So the two haftarah portions read for this week of Shavuot are from the book of Ezekiel and the day two reading is from Habbakuk. We'll look at a couple of customs, but mainly the haftarah for both days 1 and 2. So if there is a holiday to celebrate in honor of Israel and it's gift to the world, it is SHAVUOT. Israel became G-d's bride and was betrothed at Shavuot. Vows were exchanged, and this is seen in a variation of the vowels in the word Shavout when changed to "Shev-uot", it becomes the word "VOWS" as in Promises. The Torah portion is Exodus 19:1-20:23 and a small section from Numbers 28:26-31; if you never heard these passages sung or chanted in Hebrew it is beautiful and extremely important to hear them in the Lashon kodesh, but definitely read them in Hebrew and of course in English to help you get into the mood and energy of the season, prior to Shavuot.
It's nice to be familiar with what's being read at services, before you get there. Kind of like a warm up and familiarization and a refresher since it's been a year since we heard it. Of course the Sefirat HaOmer period is a great time to do these things since we are counting the omer and counting UP to this time, for 7 weeks from Pesach. The Haftarah is Ezekiel 1:1-28 and an added verse from Ezekiel 3:12; we will hopefully discover why shortly.
The readings for Yom Sheni, the diaspora mandated 2nd day for every festival, is also done for Shavuot, and the portion is Devarim 14: 22 -16:17 and the maftir, the extra portion used to say the blessings for the person who'll be reading the haftarah, is also connected to Shavuot, it is Numbers, Bamidbar 7:87-89, just 3 verses about the offerings for Shavuot. The Haftarah for day two is Habbakuk 2:20-3:19. We'll speak about why this is read and it's connections and Messianic implications and prophecies. I think the goal of this reading and of Shavuot as a whole, is to see HaShem in Creation and I believe this is what HaShem wants us to accomplish daily. This leads
us to understand we are nothing without Him and His Messiah Yeshua. Be blessed and thank you for listening! Be BLESSED AND ENCOURAGED! SHALOM!

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