Shalom friends,

One of the great joys of this season is Simchat Torah, the holiday celebrating the end of one cycle of Torah readings and the beginning of a new one. On Simchat Torah, October 14-15 this year, we read the final words of Deuteronomy, and immediately go on to read Genesis chapter 1. This wonderful tradition expresses love and commitment toward the Word of God, which is one of our foundational beliefs in the UMJC. In honor of Simchat Torah, we are offering a range of resources for your Torah study here at www.umjc.org.

 

First, I'll mention my new book, Creation to Completion: A Guide to Life's Journey from the Five Books of Moses. This book takes you through each of the 54 weekly Torah readings, with an emphasis on the unifying theme of the Torah, which is the renewal and completion of God's work of Creation. Creation to Completion includes practical applications and serves as a devotional guide to the weekly readings for newcomers as well as for veteran students of the Torah. You can order a copy for $18.00, shipping included, right here at the website, or through our office at 1.800.692.8652 or 529 Jefferson St. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87108. Or, for your donation of $75.00 or more to the UMJC, I'll send you a free autographed copy!

Our friends at FLAME (Foundation for Leadership and Messianic Education) have prepared a guide through the weekly readings in Torah, Haftarah (the writings of the Prophets), and the B'rit Chadashah (New Testament) available for free right here . . . In addition, we are offering a guide for parallel weekly readings through the Gospels, the Chayyei Yeshua Besorah reading schedule, arranged by Dr. Mark Kinzer, President of Messianic Jewish Theological Institute (www.MJTI.org).

I also recommend FLAME Foundation's Walk! Devotional Commentaries through the Torah, by Dr. Jeffrey Feinberg - who currently serves on the UMJC Executive Committee-available at Messianic Jewish Resources, Int'l. www.messianicjewish.net.

Finally, you can subscribe right here to our email weekly Torah studies by a number of UMJC rabbis, and to The Set Table, a discussion guide to the weekly readings by some of our younger rabbis and leaders.

Torah has been central to Jewish identity and life for millennia, and remains central to us as Jewish believers in Yeshua today. Indeed, believers in Yeshua from all backgrounds are finding great inspiration and insight in these foundational documents of Scripture. As we serve a Jewish movement for Yeshua, we are thankful for the direction the Lord has provided in his word.

May you continue to grow in Torah and in the love of Messiah,

PS Click here to request a Seven-year Calendar of Jewish Holidays, with dates for observance of all the holidays from now until 2013!