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Commencement Address 11/17/2011 Hebraic Roots Yeshiva & Theological Seminary Pastor Art Palecek Pastor Art Palecek has been in ministry since 1974 and is a graduate of The Way College of Biblical Research He and his wife Maureen have served around the United States in various ministries and congregations, teaching and evangelizing and have resided in Puget Sound for the past 20 years. They have 5 children. He is now an Associate Pastor at El Shaddai Ministry in Tacoma, WA Address It seems like yesterday, though some 33 years ago, that I stood shoulder to shoulder with my fellow graduates-to-be in Bible College with thoughts racing through my mind anticipating my first assignment with great excitement. Hours of learning in class from 5 AM to 11 PM at night, after many field assignments testing our experiential knowledge of Gods Word, work details, and the fellowship of teachers and students all now culminated to this moment. Like the Torah cycle, we end at graduation in commencement and then begin the teachers task, yet the learning never stops. And the beginnings are always fresh with the Lord, a new challenge, and opportunity to walk with Him and serve His Word on a silver platter. A Hebrew child at age 2 is first exposed to a Torah scroll and at age 5 begins their learning in the Book of Leviticus. Why Leviticus? The knowledge of the sacrifices and the commandments would point to the way of Messiah who was the ultimate sacrifice. They would have learned from their earliest

youth to bear in their souls the image of the commandmentsto love God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. But besides the knowledge of Torah we need the Ruach HaChodesh (holy spirit) to gain inside knowledge. Im reminded of the account in II Kings 2 of Elijah and Elisha when Elijah was passing his mantle to him. 2 Kings 2:7 And fifty men of the sons of the prophets went, and stood to view afar off: and they two stood by Jordan. 8 And Elijah took his mantle, and wrapped it together, and smote the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, so that they two went over on dry ground. 9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me. As graduates of the Hebrew Roots Yeshiva & Torah Theological Seminary, I would be believing for a double portion of the Ruach HaChodesh (holy spirit), and secondly for a big heart. A big heart to work heartily unto the Lord Never forget your teachers who labored to bring you to this point, Pastor Steven & Sylvia Jun, and your friends and family who encouraged you on. Embrace the challenges that come before you and praise Hashem, our God for the solutions. Never be afraid to think outside the box and press towards the mark You are the Torchbearers of Torah. The torches whose flame is brightest are those who teach because they love the teachers task. It is they who run with the torches until they fall, content if they can just pass the torch into the hands of the next runner with the realizable ideals of the words and commandments of Yeshua. Pastor Mark Biltz, El Shaddai Ministries and the staff, salute you in your great effort of service.

May the anointing of Yehovah carry you to heights beyond your understanding, in this world and the world yet to come.