Understanding Torah

What is Torah? Does it still apply to our lives? Can we come to know the mystery and wisdom that is contained in these books? If you have wanted to know answers, listen to the many experienced teachers on Hebrew Nation who will help guide you in coming to know the Creator of the Universe.

Latest Podcasts in Understanding Torah

Mark Call – Parsha “Vayeira” teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

Mark Call – Parsha “Vayeira” teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

This week the regular Torah parsh 'Vayeira' (Genesis chapters 18 through 22) covers not only the second, and certainly most well-known part of the life of the 'patriarch,' Abraham, but also one of the most foundational. From Sodom and Gomorrah to the 'binding of...

Now Is The Time with Rabbi Steve Berkson | Are You Covenanted? Part 17

Now Is The Time with Rabbi Steve Berkson | Are You Covenanted? Part 17

Psalm 105:4 tells us to “seek His face always”. How do we “seek His face”? What is the Relational Framework? In what forms do we see and experience this currently? There are some who teach that there was a problem with the old covenant and a new and improved covenant...

Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 85 (The Greater Exodus Pt 15 – Wars of Kings Pt 10: The Great Gift Return)

Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 85 (The Greater Exodus Pt 15 – Wars of Kings Pt 10: The Great Gift Return)

In our Footsteps of Messiah series, we’ve been taking a close look at the prophecies of the Song of Songs, and our current text is from Chapter Four:

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, may you come with me from Lebanon. Journey down from the summit of Amana, from the summit of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards.

This passage is thought to be a prophecy of exile from and return to the Land of Israel. In the traditional interpretation, “Come with Me,” refers to Israel’s exile from the Temple when she was conquered by the lion-beast Babylon. Although exiled into the kingdoms of the Beast, Adonai was with her. “Lebanon” is seen as a metaphor for the Temple in that context, for its timbers were made of Lebanon’s cedars. 

The second “come with Me” is thought to be the return from the Beast kingdoms of lion, bear, leopard, and Roman conglomerate beast that extend to the world. They will attain a summit of emunah, faith, in their exile in preparation for return to their inheritance and a rebuilt Temple. It is this “mountain” of Amana that is the subject of our Shabbat livestream this week.

As we watch the war unfolding in the northern mountain range between Lebanon and Israel, the Song of Songs hints that this can help us understand how the exiles of Israel will return home. Strangely, it also explains why the “three wise men” brought the gifts they gave to Yeshua.

In our Footsteps of Messiah series, we’ve been taking a close look at the prophecies of the Song of Songs, and our current text is from Chapter Four:

Come with me from Lebanon, my bride, may you come with me from Lebanon. Journey down from the summit of Amana, from the summit of Senir and Hermon, from the dens of lions, from the mountains of leopards.

This week we relate the weekly Torah portion, Lekh Lekha, to the Holy One’s command to Israel to journey with Him.

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Mark Call – Parsha “Lekh Lekha” teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

Mark Call – Parsha “Lekh Lekha” teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha 'Lekh Lekha' (Genesis chapters 12through 17) and the first installment of the life of one of THE most important figures in Scripture, and in our faith, and the man who is literally THE...

Now Is The Time with Rabbi Steve Berkson | Are You Covenanted? Part 16

Now Is The Time with Rabbi Steve Berkson | Are You Covenanted? Part 16

What should you be thinking about as you read through the Bible? What is the “beautiful thing” that you see in scripture? Finish this statement, “Come as you are, …” How does change happen? What is the one thing you should do when approaching the Creator in prayer?...

Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 84 (The Greater Exodus Pt 14 – Wars of Kings Pt 9: War Prayers for the Dead)

Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 84 (The Greater Exodus Pt 14 – Wars of Kings Pt 9: War Prayers for the Dead)

Was there any prior clue that the Simchat Torah war would break out last Shabbat?

The Creation Gospel is a pattern that links the days of Creation, the Seven Spirits of Adonai listed in Isaiah, the Seven Feasts of Adonai, and even the Seven Assemblies of Revelation to demonstrate the significance of the numbers 1-7. The video series is free to watch on YouTube. Beginner classes are free on Zoom and routinely announced in our newsletter and Facebook. The Creation Gospel workbooks are not free because they fund LaMalah Orphanage in Kenya.

The paradigm of Days 1-7 is the seed prophecy from which every other prophecy sprouts in the Word.

