of the various elements of each week’s portion. The Torah Portions become more about reading than study of Scripture.
Pros to Using Torah Portions
In terms of the benefits or the pros associated with the use of Torah Portions, the thing that attracts me to Torah Portions is the connection aspect that it offers. What I mean is that I know each week there are thousands of believers around the world reading and studying the same passages of Torah that I am studying and reading. There is a sense of community and communion that takes place when we use Torah Portions. Torah Portions also provide a great means of facilitating worship and study in fellowship gatherings and congregations. And there is the uniqueness of tradition and history that lends a sense of reverence to the reading of Torah at a set time with like-minded believers of our Faith Community.
Torah Portions and the Messianic
Indeed, some Messianics take exception to the use of Torah Portions citing as reasons some of the cons I provided previously. A lot of animus aimed at Messianic Torah Portion use seems to stem from its Rabbinic Jewish Roots. I get that. There are a lot of problems associated with Rabbinic Judaism. And certainly, all of the rules that have been placed around the Torah Portions by the rabbis and its close association to Rabbinic Judaism have certainly made it less palatable for many in our Faith Community. Therefore, I would not ascribe the use of Torah Portions, per se, by Hebrew Rooters. For me, the use of Torah Portions is strictly a personal thing and I would never push my personal practices upon anyone. I use Torah Portions mainly for the communal and regimental aspects that the system affords.
Do I believe Torah Portions are valid for Messianics today? When kept in proper context and perspective (i.e., the system does not supersede the Torah itself–that is, the system does not run or dictate how and when we study the Word of the Most High), I believe Torah Portions can be of great use to Hebrew Rooters and Messianics today.
What I Do With Torah Portions
I personally begin my reading of the week’s portion on the first-day of the week and I read a segment of the portion each day leading up to Shabbat. By Shabbat, I find one or two elements of the portion that resonated with me that week and I then do a deep study on those elements that I extract out of the week’s portion. If the Spirit so leads, I will share my thoughts and reflections with you on those elements that resonated with me out of that week’s Torah Portion.
Now, I tend to go to www.hebrew4christians.com to sync with the correct Torah Portion reading for that week on the first day of the week. I generally reference David H. Stern’s “Complete Jewish Bible” as my general guide for that week’s overall Torah Portion. I prefer Stern’s Bible because it not only outlines each week’s parashah, it also breaks down the parashahs into 7-segments (i.e., 7-days if you will) that breaks my reading of that week’s portion into 7-separate days. From there, I pull out the passages of that week’s portion and allow the Spirit to lead my studies of those particular passages.
Again, it’s what I do. I realize that this may not be the best thing for you in terms of your Torah studies. And I’ll be quite honest with you: there are some weeks when I do not follow the Torah Portions. There are some weeks when I’m led by the Spirit to study topics and issues that are not contained in that week’s Torah Portion. First and foremost, I stay obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit when it comes to my reading and study of the Word. At least I try.
So I hope this puts any confusion as it relates to Hebrew Rooters and Messianics using Torah Portions into a proper perspective for you. Remember, the use of Torah Portions by Messianics and Hebrew Rooters is NOT a salvation issue, and certainly we are not in the least commanded to use them by Master Yeshua nor by Torah. Torah Portions provide a wonderful option for Torah Observant Believers in Yahoshua Messiah to read and study Torah on a frequent and regular basis. But at the end of the day, it is simply an option.
Faithfully submitted,
Rod
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