First Sunday of Lent (Cycle A)

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The Temptation of Jesus Lectionary:  22 Reading 1 -  Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7 Responsorial Psalm -  Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17 Reading 2 -  Romans 5:12-19 Verse - Matthew 4:4b Gospel -  Matthew 4:1-11 One does not live on bread alone. Every year, we begin our Lenten journey in the same place: the desert.   The Gospel for this Sunday places Jesus in the wilderness, fasting and praying, confronted by temptation. In that stark setting we find the pattern of our own Lenten journey: a movement away from distraction toward the heart of God, a testing that reveals what truly sustains us, and a call to conversion that reshapes our lives.  Throughout our lives, we are frequently confronted with tests … and these tests generally reveal something about ourselves: In school, we demonstrate that we have mastered an academic subject with a test  in sports, we demonstrate our level of a particular skill with a contest  In life, we demonstrate the integri...
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Review: Torat Ahava - Loving Torah

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Torat Ahava - Loving Torah Torat Ahava - Loving Torah by Rabbi Avi Weiss

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a five (5) volume work covering the Jewish Torah (aka The Pentateuch or the first five(5) books of the Christian Old Testament). Right off the bat you recognize that this is an ambitious effort that eventually runs well over 658 pages. Each volume is dedicated to one of the five (5) books and within each volume, the chapters basically cover a specific story within that book, which is further divided into brief commentaries on specific elements within the story. As I come from a different tradition than what can be extracted from these commentaries, I can’t really evaluate how faithfully that represent concepts within the Jewish tradition; however, I can say that I found them to be very thought provoking and enjoyable. Most Christian analysis of these books tend to focus on extracting understanding and support for the message presented about Jesus in their New Testament and in many cases have ignored how our cousins in faith have interpreted their own scriptures … and I think we have lost something there. Mostly, however, what I gained from these book is the idea that there are many different ways to interpret, understand and apply the ideals and concepts presented in scripture and they can all be useful for the spiritual pilgrim.

The Book of Genesis

  • Chapter 1: Bereishit
  • Chapter 2: Noach
  • Chapter 3: Lech Lecha
  • Chapter 4: Vayera
  • Chapter 5: Chayei Sarah
  • Chapter 6: Toldot
  • Chapter 7: Vayetzei
  • Chapter 8: Vayishlach
  • Chapter 9: Vayeshev
  • Chapter 10: Miketz
  • Chapter 11: Vayechi


The Book of Exodus

  • Chapter 1: Shemot
  • Chapter 2: Va’era
  • Chapter 3: Bo
  • Chapter 4: Bechalach
  • Chapter 5: Yitro
  • Chapter 6: Mishpatim
  • Chapter 7: Terumah
  • Chapter 8: Tetzaveh
  • Chapter 9: Ki Tisa
  • Chapter 10: Vayakhel
  • Chapter 11: Pekudei


The Book of Leviticus

  • Chapter 1: Vayikra
  • Chapter 2: Tzav
  • Chapter 3: Shemini
  • Chapter 4: Tazria
  • Chapter 5: Metzora
  • Chapter 6: Acharei Mot
  • Chapter 7: Kedoshim
  • Chapter 8: Emor
  • Chapter 9: Behar
  • Chapter 10: Bechukotai 


The Book of Numbers

  • Chapter 1: Banidbar
  • Chapter 2: Naso
  • Chapter 3: Beha’alotcha
  • Chapter 4: Shelach
  • Chapter 5: Korach
  • Chapter 6: Chukat
  • Chapter 7: Balak
  • Chapter 8: Pinchas
  • Chapter 9: Mattot
  • Chapter 10: Masei


The Book of Deuteronomy

  • Chapter 1: Devarim
  • Chapter 2: Va’etchanan
  • Chapter 3: Ekev
  • Chapter 4: Re’eh
  • Chapter 5: Shoftim
  • Chapter 6: Ki Tetzei
  • Chapter 7: Ki Tavo
  • Chapter 8: Nitzavim
  • Chapter 9: Vayelech
  • Chapter 10: Ha’azinu
  • Chapter 11: V’zot Haberachah


I was given this free advance reader copy (ARC) ebook at my request and have voluntarily left this review.

#ToratAhava #LibraryThing

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