Day One: separation of light and darkness

Day Two: separation of waters from water (the day not declared “good”)

Day Three: separation of dry land from water, seed-bearing trees with fruit

Day Four: establishment of the sun, moon, and stars to “govern” the day and night, seasons (moedim-feasts)

Day Five: first living creatures with a breath of life, birds and fish in swarms

Day Six: beasts to reproduce after their kind; human beings to reproduce after the kind and image of their Creator

Day Seven: Shabbat rest from creative work

Creation Gospel students analyze the symbols and patterns of each day, including linking the creation characteristics to the corresponding seven feasts. For instance, Day Two is a day on which separation begins to work with the chaos of fluidity. Because there is only separation, it is seen as a “death” day, for death occurs when the the soul and body separate along with the spirit. These await resurrection to life or judgment. Day Two is not pronounced good until Day Three when the chaotic waters are finally gathered into one place. Only then is it declared “good.” What good comes from Day Two? Although chaotic, the process of gathering is begun, a day in which the pain of separation must occur. Perhaps this is why Day Three corresponds to resurrection with its symbolism of first fruits from the dead.

In the cycle of shmittah years, we have now entered into “Day Two,” or Year Two of the cycle. What should we expect between now and next Feast of Trumpets? Chaos. Fluidity. Uncertainty. Separation, separation, separation. Exposure and assignment to upper or lower realms. In the pain of this coming year, the “gray area” of faith will be obliterated. One’s true heart will be exposed. Since Day Two is connected at its base on the menorah to the Sixth Day, then expect one’s conforming to be exposed. Do we conform to the image of the beast or the image of Elohim? Nothing in between. No fence riding. Heaven and earth are the two witnesses who will be the first to speak:

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”” (Dt 30:19-20)

A fence is a dangerous place this year. Run to truth; embrace it; proclaim it. Don’t be embarrassed by it. Learn to begin sentences with “It is written…,” not “I think… I feel… I want…” I could add words here to emphasize the importance of this, but those who don’t have ears to hear at this point have already sunk too low in the lower waters. Their confusion will likely not improve, although we should continue to pray that it does. It feels as though Covid somehow began the process of sorting those who would continually harden their hearts to believe lies. When you talk to them, it is like talking to a a walking human lie. What they believe and proclaim as truth defies all heavenly or earthly logic.

Believers must continue to shine the Light of the First Day so that if a fence-rider should look up to the surface, he or she can re-orient and make an effort to swim upward to the Light of the Word.

Here is another way of applying the pattern using the relationship to the seven feasts, or moedim:

We use the menorah to show chiastic relationships (mirrors). On Day Five, birds and fish were created. They are prophecies of many peoples, and so Yeshua later refers to the fish as “men,” which his disciples will go fish out of the nations with the Good News. Two of his post-resurrection appearances involved fish as food. Yeshua knew where to find good fish, and so his disciples would be dispatched to find them, too. The Fifth Feast is the Feast of Trumpets, which heralds the resurrection of the dead, or the Greater Resurrection of the faithful. It is also known as Rosh HaShanah, referring the “change” or turn of the year. These swarms of fish would be fished out the waters, which represent nations, and be resurrected to life in the waters above, the heavenly waters.

From Rosh HaShanah until Yom Kippur, or Yom HaKippurim, ten days later, the standard greeting among Jews is “May your name be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a sweet year.” The decrees are written, but they can still be modified or discarded if an individual repents and returns to Adonai and His Word. If there is no repentance by the conclusion of the tenth day, Yom HaKippurim, the decrees are sealed and handed off to the angels for execution upon each person, whether for good or evil, life or death.

After a week of joyful feasting in the sukkah during the Feast of Sukkot, Israel removes themselves from their celebratory shelters (sukkot) on the Eighth Day for Shemini Atzeret, which is “rejoicing in the Torah,” Simchat Torah. Things come uncovered. The seals begin to break. When the gates closed on Yom HaKippurim (Day of Atonements, Coverings), one’s fate was sealed. If one repented, he or she was covered, atoned for. If not, he or she remained uncovered, vulnerable. This covering blood was a precious price paid by Yeshua, the letter to the Hebrews cautions believers not to take it lightly and keep on sinning, or there was “severer punishment.” (He 10:29)

This year, something interesting happened in Israel during the Days of Awe, the ten days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom HaKippurim. Heaven and nature warned the nation with a fish kill during the Days of Awe. Heaven and nature are warning the rest of the world through the uncovered slaughter of Shemini Atzeret. Not so incidentally, heaven and earth, the natural world, were summoned as witnesses to the warnings in the Deuteronomic Song of Moses, a song repeated in the Book of Revelation.

Here is the text of an article published on 9/26/23 in YNet News, the day after Yom HaKippurim. Reported the day after the decrees on the world were sealed up:

“Thousands of dead fish have been spotted on one of the beaches in Hadera in recent days. A dead sea-turtle was also found in the area, and the Nature and Parks Authority said that its death is unrelated to the fish. The Environmental Protection Ministry estimated that since these fish were not of commercial use, they were likely discarded by fishermen.

Shelly Goldsmith, a travel blogger, shared her distress, saying, ‘This morning, I headed towards Hadera beach, which is a beautiful spot. As I reached the shore, I saw large quantities of dead fish scattered along the beach, numbering in the thousands. I also noticed a dead sea turtle. I realized that pollution must have caused this.’ Goldsmith added, ‘It’s truly a terrible and heartbreaking sight. This is not the first time we’ve witnessed such a horrifying phenomenon with thousands of dead fish washing up on the shore. It’s a sorrowful morning.’

According to the Environmental Protection Ministry, ‘In recent days, reports were received about dead fish on Hadera’s beach. The images were sent to Dr. Nir Stern from the Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, who identified them as young and non-endangered fish. The small size of these fish indicates that they were likely discarded by fishermen. The ministry and other authorities are not aware of any pollution in the area that could have caused the fish deaths.’”

Knowing what we know of the events of Simchat Torah, the words of the article take on predictive horror. Young fish. Not endangered. Or so they thought. Discarded by evil fishermen. It was indeed a sorrowful morning. We came out of the covering of our sukkot to see the decrees came unsealed with lightning speed. In an unbelievable coincidence, the YNet fish article yesterday held photos of a young lady kidnaped and mutilated by Hamas on Shabbat, splayed unnaturally in the back of a pickup truck, broadcast to the nations.

Some rejoiced. Some were horrified. The waters, the nations, are separating into upper and lower realms. What happened to Israel happens next among the nations. We think it was unfortunate “her”? Evil fishermen are among the nations. Adonai is marking, sealing, and gathering His fish. He sent His Good News with fishermen to call those who would listen and love truth. His Word is truth. The beast is doing the same. Gathering, marking, directing with demonic, hateful, deathly lies. It is a year of exposure. The illusion of safety on the broken fence is exposed, so get off of it and get away from it. It is dangerous.

If none of this makes sense to you, it’s not too late. Don’t complain about it being over your head. These things are plainly written in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation for anyone to read, learn, verify, live by. Read it until you do understand. Buy a book on the Biblical feasts. Enroll in a Creation Gospel Zoom class to learn the paradigm. Read your Bible. Believe it.

The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, the covenant with Israel. Its seed prophecies are expanded throughout the rest of Scripture. The Torah is the Word. We are to rejoice in obeying the Word, not evil. Take a side. Make a decision. Heaven and nature are screaming that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is judging His creation. Call upon Him. Swim up if you know you’re drowning in doubt, anxiety, and confusion.

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (2 Pe 1:10-11)

It was a sunny Shabbat morning on the beach, close to the fence like thousands of others. Until it wasn’t.

Mark Call – Parsha “Noach” (Genesis ch. 6 – 11) teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

Mark Call – Parsha “Noach” (Genesis ch. 6 – 11) teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at parsha Noach (Genesis chapters 6 through 11) - which not only includes the enigmatic setting of the "days of Noach," when the thoughts of men's hearts were only evil all the days, and certainly...

Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 83 (The Greater Exodus Pt 13- Wars of Kings Pt 8: A Time for War)

Dr Hollisa Alewine – Footsteps of Messiah Part 83 (The Greater Exodus Pt 13- Wars of Kings Pt 8: A Time for War)

Was there any prior clue that the Simchat Torah war would break out last Shabbat?

The Creation Gospel is a pattern that links the days of Creation, the Seven Spirits of Adonai listed in Isaiah, the Seven Feasts of Adonai, and even the Seven Assemblies of Revelation to demonstrate the significance of the numbers 1-7. The video series is free to watch on YouTube. Beginner classes are free on Zoom and routinely announced in our newsletter and Facebook. The Creation Gospel workbooks are not free because they fund LaMalah Orphanage in Kenya.

