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“Return, Isra’el, to YHWH your God, for your guilt has made you stumble.” 

 This week’s haftarah teaching from Hoshea holds a beautiful picture of repentance and God’s great love for Israel.

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“…for he has clothed me in salvation, dressed me with a robe of triumph, like a bridegroom wearing a festive turban, like a bride adorned with her jewels.” 

BarMitzvahs, cantillation, Yemenite brides and Edomites all take part in this week’s presentation of Haftarah Nitzavim.

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“Arise, shine, for your light has come, the glory of YHWH has risen over you.”

  All of Isaiah chapter 60 is the 6th of our 7 prophecies of comfort.  We also address what can be learned from Ancient Near East references in the Bible and how to derive the meaning of Hebrew words. 

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…the ark of the covenant of YHWH–Tzva’ot, who is present above the k’ruvim.”

In part 4 of our Light of the Prophets: Samuel series, we discuss superstition, Ichabod, the Philistine god Dagon, as well as defeating the people but not their God, in 1 Samuel, Chapters 4-5.

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“I was angry for a moment and hid my face from you; but with everlasting grace I will have compassion on you,” says YHWH your Redeemer.”

The words of comfort continue in Isaiah 54, and we address the origin of the haftarah readings as well as who are the Samaritans.

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“Shake off the dust! Arise! Be enthroned, Yerushalayim! Loosen the chains on your neck, captive daughter of Tziyon!”

Is it ok to question God?  Does asking questions of God mean you doubt Him? We look at these questions and hear the powerful promises of hope in this week’s Haftarah, Shoftim.

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…and Samuel was lying down in the temple of YHWH, where the ark of God was. Then YHWH called Samuel, and he said, “Here I am!”

At a time when the word of God was rare, a boy dedicated by his mother is established as a prophet. Jono and Yoel discuss Samuel’s first revelation of the God of Israel. 1 Samuel, Chapter 3.

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“Listen carefully to me, and you will eat well, you will enjoy the fat of the land.”

How did early Judaism understand the Messianic Era, and what developed throughout time in Jewish thought?  Haftarah Re’eh describes a day of lush abundance for the land and people who are faithful to YHWH.

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“YHWH says: “Where is your mother’s divorce document which I gave her when I divorced her? Or to which of my creditors did I sell you? You were sold because of your sins; because of your crimes was your mother divorced.”

Did YHWH forsake Israel?  Who is the suffering servant in Isaiah 50 and where is the divorce document?  We address these questions, as well as why Isaiah 53 is not included among the haftarot, as we examine the text of Haftarah Eqev.

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With a quick review of the command to not eat blood, Jono and Yoel continue in chapter 2 with the corrupt practices of the sons of Eli and how the priesthood was removed from this family.