What is TorahBytes? / TorahBytes

TorahBytes is a short, weekly biblical commentary written and produced by Alan Gilman.

Torah means teaching. It is the teaching of God to point us in the right direction. In its most narrow sense, the Torah is the first five books of the Hebrew Bible. The ancient rabbis recognized that Torah was more than just these Five Books. God’s Torah encompasses all of God’s revelation.

With this understanding we will draw primarily from the weekly synagogue Torah portions. While the Five Books are foundational in our understanding of God, we need to understand them in the fuller context of the whole Scripture, both Old and New Covenant writings.

From time to time, the week’s commentary will be based on the Haftarah portion. Haftarah, meaning “completion,” are passages taken from the Nevi-im (Prophets) section of the Hebrew Bible. The Haftarah readings were chosen because the ancient scholars found in them something relevant to the weekly Torah readings. The passages selected as the Haftarah readings are the same each year. On some weeks, due to a special occasion, such as a feast day, the regularly scheduled Haftarah will be replaced by a special reading for that occasion.

TorahBytes is written from a messianic perspective, meaning that our understanding of the Torah is in light of the coming of the Messiah, Yeshua of Nazareth. Yeshua came as promised in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is through faith in him, his death and his resurrection, that we know God as he intended, free from sin and the threat of condemnation.

Alan Gilman

Alan has known Yeshua (Jesus) as his Messiah since 1976. He and his wife, Robin, also a Jewish believer, have been married for over 40 years and have 10 children and eight grandchildren. Through the years, Alan has been active in Bible teaching, writing, and worship leading.

Alan delights in showing how God’s salvation plan begins with Abraham and his descendants, is fulfilled in the Messiah, and is expressed through Yeshua’s followers today. Understanding the essential Jewishness of the Gospel is key to to fully experiencing God’s blessings in and through our lives.

For more information about Alan and his teaching ministry click here.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®, copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked “CJB” are taken from the Complete Jewish Bible, copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. Published by Jewish New Testament Publications, Inc. www.messianicjewish.net/jntp. Distributed by Messianic Jewish Resources. www.messianicjewish.net. All rights reserved. Used by permission.