The paradigm of Days 1-7 is the seed prophecy from which every other prophecy sprouts in the Word.

Day One: separation of light and darkness

Day Two: separation of waters from water (the day not declared “good”)

Day Three: separation of dry land from water, seed-bearing trees with fruit

Day Four: establishment of the sun, moon, and stars to “govern” the day and night, seasons (moedim-feasts)

Day Five: first living creatures with a breath of life, birds and fish in swarms

Day Six: beasts to reproduce after their kind; human beings to reproduce after the kind and image of their Creator

Day Seven: Shabbat rest from creative work

Creation Gospel students analyze the symbols and patterns of each day, including linking the creation characteristics to the corresponding seven feasts. For instance, Day Two is a day on which separation begins to work with the chaos of fluidity. Because there is only separation, it is seen as a “death” day, for death occurs when the the soul and body separate along with the spirit. These await resurrection to life or judgment. Day Two is not pronounced good until Day Three when the chaotic waters are finally gathered into one place. Only then is it declared “good.” What good comes from Day Two? Although chaotic, the process of gathering is begun, a day in which the pain of separation must occur. Perhaps this is why Day Three corresponds to resurrection with its symbolism of first fruits from the dead.

In the cycle of shmittah years, we have now entered into “Day Two,” or Year Two of the cycle. What should we expect between now and next Feast of Trumpets? Chaos. Fluidity. Uncertainty. Separation, separation, separation. Exposure and assignment to upper or lower realms. In the pain of this coming year, the “gray area” of faith will be obliterated. One’s true heart will be exposed. Since Day Two is connected at its base on the menorah to the Sixth Day, then expect one’s conforming to be exposed. Do we conform to the image of the beast or the image of Elohim? Nothing in between. No fence riding. Heaven and earth are the two witnesses who will be the first to speak:

“I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days, that you may live in the land which the LORD swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give them.”” (Dt 30:19-20)

A fence is a dangerous place this year. Run to truth; embrace it; proclaim it. Don’t be embarrassed by it. Learn to begin sentences with “It is written…,” not “I think… I feel… I want…” I could add words here to emphasize the importance of this, but those who don’t have ears to hear at this point have already sunk too low in the lower waters. Their confusion will likely not improve, although we should continue to pray that it does. It feels as though Covid somehow began the process of sorting those who would continually harden their hearts to believe lies. When you talk to them, it is like talking to a a walking human lie. What they believe and proclaim as truth defies all heavenly or earthly logic.

Believers must continue to shine the Light of the First Day so that if a fence-rider should look up to the surface, he or she can re-orient and make an effort to swim upward to the Light of the Word.

Here is another way of applying the pattern using the relationship to the seven feasts, or moedim:

We use the menorah to show chiastic relationships (mirrors). On Day Five, birds and fish were created. They are prophecies of many peoples, and so Yeshua later refers to the fish as “men,” which his disciples will go fish out of the nations with the Good News. Two of his post-resurrection appearances involved fish as food. Yeshua knew where to find good fish, and so his disciples would be dispatched to find them, too. The Fifth Feast is the Feast of Trumpets, which heralds the resurrection of the dead, or the Greater Resurrection of the faithful. It is also known as Rosh HaShanah, referring the “change” or turn of the year. These swarms of fish would be fished out the waters, which represent nations, and be resurrected to life in the waters above, the heavenly waters.

From Rosh HaShanah until Yom Kippur, or Yom HaKippurim, ten days later, the standard greeting among Jews is “May your name be inscribed and sealed in the Book of Life for a sweet year.” The decrees are written, but they can still be modified or discarded if an individual repents and returns to Adonai and His Word. If there is no repentance by the conclusion of the tenth day, Yom HaKippurim, the decrees are sealed and handed off to the angels for execution upon each person, whether for good or evil, life or death.

