Shows
Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Matot”This week’s annual cycle Torah reading is parsha “Pinchas,” Numbers 30:2 through chapter 32) and – in part at least – it wraps up one of the mysteries in the Torah, how can a people so blessed of YHVH fall so quickly into idolatry, and beset by ‘plague?’
But there is far more, and the issue of “vows” literally envelops the narrative.
As it still does today.
The Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SSM-7-25-25-Matot-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3
The Sabbath Day midrash is at attempt to connect a collection of dots that range from br...2025-07-272h 05Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Pinchas”This week’s annual cycle Torah reading is parsha “Pinchas,” Numbers 25:10-30:1) and it contains what is sometimes perhaps one of the most perplexing stories in the Torah, that of the cohen or priest Pinchas, who runs through two open idolators with a spear, and is awarded the eternal “Covenant of Peace (Shalom)” by YHVH Himself for the effort.
The Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SSM-7-18-25-Pinchas-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3
The Sabbath Day midrash is all about the ‘apparent’ contradiction. Actually, contradictions, plural:
How can a man be given that eternal Covenant of Sh...2025-07-201h 38Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Balak”This week’s annual Torah cycle reading is parsha “Chukat,” (Numbers 22:2-25:9) and represents a unique shift from the story of the mixed multitude “in the wilderness” to that of a pagan king who – much like Pharoah before the Exodus – is afraid of the people now lead by Moses.
And it’s a story that is part comedy, part prophecy, and a large part Today’s Headlines.
The Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SSM-7-11-25-Balak-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3
The Sabbath Day midrash begins where the story leaves off. Can a nation once undeni...2025-07-131h 18Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Chukat”The annual cycle Torah reading for this week is parsha “Chukat,” Numbers chapters 19 through 21) and it contains what is sometimes called the most enigmatic “chuq” (or, “do this because He says so”) in the Torah: the Red Heiffer, or parah adumah. Even Solomon is thought to have said he just didn’t quite get it.
The Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/SSM-7-4-25-Chukat-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3
The Sabbath Day midrash tackles that Greatest Mystery head on. But, even more interesting, what might be the SECOND most mysterious ‘chuq’ in the Torah is in this same parsh...2025-07-061h 53Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Korach”Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa Fellowship for a two-part study of the Torah parsha reading for this week, is “Korach,” (Numbers chapters 16 through 18) and the infamous rebellion which bears that name.
The Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/WT-CooH-6-27-25-Korach-Rebellion-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3
By now, perhaps it should be no surprise that Scripture sets the stage for events in the world. And, “rightly divided,” also reveals when passages have been “twisted,” or even inverted to suit the ‘prince of this world, and his big-brother servants.
The story of Korach is about a reb...2025-06-281h 13Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Shalach Lekha”The Torah parsha reading for this week is “Shalach Lekha,” (Numbers chapters 13 through 15) — “send out men” –8:1-12:16), and it is the infamous story of ‘the spies.’
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship begins with the Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SSM-6-20-25-Shalach-Lekha-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3
And once again, and ESPECIALLY now, events in the world again set the stage for the midrash this week. Mark relates that he believes the title was given to him just this morning, in two suggestions:
“Spies Who Lie,” “and…Die.”
The ‘twelve spies’ who went into...2025-06-221h 35Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Beha’alotecha”The annual Torah cycle reading for this week is parsha “Beha’alotecha,” (Numbers 8:1-12:16), and it is a true potpourri of events and issues, “from menorah to metzorah.”
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship begins with the Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SSM-6-13-25-Beha-alotecha-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3
As has been so often the case, but ESPECIALLY now, events in the world again set the stage for the midrash this week.
Have you ever noticed that there is a difference in the words used in rendering “do not covet…” your neighbors’ wife...2025-06-152h 08Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Naso”Join Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship for a two-part look at the second reading from the Book of Bemidbar, or Numbers, parsha “Naso” (Numbers 4:21 through all of chapter 7.)
The Erev Shabbat reading begins with the ‘head count’ of the families which make up the tribe of Levi, through the process for the ‘sota’, or woman who is SUSPECTED of adultery, through the Nazerite vow, and then the longest, and most redundant, and thus ‘perplexing’ chapter in the Torah:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/SSM-6-6-25-Naso-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3
Since Mark has talked about the ‘cup’ placed...2025-06-081h 30Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Parsha “Bemidbar”The Book of Bemidbar, or Numbers, which begins with the reading this week (Numbers 1:1-4:20) is apropos both in English, and in the Hebrew names. It certainly has LOTS of Numbers, and for very good reasons, and it takes place ‘B’midbar,’ or “In the Wilderness.”
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship and the Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SSM-5-30-25-Bemidbar-teaching-podcast-xx.mp3
The Sabbath Day midrash is about more than just the significance of the ‘Numbers’ that make up so much of the story. If “faith” was all that matters, why would...2025-06-011h 48Hebrew Nation Online | Shabba Shalom Mesa – Mark CallMark Call – Torah Teaching for Double-Parsha “Behar-Bechukotai”The Book of Vayikra or Leviticus concludes with the two part torah parsha, “Behar,” and “Bechukotai,” (Leviticus chapters 25 through the end of the Book.) Covered first are the concepts of ‘sabbath for the land,’ and the “Jubilee” year, which Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa explains might be thought of as a big Reset button that has the effect of precluding a societal meltdown and depression otherwise.
Mark Call of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship and the Erev Shabbat reading:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/SSM-5-23-25-Behar-Bechukotai-teaching-podcast-xxx.mp3
The Sabbath Day midrash begins with a bit more backg...2025-05-251h 38