Greetings in the name of His & Her Imperial Majesties Qedamawi Haile Sellassie I & Itege Menen Asfaw,

This is another one of the many interpretations of the Scriptures from the light of Ras Tafari by, I, Lidj Yefdi (pronounced Lij, Yef-dee).

I assure you that if you are patient with me, come with a willing mind and heart(ready to learn), you will receive more than what you might have asked for, in seeking the perspective of a Ras Tafarian’s I-sight (eyesight) if those who actually open up their Bibles to read in a Jewish/Hebrew cycle of readings, & thoroughly discern, have come to seek insight) into the study of the Scriptures.

So,with this Hebrew Shabbot (or Shabbat) we move into the opening of the Torah portion with Mishpatim – מִּשְׁפָּטִים,  on the 24th – כד, & on the 25th – כה, of the month of Sheb(v)at – שְׁבָט, in the year of 5778. (the Hebrew Calendar corresponds to a Lunar cycle of the Moon)  From an Ethiopic Judeo-Christian perspective and calculation, where the current year is 2010/7510; This calculation, with its readings from the Scriptures, would align to the 2nd – ፪, & on the 3rd – ፫, of the month of  Yekátït – የካቲት.  In the Scriptures, this portion of study would also be known as S(h)’raut – ሥራዓት.  The Ethiopic calendar is solar (with its correspondence to the Sun) aligns to this Sabbath (or Senbet – ሰንበት) in the Ethiopian language of Amharic, which is currently one of the languages of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (the other language being Ge’ez-[ግእዝ]).

Readings:

Exodus 21:1- 24:18

Jeremiah 34:8-22 ; chpt. 33: 25, 26

Matthew 5:38-42 ; chpt. 17: 1-11

Now, in summation of the study we have in front of us, this portion of the study of the Scriptures, laws/ordinances/judgments for the Passover(Pesach – פסח /Fasika – ፋሲካ) are set out.  In addition to the Decalogue(Ten Commandments/Words), another series of laws were given to Moses, to give to the children of Israel. This has been accounted for as the covenant upon Mount Sinai (or the Sinaitic Covenant).  God commands Moses, Aaron, & Aaron’s sons: Nadab and Abihu, to ascend the mountain.

[Ex. 24:9-11]

Covenant Code(detailed statutes)

[Exodus 21-23]

The instituting of Hebrews,( in particular the men ), to show up or appear, before God three times was established, with these detailed statutes.

Laws and ordinances, on servitude, child rearing, crime, and other aspects, are covered for the children of Israel to observe and do.  This has been accounted for as the covenant upon Mount Sinai.

Feast of Unleavened Bread

(Passover-פֶּסַח), is a memorial of the Exodus from Egypt. It also observes, the avoiding all leavened grain products and similar foods of consumption.  Most families or communities tell stories of the Exodus traditionally. Pesach (Passover) usually lasts eight days (for some others it may comprise seven days): Passover’s equivalent in Ethiopian Jewish/Hebrew tradition is called (Fasika – ፋሲካ) from other translated sources Fasika, is the equivalent for the meaning from/into Easter; in the English. Fasika has been an upkeep from the traditions and teachings of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church, since around fourth century A.D.  Even, for what is known as a Christian church, this festival of Fasika(Easter/Passover) holds significance than what is known as Christmas. Fasika succeeds an approx., 56-day fasting period, which is has certain relevancy to the Western Christian ideas of Lent. Fasika, is known to be a a day of high celebration.

Also, in continuance of the giving of the laws, statutes and commandments, along with the judgments of YHWH; the children of Israel were also given more times of observances for the Hebrew people.  These observances have become, what is known as the Moed’im – מועדים.

http://www.yashanet.com/studies/revstudy/rev3.htm

The people of Israel, proclaimed that they would hear obey the commands of YHWH.

http://www.messianic-torah-truth-seeker.org/Torah/Pesach/Pesach.html

Now, the second of these important feasts is the Feast of Weeks/Harvest, (Shav(b)uot/Ch’ag Shab(v)uot – חג שבעות) commemorates the day God gave the Torah/the LAW to the entire nation of Israel which had come to be assembled at Mount Sinai.  Shavuot is linked to Passover, it also concludes the Counting of the Omer, of the seven weeks/counting of God’s festivals.

and at the Feast of Tabernacles/Succoth. (Sukkot – סֻכּוֹת) The Feast of the Ingathering, is celebrated on the 15th day of the month of Tisrei, on the Hebrew/Jewish calendar. Moses told the children of Israel to gather for a reading of the Law during Sukkot every seventh year (Deut. 31:10-11).  Sukkot is a seven day holiday, and part of what is known in Jewish tradition as the CHol HaMoed(festival weekdays). Observance of Sukkot is detailed in the Book of this week’s Torah portion.

[Exodus 23:14]

In this portion of the Scriptures, the important observances for the children of Israel, which have now become known as the Shalosh Regalim – שלוש רגלים.

(or commonly known as the three national High Holy Days of Israel)

The Shalosh Regalim in a plain translation, are widely known as the Three Pilgrimage Feasts.  All in reference to Scriptural texts such; Exod. 24: 14-17, Deut. 16:16, I Ki. 9:25 (Solomon’s keeping of this ordinance), & II Chron. 8:13.

After this establishment Moses, was then summoned by God to ascend the mountain where he remained for forty days and forty nights.

In a special note:

This Sabbath observance is also known as; Shabbat Shekalim (plainly translated from the Hebrew: the “Sabbath of shekels” שבת שקלים).  The Shekel, or the Hebraic word, congruent to currency, or more specifically a weight of measure from ancient times.  On the Shabbat Shekalim, specifically portions of Scripture are read in preparation for the observance of Pūrïm, which requests each adult male, within the Hebrew/Jewish community contribute half of a Biblical shekel (ref: Shekel of the Santuary [Exod. 30:24 ; Exod. 38:24-26 ; Numb. 3:47 ; Numb. 7:12-88])  for the upkeep of the Tent of Meeting.

This Torah portion in Exodus 30:11-16 is read & takes place on the Sabbath before the 1st day of the Hebrew calendar month of Adar, or on the 1st of Adar itself, if it falls on Shabbat.  In leap years on the Hebrew calendar, where two months of Adar are observed, the Shabbat Shekalim is on the Sabbath before the 1st of Adar II (or on the 1st of Adar, the second month, of the same name, itself, if it is on the Sabbath).

NOTES: for study

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Shabbat

http://www.jewfaq.org/special.htm

https://www.biu.ac.il/JH/Parasha/eng/pekudei/coh.html

https://torah.org/torah-portion/haftorah-summary-shekalim/