After a week of joyful feasting in the sukkah during the Feast of Sukkot, Israel removes themselves from their celebratory shelters (sukkot) on the Eighth Day for Shemini Atzeret, which is “rejoicing in the Torah,” Simchat Torah. Things come uncovered. The seals begin to break. When the gates closed on Yom HaKippurim (Day of Atonements, Coverings), one’s fate was sealed. If one repented, he or she was covered, atoned for. If not, he or she remained uncovered, vulnerable. This covering blood was a precious price paid by Yeshua, the letter to the Hebrews cautions believers not to take it lightly and keep on sinning, or there was “severer punishment.” (He 10:29)

This year, something interesting happened in Israel during the Days of Awe, the ten days between Rosh HaShanah and Yom HaKippurim. Heaven and nature warned the nation with a fish kill during the Days of Awe. Heaven and nature are warning the rest of the world through the uncovered slaughter of Shemini Atzeret. Not so incidentally, heaven and earth, the natural world, were summoned as witnesses to the warnings in the Deuteronomic Song of Moses, a song repeated in the Book of Revelation.

Here is the text of an article published on 9/26/23 in YNet News, the day after Yom HaKippurim. Reported the day after the decrees on the world were sealed up:

“Thousands of dead fish have been spotted on one of the beaches in Hadera in recent days. A dead sea-turtle was also found in the area, and the Nature and Parks Authority said that its death is unrelated to the fish. The Environmental Protection Ministry estimated that since these fish were not of commercial use, they were likely discarded by fishermen.

Shelly Goldsmith, a travel blogger, shared her distress, saying, ‘This morning, I headed towards Hadera beach, which is a beautiful spot. As I reached the shore, I saw large quantities of dead fish scattered along the beach, numbering in the thousands. I also noticed a dead sea turtle. I realized that pollution must have caused this.’ Goldsmith added, ‘It’s truly a terrible and heartbreaking sight. This is not the first time we’ve witnessed such a horrifying phenomenon with thousands of dead fish washing up on the shore. It’s a sorrowful morning.’

According to the Environmental Protection Ministry, ‘In recent days, reports were received about dead fish on Hadera’s beach. The images were sent to Dr. Nir Stern from the Israel Oceanographic & Limnological Research, who identified them as young and non-endangered fish. The small size of these fish indicates that they were likely discarded by fishermen. The ministry and other authorities are not aware of any pollution in the area that could have caused the fish deaths.’”

Knowing what we know of the events of Simchat Torah, the words of the article take on predictive horror. Young fish. Not endangered. Or so they thought. Discarded by evil fishermen. It was indeed a sorrowful morning. We came out of the covering of our sukkot to see the decrees came unsealed with lightning speed. In an unbelievable coincidence, the YNet fish article yesterday held photos of a young lady kidnaped and mutilated by Hamas on Shabbat, splayed unnaturally in the back of a pickup truck, broadcast to the nations.

Some rejoiced. Some were horrified. The waters, the nations, are separating into upper and lower realms. What happened to Israel happens next among the nations. We think it was unfortunate “her”? Evil fishermen are among the nations. Adonai is marking, sealing, and gathering His fish. He sent His Good News with fishermen to call those who would listen and love truth. His Word is truth. The beast is doing the same. Gathering, marking, directing with demonic, hateful, deathly lies. It is a year of exposure. The illusion of safety on the broken fence is exposed, so get off of it and get away from it. It is dangerous.

If none of this makes sense to you, it’s not too late. Don’t complain about it being over your head. These things are plainly written in Scripture from Genesis to Revelation for anyone to read, learn, verify, live by. Read it until you do understand. Buy a book on the Biblical feasts. Enroll in a Creation Gospel Zoom class to learn the paradigm. Read your Bible. Believe it.

The Torah is the first five books of the Bible, the covenant with Israel. Its seed prophecies are expanded throughout the rest of Scripture. The Torah is the Word. We are to rejoice in obeying the Word, not evil. Take a side. Make a decision. Heaven and nature are screaming that the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is judging His creation. Call upon Him. Swim up if you know you’re drowning in doubt, anxiety, and confusion.

Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to you. (2 Pe 1:10-11)

It was a sunny Shabbat morning on the beach, close to the fence like thousands of others. Until it wasn’t.

Mark Call – Parsha “Bereshiet” (Genesis – In the Beginning) teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

Mark Call – Parsha “Bereshiet” (Genesis – In the Beginning) teaching from Shabbat Shalom Mesa

The cycle begins again. Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship as the continuing study of His Word, as Written, restarts "In the Beginning," on page one of every Bible, with Bereshiet (Genesis 1:1 through 6:8) and the Foundation upon which literally...

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