As Sukkot drew to a close today, war broke out in Israel. It seems fitting to fast and keep silence at such times, so I will keep this post brief.

“I remember you,

The kindness of your youth,

The love of your betrothal,

When you went after Me in the wilderness,

In a land not sown.” - Jer. 2:2

The festival of Sukkot is like none other on either the Jewish or Christian calendar. It is a joyful holiday, but a different kind of joy than either Easter or Christmas. While every feast, in one way or another, speaks to the mystery of salvation, Sukkot, I believe, is best viewed from God’s perspective rather than our own.

Before I write some reflections on Yom Kippur, I will list the Torah readings for this week. From here on out I will post the coming week’s readings on Friday and post a reflection on them the following week.

Gen. 6:9-11:32

On the evening of Yom Kippur, I did some thing which I have never done before. I listened to an Orthodox Jewish rabbi give a shiur (teaching) on the parsha (Torah reading.)

The reading for this first week of the new year comes from one of the final chapters of Torah. In Deuteronomy 32, we find Moses in his final days with Israel. The nation is about to cross the Jordan into the Promised Land with Joshua at their head rather than Moses. Moses will soon climb a mountain and die in the presence of God, but before he departs, the Lord gives His friend a prophetic song to sing over Israel - a song which Israel is called to sing and remember throughout the ages. This is not the song of victory one might expect on such a joyous occasion. Rather, it is a poem which recounts Israel’s calling, foretells her idolatry, spells out her inevitable judgments, and promises her final restoration….

Torah Portion for this week and for Yom Kippur

Some time later God tested Abraham. - Gen. 22:1

I wonder how many thoughts ran through Abraham’s head when the Lord spoke to him concerning Isaac? Did our father doubt his hearing? The text gives no reason to think that was the case. Did He question the Lord’s righteousness? The text records no pleading with the Lord as Abram had done for Lot. It seems there was something so compelling about the call that Abraham did not hesitate or even intercede on his son’s behalf. Of course, the text is sparse. We do not know what Abraham thought or said to the Lord. What is important for us to know is that he obeyed without delay.

Genesis 21 & 22

I find it interesting that the readings for a new year begin with the fulfillment of a promise rather than its giving. The order seems backwards to me, like counting a day from sunset rather than sunrise. But this is the genius of Jewish thinking. Both the day and the year begin with evidence of God’s faithfulness rather than our gutsy attempts to believe in the invisible.

The reading is appropriate for another reason …

Sundown Friday, September 15, marks the beginning of a new year for the Jewish people. It is year 5784 on their calendar - quite a lot of history to remember and contemplate! But remembrance, I believe, the anchor of our hope. Recalling what God has done in the past reminds of His faithfulness. Recounting His promises fills our hearts with purpose and hope. Meditating on His commands illuminates the boundaries of our journeys. And contemplating His story sets our individual lives in context.