The regular annual-cycle Torah parsha reading this week isn’t really ‘regular.’ We’re heading into the Fall Feasts (moedim) of YHVH, so the special readings that go with the Holy Days are on the menu, and only the last few chapters in Deuteronomy remain, before the cycle begins anew with “Bereshiet” – the first part of Genesis. Which is why Mark Call, of Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship, has decided to digress a bit, for reasons he explains.
The major ‘Jewish calendar’ (aka, ‘Hillel,’ or Diaspora, etc) lists this Sabbath, the 12th of September Roman, as “Rosh Hoshana,” the ‘head of the year.’ But Scripture consistently refers to it as Yom Teruah, the Day of Shouting, or the Shofar, and it marks the literal countdown for all the rest of the Fall Feasts. And that date – interesting – can vary quite a bit, if you compare calendar understandings.
Which really means the readings, and midrash, for this week are going to be unique.
Some – be forewarned – will also see them as perhaps controversial, largely because current events, and what is too often ignored by BOTH ‘whoring houses,’ is at odds with Official Dogma. The reason why will be made clear.
The Erev Shabbat reading comes from both Genesis and the story of Yitzak [Isaac] — and a bit of the second “Song of Moses from Deuteronomy 32, and introductory commentary:
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SSM-9-11-26-Dealers-Choice-Yitzak-Gen-22-Not-yet-Yom-Teruah-or-Rosh-Hoshanna-teaching-podcast-x.mp3
The Sabbath Day Midrash begins with the connection between “where we are today,” and “how we got here,” to those things that Mark suggests most people listening probably NEVER heard in a ‘mainstream’ church or synagogue. Because both of them are still in the exile they were promised:
“From Ha’azinu to Aholah and Aholibah: the Oldest Sin Remains”
(some Bible translations spell their names beginning with an “O”)
https://hebrewnationonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/WT-CooH-9-12-26-Dealers-Choice-Song-2-Not-yet-Yom-Teruah-or-Rosh-Hoshanna-Aholah-Aholabah-and-the-Oldest-Sin-podcast-xxx.mp3
Service information:
Shabbat Shalom Mesa fellowship worship services and teachings are broadcast live every Sabbath, via Paltalk. (www.paltalk.com has both the link, and the app.) The “room name” is “Walking Torah with Shabbat Shalom Mesa,” and can be found via the paltalk search, then bookmarked.
Erev Shabbat services begin at 7:00 PM Mountain Time Friday evenings (9 PM Eastern, 8 PM Central)
Live Sabbath teachings begin shortly after 11 AM Mountain time on Sabbath day (Saturday).
email: mark@markniwot.com
The combined two-part reading and Sabbath midrash: