This is the section of the website where you will find articles relating to the family and also news of events at The Cedars. Our purpose is to encourage the strengthening of our families through mutual support and provide educational opportunities for both parents and children together.
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Additional thoughts for Passover.
Dr Clifford Denton. Pesach: Beginning in Exodus, fulfilled in the Gospels. 20th April 2024/12 Nisan. And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”. (Exodus 33:14) Picture by Helen McNeill We are coming to the end of Passover Week. Christians have celebrated the sacrificial death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus for many […]
From Jerusalem Israel.
By Joseph Shulam. Normally, the Passover Feast and Holiday has at least one Shabbat within the seven days of the Holiday. The name of this Shabbat in Hebrew transliteration is Shabbat Chol HaMo’ed Pesach. “Chol HaMo’ed” is a Hebrew phrase made from two Hebrew words. “Chol”: חול “ common – not holy – […]
THE LAMB OF GOD.
A magical setting for the eve of Passover. by Charles Gardner. How appropriate, on the eve of Passover, to have spent a weekend on a sheep farm surrounded by new-born lambs. My wife Linda and I were enjoying a short break in a remote part of the beautiful Yorkshire Dales. The peace and quiet was […]
Family – God’s Priority in all Creation.
By Clifford and Sally Denton. If we read the Bible carefully, this truth is not difficult to see. Yet if we consider the priorities of mankind in the world today, it is a truth that is […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number One.
By Dr Clifford Denton.
Introduction to the Series. Since before the time when Jesus (Yeshua*) came into the […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Two.
By Dr Clifford Denton.
Noach: Genesis 6:9-11:32. 21st October 2023/Cheshvan 6.
Then the dove came to him in the evening, and behold, a freshly plucked olive leaf was in her mouth; and Noah knew that the […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Three.
By Dr Clifford Denton.
Lech Lecha: Genesis 12:1-17:27. 28th October 2023/Cheshvan13.
Please separate from me. If you take the left, then I will go to the right; or, if you go to the right, then I will go to the left. Genesis 13:9 […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Four.
By Dr Clifford Denton.
Vayera: Genesis 18:1-27:24. 4th November 2023/Cheshvan20. And Abraham said, my son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering (Genesis 22:8) Picture by Helen McNeill Herein is God’s profound commitment to […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Five.
BY Dr Clifford Denton.
Chayei Sarah: Genesis 23:1-25:18. 11th November 2023/Cheshvan27. …he took Rebekah and she became his wife, and he loved her (Genesis 24:67) Picture by Helen McNeill For the greater part of the 175 years […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Six.
By Dr Clifford Denton.
Toldot: Genesis 25:19-28:9. 18th November 2023/Kislev 5.
…Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be those who bless you! (Genesis 27:29) Picture by Helen McNeill Last week’s Bible study ended with the way Ishmael’s sons were […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Seven.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Vayetze: Genesis 28:10-32:2. 25th November 2023/Kislev 12.
And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Eight.
By Dr Clifford Denton.
Vayishlach: Genesis 32:3-36:43.
2nd December 2023/Kislev 19.
Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. (Genesis 32:24) Picture by Helen McNeill Two things are clear from […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Nine.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Vayeshev: Genesis 37:1-40:23.
9th December 2023/Kislev 26. 2nd Day of Chanukah.
There we were binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed, your sheaves stood […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Ten.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Miketz: Genesis 41:1-44:17. 16th December 2023/Tevet 4
Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. Genesis 41:42 Picture by Helen McNeill The subject of the making of a man of God […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Eleven.
Dr Clifford Denton. Vayigash: Genesis 44:18-47:27. 23rd December 2023/Tevet 11 Then Joseph said to his brothers, “I am Joseph; does my father still live?” But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence. Genesis 45:3 Picture by Helen McNeill We consider family on two levels in this week’s Torah portion. Both relate to […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twelve.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Vayechi: Genesis 47:28-50:26.
30th December 2023/Tevet 18
And Jacob called his sons and said, “Gather together, that I may tell you what shall befall you in the last days.” Genesis 49:1 Picture by Helen McNeill This week, we come to the end of Genesis. The Hebrew Bible appropriately calls this foundational book of all […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Thirteen.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Shemot: Exodus 1:1-6:1.
6th January 2024/Tevet 25
And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire from the midst of a bush. Exodus 3:2 Picture by Helen McNeill 400 years passed between the events at the end of Genesis and those at the beginning of Exodus. This is according […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Fourteen.
Dr Clifford Denton. Va’era: Exodus 6:2-9:35. 13th January 2024/Sh’vat 3 So he lifted up the rod and struck the waters that were in the river. (Exodus 7:20) Picture by Helen McNeill To gain perspective on the momentous days when Israel was in Egypt, let’s continue to consider what it was like for individual families. The […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Fifteen.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Bo: Exodus 10:1-13:16.
20th January 2024/Sh’vat 10
And they shall take some of the blood and put it on the two doorposts and on the lintel of the houses where they eat it. (Exodus 12:7) Picture by Helen McNeill Our theme of family is clear in this week’s portion. When the Lord struck the firstborn of […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Sixteen.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Beshalach: Exodus 13:17-17:16. 27th
January 2024/Sh’vat 17.
So the children of Israel went into the midst of the sea on the dry ground, and the waters were a wall to them on their right hand and on their left. (Exodus 14:22) Picture by Helen McNeill I will sing to the Lord, for He has triumphed gloriously sang […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Seventeen.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Yitro: Exodus 18:1-20:26. 3rd February 2024/Sh’vat 24
All the people witnessed the thunderings, the lightning flashes, the sound of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking (Exodus 20:18) Picture by Helen McNeill Let us consider the similarities between events in this week’s portion and our lives as believers today. In many ways we are in […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Eighteen.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Mishpatim: Exodus 21:1-24:18. 10th February 2024/1 Adar1.
Then the Lord said to Moses, “Come up to Me on the mountain and be there; and I will give you tablets of stone, and the law and commandments which I have written, that you may teach them. (Exodus 24:12) Picture by Helen McNeill The Ten Commandments set the […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Nineteen.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Terumah: Exodus 25:1-27:19. 17th February 2024/8 Adar1
Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering. From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering. (Exodus 25:2) Picture by Helen McNeill We are with Moses on the mountain, reading the clear instructions for the building of […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Tetzaveh: Exodus 27:20-30:10. 24th February 2024/15 Adar1
And you shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, for glory and for beauty. (Exodus 28:2) Picture by Helen McNeill Last week we suggested a family project based on the construction of the Tabernacle. It is a project that can take place over several weeks […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-One.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Ki Tisa: Exodus 30:11-34:35 2nd March 2024/22 Adar1
You shall make an altar to burn incense on; you shall make it of acacia wood. (Exodus 30:1) Picture by Helen McNeill The seeming silence of God can be a testing time for anyone. In Israel’s case, Moses was away so long without bringing God’s […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-Two.
By Dr Clifford Denton.
Vayakhel: Exodus 35:1-38:20. 9th March 2024/29 Adar1.
Then everyone came whose heart was stirred, and everyone whose spirit was willing, and they brought the Lord’s offering for the work of the tabernacle of meeting, for all its service, and for the holy garments. (Exodus 35:21) Helen McNeill’s illustration recalls the widow who, observed by Yeshua, also gave from […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-Three.
Dr Clifford Denton.
P’kudei: Exodus 38:21-40:38. 16th March 2024/6 Adar2.
Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. (Exodus 30:34) Picture By Helen McNeill Picture again the community of Israel. The Tabernacle, the meeting place with God, is at the centre of the camp. The family home is a tent. […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-Four.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Vayikra: Leviticus 1:1-6:7. 23rd March 2024/13 Adar2.
If a person commits a trespass, and sins unintentionally in regard to the holy things of the Lord, then he shall bring to the Lord as his trespass offering a ram without blemish from the flocks (Leviticus 5:15) The picture by Helen McNeill looks forward to the suffering of […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-Five.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Tsav: Leviticus 6:8-8:36. 30th March 2024/20 Adar2.
Also, Moses took the anointing oil, and anointed the tabernacle and all that was in it, and consecrated them (Leviticus 8:10) Picture by Helen McNeill Many Christians have been brought up to consider the Old Testament and the New Testament as two separate books. This […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-Six.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Sh’mini: Leviticus 9:1-11:47. 6th April 2024/27 Adar2
…that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, and that you may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the Lord has spoken to them by the hand of Moses. (Leviticus 10:10-11) Picture by Helen McNeill The message of holiness runs continuously […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-Seven.
Dr Clifford Denton.
Tazria: Leviticus 12:1-13:59. 13th April 2024/5 Nisan.
He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his dwelling shall be outside the camp. (Leviticus 13:46) Picture by Helen McNeill The theme of holiness continues in our portion this week. Our challenge in […]
Developing the Theme of Family through the Torah Portions. Number Twenty-Eight.
Dr Clifford Denton. M’tsora: Leviticus 14:1-15:33. 20th April 2024/12 Nisan. And he shall sprinkle it seven times on him who is to be cleansed from the leprosy, and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the living bird loose in the open field. (Leviticus 14:7) Picture by Helen McNeill We continue, in our portion this week, […