.Our Parsha this Shabbos is 'Parshas Masei,' where HaShem sweetly lists the journeys of our people through the wilderness.Why would it be do important to list each place that we went?Let me use an analogy.When a Father spends precious time with his son,taking his son out for the day to different places and experiencing different experiences in that day,it will be very special for that child and his Father.They would want to treasure every sweet memory and every feeling of experience that they shared together,every special thing they saw in every place they went together so that the memories of it would always remain special to them both and that they could both look back and remember the treasured and quality time they shared together.
This is how HaShem feels.HaShem knew that once we get into the land,we will busy ourselves with physical tasks and forget the sweetness we felt while HaShem was with us so close and surrounded us so closely.So,to treasure each and every precious moment that we spent so close to HaShem,HaShem wanted each moment documented for each moment was so special that we finally had spent such a close time with HaShem as HaShem would do with Adam and Chava and as HaShem wanted with us when He Created all things.This is what HaShem has always wanted.This is one of the reasons for all the Mitzvot,so that we can remain close to Him.This is how special HaShem is and how special we are to HaShem,that HaShem would want to treasure every moment with us.How strong a Love HaShem has for us that He truly misses our closeness. May we all feel the same way for HaShem.
This is a very important thought to carry with us today,while we busy ourselves with our present life.We need to bring HaShem's love and closeness into every moment of it and never neglect HaShem Chas Ve Shalom as HaShem never neglects us,for if HaShem would neglect us,we would cease to exist Chas Ve Shalom.Even while we are carrying on our day,HaShem's attention is always on us in Love.
So from now on,we must learn to bring HaShem into every moment that we breathe and treasure every special moment that HaShem gives us life to be close to HaShem.Every Mitzvah and every Commandment should now take on an even more special meaning as the Commandments are to bring us close to ('Karov') HaShem.
The word 'Masei,' in Gematriah comes to 180 which is 1+8+0=9 . 9 is the number before 10,the number of completion.The step before Mashiach is to come close to HaShem.This is one of the purposes of Creation. So in doing everything we can to keep HaShem close to us all the time,we are bringing about the final journey 'Masei' so Mashiach can come.
Let us always keep HaShem infront of us and HaShem will show us how He surrounds us with love.
I wish HaShem with deepest love,a beautiful and ever so close Shabbos with us and I wish you all with love a beautiful Holy Shabbos close to HaShem.

What do you give HaShem.Do you ever think about this.Well you should,because HaShem gives you the whole world around you.Start to give back to HaShem and remember to say thank you to HaShem for all around you.

When we look around & think the world isn't what it should be,HaShem is telling us there's something we are to work to change in the world.

Our Shabbos Parsha this week is Matos where HaShem commands Moshe to speak to the heads of the tribes -'Matos' and tell them the Laws of making vows.
Our Rabbis say that when we make a vow,it is as if we are making a commandment on ourselves that we have to keep.This is why it is best not to vow,so that we don't break the vow.Putting a vow upon ourselves by word,is putting ourselves in the position of HaShem,Whose Commands we are to keep.Once we make a vow,we need to keep it.It becomes on us,a commandment.Thus making a vow,tends to actually add to the Commandments HaShem has given us,which we shouldn't do.Thus it is better not to make a vow at all.
We need to learn to be 'Matos' part of tribal Israel and not set ourselves apart from our fellow Jews.The word 'Matos,' also means 'branch/stem or command.'This means that we are to never forget who we are,by sticking close to the Laws HaShem gave us and be a part of the branch and stem of Yiddishkeit that has a long line of beautiful tradition back to Moshe Rabbeinu and further back to Avraham.As soon as we start to make up our own Laws (Chas Ve Shalom) (vows we must keep) it can lead to straying from HaShem's Torah.This branch of Torah is within the Neshoma of every Jew and we need to learn to hold on to it and never to let it go.So when HaShem commands the tribes - 'Matos,' HaShem is also commanding the 'Branch' - 'Matos' that is within each one of us ,never to stray and make up our own laws,but to stick strictly to Torah.HaShem is 'Commanding,' - (which also has a translation of 'Matos,') us to keep to the Laws HaShem has given us and not to put on ourselves new and other laws.History has shown that when people start to make up their own laws,cults and other religions which are Avodah Zarah,end up being the result.
Every Law that HaShem gives us has its place.We may not understand even a small minute part of the reason,but we do know that the Law has its set place like each tribe had its set place.
In Gan Eiden,Adam and Chava were kicked out of the Garden for disobeying and partaking of the Tree they should not have.Our Rabbis have suggested that the Tree was like the Torah.So this means that the 'Branches' -'Matos' of this Tree reach out for us to follow HaShem's Command,for only by that ,can we return to Gan Eiden.The action of Adam and Chava doing their own thing,led them to losing Gan Eiden.So sticking to HaShem's word,through the Holy 'Stem' and 'Traditional Branch' of Yiddishkeit and Torah will lead us back.
It was Avraham that brought us back to HaShem and taught the world of HaShem's Oneness and Oneness of Laws.The branch of Holiness went through Avraham to each one of us today and beyond.If we take the word 'Matos' its Gematriah comes to 455.This comes down to 4+5+5=14 and 1+4=5 . If we take Avraham's name,it comes to 1+2+200+5+40=248 and this comes down to 2+4+8=14 and 1+4=5.So Avraham's name is the same as Matos,the unbroken chain and branch of Holy Yiddishkeit that starts with Hashem and continues through each one of us.The keeping of the Laws of HaShem and not making up our own Laws is to be kept within every part of our physical selves for the 248 that is Avraham's name,corresponds to the same number of organs and limbs of the human body (as Taryag Mitzvos R. Kahan mentions too that 248 positive commands out of the 613 Commandments, refers to the number of organs and limbs in the body ), showing us that we are to let these Laws fill us completely and we are to be an extension of light of these Laws that radiate from HaShem.As a tree gains sustenance from its centre ,so do we as 'Matos'-'branches' gain life from HaShem,which filters down ('Matah'- meaning 'down') from on High from HaShem.
So,before you are about to make a vow,think very carefully that you will be adding to what HaShem commanded on you and this will not only affect you,but those around you (in you 'Matos') tribes.Keep in mind that we are all part of the same tree and we need to all keep to the Laws only HaShem gave.Let our people and our tribes only spread the light of HaShem's Laws,not our own.From this Shabbos on,try to keep more of HaShem's Laws and let HaShem's Laws filter out from you so that you can light up every part of this physical world.I wish HaShem with faithful love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and I wish all with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh.

Today is the The Fast of the 17th of Tammuz and starts the 3 week period of mourning which ends after Tisha B'Av..On this day 5 specific tragedies hit our people.Moshe came down Har Sinai and broke the Tablets after the Cheit Ha'Aigel (Golden Calf),the Korban Tamid (daily offering) ceased during the siege of th First Beis Kamikdash,the walls of Yerushalaim were breached during both Batei HaMikdashim and apostomus burnt our precious Torah and placed an image in the courtyard of our Bais Hamikdash.The pleadings of our prophets that we get back on the road went unheeded for so many years,that eventually tragedy struck.I ask and plead with all,that for the sake of HaShem and our precious Yidden that today you think very deeply about this day and its meaning and see how you can correct yourselves and others so that we can all get back to showing faithfulness and love for HaShem and His wishes.This is a day to return to the right path of Yiddishkeit.This is a day to leave other beliefs behind that appear to be correct but are not and to return to the true Torah path of Yiddishkeit and our One and Only HaShem.
May all stop straying and return to the preciousness of our Torah and do the courageous thing and stand up and say ,'HaShem is One and HaShem is the only way and the only path to HaShem is the Torah true path.Let us stop placing an image in the Temple by bringing in foreign ways and religions into our precious beliefs that do not have their basis in HaShem's Torah Yiddishkeit and ways and were never there when HaShem gave us the Torah for all time.Let us clean ourselves and our people.Not just for ourselves must we do this,but we must return for the sake of every fellow Yid and HaShem can return His Shechinah to us and our enemies near and far will disappear.May HaShem send us finally the true MaShiach whom we await who will come ,according to Tanach in Yechezkel,for the first and only time, before the Third Temple gets built and end all suffering and pain so our people can finally dwell in safety.May HaShem come and light this world again when we follow Him again faithfully.There is always hope,for it was also on this day,that Noach sent the pigeon.Hope for humanity rests in our choices and in our hands.Let us give up all erronious belief and return to the way of the One True G-D.I wish those who are fasting, a Tzom Kal and to those who are not, or to those who have strayed from the path of Torah true Judaism,today is your special day to return.

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parshas Pinchas,where Pinchas does an action of stopping HaShem's wrath by keeping purity in the Camp of Israel.He does this by killing a leader of the tribe of Simeon who had brought an idol-worshipper into the camp in front of our beloved Moshe . His action halted HaShem's wrath and peace was made between HaShem and His people . HaShem rewarded Pinchas for this action , for all time as a man of peace and some of our sages even think he will return as Eliyahu HaNavi who will announce the coming of the peace-bringing Mashiach .
This sounds like a strange reward for a man who killed.How can one who takes life,be thought of as the harbinger of Mashiach.
HaShem does not want death at all.HaShem would prefer us to follow His Laws and be good.But when it comes to the case of contaminating our nation with impurity Chas Ve Shalom that can spread , or an enemy that can destroy us , we are asked to act to save our people . Such an action on Pinchas's part,took great courage , going alone into a full camp of Simeonites and taking the life of their leader . It takes a great man,to stand up alone and act for HaShem's sake . This took amazing courage.His action , stopped the impurity from traveling into K'lal Yisroel and thus brought us purity. His action of removing this impurity,saved the entire nation from physical and spiritual harm.He saved us all . He was granted long life and was even one of the spies that Joshua sent to spy out Jericho .
HaShem asks us ,'Lo Alma Al Dam Rei'echa,' 'Do not stand by the blood of your fellow,' Leviticus 19:16 .This is what Pinchas did.When Jews are attacked,we are to stand together as one and help defeat the enemy.HaShem instructs us to wipe out the memory of Amalek-to kill them.They stand and attack HaShem's chosen people and wish to bring down HaShem Chas Ve Shalom . To keep this world pure and moral , we are ordered to kill them.To save the world we are to remove it's impurity . To kill impurity is to save us all.To bring Holiness and remove impurity , is to bring peace to HaShem's world.
This is the beauty of Pinchas . When we do aveiras or when people do things that are impure,they cause a distance between HaShem and us . To stop immorality and impurity,is to bring HaShem closer to us-to make peace between HaShem and us . Such was Pinchas . So can we all be . Before we do something we know HaShem told us not to do , think very carefully to make sure that our action will not cause HaShem to step back from us Chas Ve Shalom as we would never want such a thing Chas Ve Shalom . Though our Yetzer Horah may try to persuade us otherwise , doing a negative action will have very large repercussions and affect all , as causing HaShem to distance Himself from us , affects all . Let us all be fighters for HaShem and promote Holiness in all we do and say.
In this Parsha we see that the name of 'Pinchas is written with a small 'Yud.' This makes the word 'Pinchas look like 'Panchas, with the 'Yid' separate.'Taking this word and looking closer,it gives us 'Yud Paneh Chasah,' where 'Yud' represents HaShem's Name being the first letter of HaShem's Name.'Paneh' means 'Face' and 'Chasah,' means 'to find shelter.' Putting this together,we get 'To find shelter in the Face of HaShem.' When Pinchas on his own destroyed the impurity,HaShem turned back His Face toward Israel and so we were again sheltered from all negative forces.This shows us that to do HaShem's will and being faithful to HaShem,will keep us protected and close to HaShem,for nothing can stand and face HaShem that is negative.HaShem will bring us into His sweet and beautiful countenance and shield us from all that wants to do harm Chas Ve Shalom.Let us remember this with all our enemies,whether of a physical or spiritual nature,that all,will be removed if we all remain faithful to HaShem and His Commandments.Our Rabbis say that the 'Yud' in Pinchas's name is small, to show how HaShem made Himself small for Pinchas due to Pinchas's action for HaShem.May we all make ourselves small and humble ourselves in purity,before the will of HaShem. With eternal love and beyond,I wish HaShem a very blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a very Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love.

Our Parsha this Shabbos is 'Parshas Balak,' where Balak the son of Tzippor calls Bilaam to come and curse our people but HaShem turns it into a Blessing.
Balak is called the son of Tzippor also because he would use the tongues of birds he'd kill to pronounce future events (tzippor meaning bird).Certainly not a nice man.The Children of Israel had just defeated the Amorites and the Moabites became frightened that they were next.They saw that HaShem was with us and so they called an evil man Bilaam to come and curse us (Chas Ve Shalom).But they knew that we were a Holy people to HaShem and they needed to find some negativity within us so that HaShem would be upset enough to allow us to be cursed (Chas Ve Shalom). This is why Bilaam kept moving around to different parts of viewing Israel each time hoping to find some error within us.but we were a Holy people who had such modesty that even within our tribes in the Wilderness,our tent openings never faced our neighbor's tent opening -as Torah says in Numbers 24:5 (that we say at Shacharit Davening) , 'How goodly are your tents,O Jacob,your dwelling places,O Israel.' We were a people of Holy Purity.So Bilaam (who was known for cursing as he knew the time of day that the sun would wane), was not able to curse us.Each time ,Bilaam (prophet of the nations that HaShem showed the nations they were also given a chance at a prophet) was stopped at every attempt to hurt us and HaShem ,Who rules over all, saw to it that our enemy Blessed us.
Our people have always been a people of Tznius and Holy purity and this among other things protects us from those who wish to spiritually seek us harm (Chas Ve Shalom).
HaShem told us in Torah that we are a 'Kingdom of Priests and a Holy Nation,' a treasured people of Holy purity to HaShem.We ,as a people are to always ensure we live up to this and seek always the way of Holiness and love of HaShem in faithfulness and Kedusha.We are a people,separate and with our own special task in this world to be a light unto all and teach and bring all to the belief in One G-D.This is a task set for us by HaShem,to remain as separate teachers of light .This is not an action of our own lack of humility.It is an action HaShem set for us,so that we can be a light-house for HaShem for all ,as HaShem loves all.
The actions of Balak and Bilaam are akin to so many others through time who have tried to hurt us and failed.As long as we keep to who we are and within the task that HaShem has set for us and as long as we keep HaShem's Holy Torah,we will have the blessing of HaShem over us.We thus need to keep our Torah and all that HaShem instructed of us,never leaving Torah-the Precious Gift and never easing on HaShem's Laws,for to do that, is to lesson on HaShem's Commandments.The Torah as it was given on Sinai is for all time and not a single letter and not a single Law should ever be changed from it because of modern times(Chas Ve Shalom), as HaShem is for all time and so is the eternity of His Will. A Jew who sadly leaves the faith or marries out of the faith and religion of Yiddishkeit (Chas Ve Shalom), is lost to Yiddishkeit and all that Jew's generations of struggle and faithfulness to HaShem is lost (Chas Ve Shalom).So a Jew must ,for HaShem's sake and for the sake of all those who died through the centuries so that they could be a Jew,must keep this in mind and never give up on the precious gift that HaShem has given them.
This is what the Bilaams and Balaks of the world try to do.So we need to keep ourselves Holy and pure to who HaShem lovingly made us.
The first verse of this Parsha says,' Vayar Balak ben Tzippor Eit kol asher Asah Yisrael La'Emori,' which means ,' Balak son of Tzippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorite.' These Hebrew words can have other meanings hidden within.Taking each word and using the beauty of Hebrew translations,it can also possibly say 'And feared(Vayar) ,Balak son of a bird (one who wants to see more but can only see physically),feared (Vayar) all that HaShem for Israel did to 'Emori' (from the root 'amar'-which means spoke) to all that spoke against. Israel.' So Balak feared that all who speak against Israel will be dealt with by HaShem.HaShem puts His protective wings around Israel and as HaShem assured Avraham,'All those who Bless Israel will be Blessed and all those who curse Israel will be cursed.'As what happened to Balak and Bilaam that HaShem foiled their plans,so will HaShem foil the plans of all who want to hurt the Jewish People.
May we continue to be a Holy Nation unto HaShem,of purity and May HaShem continue to watch over our people always.
I wish HaShem with beautiful love, a Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love.