Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark Call

Join Mark Call for a look at the final parsha in the Book of Bereshiet, or Genesis, “Vayechi,” (Genesis 47:27 – end), which completes the telling of the lives of the patriarchs, with the death of Yakov, aka Israel, his adoption of the two sons of Yosef, Ephraim and Manasseh into the ‘twelve tribes,’ and finally their prophetic blessing as well, setting the stage for the descent into slavery and the ultimate Exodus.

First, the Erev Shabbat review of the whole story:

The Sabbath Day teaching begins with what Mark suggests is the central theme of Israel’s “grafting in” of the two in-part foreign-born sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim, in the reverse order of their birth.

“Vayechi: “Who’s are THESE, and Who’s are We-s”

The combined part 1 and 2 files for both sections are up here, and available for download and off-line listening:

Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Vayigash,” (Genesis 44:18 through 47:27), which completes the “cliff-hanger” story of Yosef (Joseph) and the test of his brothers, and ends with a reunion and a message that none of them anticipated.

The Erev Shabbat review of the whole story, from the place where Judah “Mans Up,” comes forward, and shows his brother something that Joseph had not expected:

The Sabbath Day teaching is suggests that the major themes in the parsha are not only just as important as ever, but are now coming to a climax unlike that ever seen before. And it’s the haftorah part, from Ezekiel chapter 37, that helps to make that clear.

“Vayigash: Judah and Joseph – Two Sticks – and Life, Preserved AND Restored”

The combined part 1 and 2 files for both sections are up here, and available for download and off-line listening:

Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Miketz,” (Genesis 41:1 through 44:17), which continues the story of Yosef (Joseph) from the time of Pharoah’s dreams through the first phase of what might be called the ‘testing’ of his brothers.

The Erev Shabbat review of the whole story, up to the ‘cliff-hanger’:

The Sabbath Day teaching is again about only some of the major themes in the parsha — which should TRULY resonate today, along with both the haftorah (from I Kings 3, and the story of Solomon’s wisdom, via an innovative ‘test’), and some lessons from Romans chapter 10, IN CONTEXT, as opposed to what we may well have been TOLD it said.

And if the reference to a “zero cross” doesn’t make sense, take a lesson; hopefully it will.

Miketz: The ‘Zero-Cross’ and Trust but Verify

The combined part 1 and 2 files for both sections are up here, and available for download and off-line listening:

Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Vayashev,” (“and he [Yakov] dwelt,” Genesis through chapters 37 through 40), which now moves on primarily to the story of Yakov’s sons, and especially Yosef (Joseph).

The Erev Shabbat review contains not only the story of Joseph’s sale into slavery by his brothers, and the subsequent false claims by Potiphar’s wife which result in his time in prison, but an “insertion” into the story (AKA, an “atbash,” which is a story in itself) of Judah, and Tamar, and just how important that insertion turns out to be, as well as the importance of dreams, as opposed to direct words from YHVH, to Joseph.

The Sabbath Day teaching is again about only some of the major themes in the parsha, from a few of the apparently ALMOST ‘trivial,’ throw-away elements of the parsha, to an almost enigmatic comment about Yakov dealing with the loss of his son. They are indeed VERY important to us today.

Vayashev: Refuse to be comforted!

The combined part 1 and 2 files for both sections are up here, and available for download and off-line listening:

Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Vayishlach,” (“and he sent out,” Genesis 32:3 through chapter 36), which now tells the story of Yakov’s (Jacob) return home, with his wives and children, and how he deals with his brother, Esau.

During the Erev Shabbat teaching, we again hear the story in sequence, this time including some things that just even appear at ALL from the original Hebrew (the ‘jots’):

The Sabbath Day teaching focuses on a theme which not only pervades Scripture, but is also more relevant by the day as civil war looms: “Brother against brother”.

Vayishlach: Enmity between Brothers — What’s coming and what can we learn?

The combined part 1 and 2 files for both sections are up here, and available for download and off-line listening:

Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Vayetze,” Genesis 28:10 through 32:3, which beings the story of Yakov’s (Jacob) journey (“and he went out”) via his famous vision, his wives, his sons, and his strengthening faith, in truth.

During the Erev Shabbat teaching, we hear the story in sequence, and Mark takes a look at aspects that are not only too often ‘overlooked’ by much of the ‘mainstream’, but even some things that just don’t translate well from the original Hebrew:

The Sabbath Day teaching is more about “Yakov’s journey,” but in a way that is intended to show just how important the lessons he learned, and is teaching us, are in a world where our threats may seem much greater, but the solution remains the same.

Vayetze: ‘Yakov, ‘Doubting Thomas,’ and ‘help my unbelief’ “

The combined part 1 and 2 files for both sections are up here, and available for download and off-line listening:

Join Mark Call for a look at parsha, “Toldot,” Genesis 25:19 through 28:9, which is most of the rest of the story of Yitzak (or Isaac) and introduces his two sons, and perhaps a problematic twist to the story of the “sons of promise”.

During the Erev Shabbat teaching, Mark Call again looks at the entire parsha, and what it is about Isaac that sets up ‘the rest of the story’.

It also sets up that much-contested deception that results in the “swap” of the birthright between the elder, and the younger of the two twins from Raquel’s womb, Esau and Yakov (or Jacob).

(And yes, as you might suspect by now, Mark is about to suggest that people who despise their birthright, and all the responsibility that might go along with it, are hardly unique to that “olde” testament. In fact, whether they’re called “snowflakes,” or “progressives,” or just haters-of-Yah, this is a story that still very much OUGHT to resonate today with those who have “eyes to see!!!”)

The Sabbath Day teaching, is thus all about that enduring question, WHY was Yakov the son of promise, and not Esau? (And, likewise, Isaac before him, as opposed to Ishmael?)

Toldot: ‘Isaac I have loved, but Esau I have hated’ — and which are we?”

The combined part 1 and 2 files for both sections are up here, and available for download and off-line listening: