Parasha for the Week:  Matot/Masei   Numbers 30: 2 - 36:13
Aftarah for the Week:  Jeremiah 1:1 - 3:4
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 6:14 - 27

Overview
Matot
Moshe teaches the rules and restrictions governing oaths and vows especially the role of a husband or father in either upholding or annulling a vow.
Bnei Yisrael wages war against Midian. They kill the five Midianite kings, all the males and Bilaam.Moshe is upset that women were taken captive. They were catalysts for the immoral behavior of the Jewish people.

Parasha for the Week: Pinchas Numbers 25:10 - 30:1
Haftarah for the Week: 1 Kings 18:46 - 19:21
Besorat Yeshua: Mark 6:2-13

Overview
G-d tells Moshe to inform Pinchas that he will receive G-d’s “covenant of peace” as reward for his bold action - executing Zimri and the Midianite princess Kozbi.
G-d commands Moshe to maintain a state of enmity with the Midianites who lured God’s people into sin.
Moshe and Elazar are told to count the People of Israel.
The Torah lists the names of the families in each tribe.

Parasha for the Week:  Balak   Numbers 22: 2 - 25:9
Aftarah for the Week:  Micah 5:6 - 6:8
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 5:35 - 6:1

Overview

Balak, king of Moav, is in morbid fear of Bnei Yisrael. He summons a renowned sorcerer named Bilaam to curse them.

Chukat: Numbers 19:1 – 22:1
Haftarah: Judges 11:1 - 33
Besorat Yeshua: Mark 5:21 - 34

According to the Tanach we are a people of Cohanim (priests). We believe in the universal priesthood. This means that every believer has been ordained for ministry. Each one has a different ministry. Believers are ordained for service (Ephesians 2:10) and ministers are ordained to prepare God's people for works of service (Ephesians 4:12). This service is described by Peter: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). God has a chosen people today. His chosen people are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. We belong to God. We have received everything from Him and it is our privilege to share in praising His glory (in Hebrew we say His kavod) with others. I want to praise the Lord now and always for His blessings upon us and His people in Israel.

Parasha for the Week:  Korach: Numbers 16:1 – 18:32
Haftarah:  1 Samuel 11:14 – 12:22
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 5:9 - 20

Overview
Korach, Datan and Aviram, and 250 leaders of Israel rebel against the authority of Moshe.
The rebellion results in their being swallowed by the earth. Many resent this and blame Moshe.
G-d's "anger" is manifest by a plague that besets the nation, and many thousands perish.
Moshe intercedes once again for the people. He instructs Aharon to atone for them and the plague stops. Then G-d commands that staffs, each inscribed with the name of one of the tribes, be placed in the Mishkan.

Parasha for the Week:  Shelach-Lecha: Numbers 13:1 – 15:41
Haftarah:  Joshua 2
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 4:35 – 5:8

Overview
Moshe sends 12 scouts, one from each tribe, to investigate Canaan.
They return 40 days later, carrying unusually large fruit.
10 of the 12 give a gloomy report of the prospect of defeating the Cannanites.
Calev and Yehoshua, the two scouts in favor of the invasion, try to bolster the people's spirit.
The nation decides that the land is not worth the risks, and instead demands a return to Egypt.
Moshe's fervent prayers save the nation from heavenly annihilation.

Parasha for the Week: Baha’Alotcha Numbers 8:1 – 12:16
Haftara for the Week: Zechariah 2:14 – 4:7
Besorat Yeshua: Mark 4:21 – 34

Overview
Aharon is taught the method for kindling the menorah. Moshe sanctifies the levi’im to work in the Mishkan. They replace the first-born, who were disqualified after sinning at the golden calf. The levites are commanded that after five years of training they are to serve in the Mishkan from ages 30 to 50; afterwards they are to engage in less hard work.

Parasha for the Week:  Bemidbar: Numbers 1:1 – 4:20
Haftarah:  Hosea 2:1 – 22
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 3:31 – 4:9

Overview:
The Book of Bemidbar — "In the desert" — begins with G-d commanding Moshe to take a census of all men over age twenty — old enough for service.
The count reveals just over 600,000. The levi'im are counted separately later because their service will be unique. They will be responsible for transporting the Mishkan (sanctuary) and its furnishings and assembling them when the nation encamps.
The 12 Tribes of Israel, each with its banner, are arranged around the Mishkan.
Since Levi is singled out, the tribe of Yosef is split into two tribes, Ephraim and Menashe.
When the nation travels, they march in a formation similar to the way they camp.