Thursday, March 7, 2019 – 30 Adar I 5779

Pekudei: Exodus 38:21 – 40:38

God appears as a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.  When the cloud descends into the Tent of Meeting, all travel ceases.

When you feel confused, you cannot think clearly and your mind is clouded.  You may feel as though you are in a fog.  Know that God is with you in the cloud of confusion.  Consider the symbolism.  Clouds are made of water, and water is symbolic of change and renewal.  (Harmony, p. 190)

Friday, March 8, 2019 – 1 Adar II 5779 – Shabbat Shekalim

Pekudei: Exodus 38:21 – 40:38

Shabbat Shekalim occurs at Rosh Chodesh Adar.  Its special Maftir reading contains the account of the Israelites’ obligatory half-shekel offering to maintain the Mishkan.

The Torah is not a static, never-changing relic of the past, but a vibrant, mutable, expansive dialogue between you and God.  The more you put yourself into it, the better you can see the fluidity, flexibility, and playfulness of God.  Immersing yourself in the words of Torah means swimming in the dynamic flow of the ever-changing, forever-revealing wisdom and knowledge inherent in the universe of experience.  (Understanding, p. 111)

Saturday, March 9, 2019 – 2 Adar II 5779 

Pekudei: Exodus 38:21 – 40:38

When the cloud lifts, the Israelites travel onward.

When God feels you are ready, God will lift the cloud of confusion and you will travel to the next step on your journey.  (Harmony, p. 191)

Sunday, March 10, 2019 – 3 Adar II 5779 

Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26

The Book of Leviticus begins, as the Lord tells Moses about the offerings of sacrifice.

God said: Let one who has a bullock bring a bullock.  Let one who has a ram bring a ram….Let one who has a dove bring a dove.  Let one who has none of these bring a flour offering.  And let one who has no flour bring words.  Rabbi Tanchuma (Strength, p. 159)

Monday, March 11, 2019 – 4 Adar II 5779

Vayikra:  Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26

Meaningful rituals can turn the ordinary, humdrum motions of your life into a state-of-the-art way of living.  A ritual that is performed consciously awakens you to the wonder and miracle of life.  (Glory, p. 256)

Tuesday, March 12, 2019 – 5 Adar II 5779

Vayikra:  Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26

The burnt offerings are completely consumed, becoming smoke on the altar.

With the insights you have gathered along the spiritual journey of life, you can now erect a new form of altar, and a new way of being sacred in the world.  As you build this new altar, you begin to understand what it means to be sacred.  The word “sacrifice” does not mean to do without; it means to make sacred, to live toward a higher purpose.  (Strength, p. 160)

Wednesday, March 13, 2019 – 6 Adar II 5779

Vayikra:  Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26

“You shall salt all your meal offerings with salt, and you shall not omit salt, the covenant of your God, from on your meal offerings.”

So often the very rules that promise liberation become restrictions in themselves.  When you depend on the rule and forget the intention, the light remains hidden in the veils and filters of the klippot of form and structure.  There is a substance of energy and light, hidden beneath the web of structure, that is crying out for you to release it.  (Wisdom, p. 82)