Parshat Vayigash

Our Parsha this Shabbos is 'VaYigash,' which means 'Then/And he Approached,' and is when Yehudah approached Yosef to defend Binyamin.
The Parsha starts with a 'Ve'. Which shows that what was before is linking to what is about to be mentioned next.Just before,Yehudah was told,to go up in peace to Yaakov their Father,when Yosef had said that only Binyamin must stay.And then Yehudah approaches.So something in these words made Yehudah take action.Yehudah knew that he could have been the one to have saved Yosef all these years ago,but instead knew,he was the one who went to his Father and brought to his Father the coat of Yosef stained with blood, asking his Father to identify it,knowing how this would hurt his Father.He was punished when he lost his own 2 sons and Tamar coming to him with similar words when he accused her of having become pregnant.He knew that this action to his Father,had taken away his Father's peace and he never forgave himself for his sin.Now,that he was faced with having to go up to his Father and tell his Father that another precious son, Binyamin would now taken,he just could not handle that.So he courageously 'Approached' Yosef.
When we have done something wrong,the action sits with us and remains with us until we make it truly right.Only when we are truly ready to make it right then we can be truly sorry and repent for it.Then and only then are we able to have a clearer conscience and 'Approach' HaShem for forgiveness.If we leave it and ignore what we did,the very entity of wrong that we create,sits with us and reminds us repeatedly at different moments in our lives,of what we did.
Within the word 'VaYigash,' is the word ''Gisha,' which means 'approach or access.'This shows that to approach and be forgiven we need to have access to approach.What does this mean?
This means that if we wrong HaShem or we want to approach HaShem for something ,we first need to look at ourselves and see what HaShem has asked us to do and ,if we are not doing it,to ensure that we work on ourselves to do what HaShem has asked us to do ,for our own benefit,so then we can be deserving of HaShem's attention to listening to us.Then we will have a more open access to being heard.
Sometimes,things happen in life to cause us to sit up and take notice and come to HaShem.HaShem has many ways of calling us.Sometimes those ways can be subtle and other times those ways can be very obvious.Either way,we need to respond with giving of ourselves to HaShem's Will and not just our own will and ways of wanting to be.What HaShem needs us to do for Him,is for our own benefit.That is the beauty of HaShem.
HaShem is there all the time to listen.It is for us to 'Vayigash,' - 'Approach,' HaShem .We need to take the initiative as Avram did when Avram came to HaShem early in life and HaShem added a part of Himself to Avraham.In Gematriah,Avram's Name comes to 243.243 is 2+4+3='9'. 'The word 'VaYigash in Gematriah comes to 319 and when we add the word 'Eili' (Gematriah value of 41) so as to make the words 'Vayigash Eili,'-'Approahed My G-D,' we get 319,+41,which totals 360.3+6+0='9'- The same value as Avram's name ,who approached HaShem,on his own.
So when we approach HaShem in truth ,we must forget ourselves and our own needs and wants and do what HaShem has Commanded us to do.When we do this,HaShem will live within us as HaShem did,with Avraham, when HaShem added a part of Hinself to Avraham's Name ,when HaShem added a 'Hei,' to Avram's name.Avraham's name in Gematriah comes to 248 which is the same nunber of Positive Commandments in the Torah,showing us also that when we approach HaShem,we are to approach HaShem ,doing what we are Commanded to do as His Creation.
HaShem is there to listen.We just need to learn to speak and go in HaShem's Way and not ours.
HaShem desires us to approach Him and HaShem desires us to be close to Him.Just reach out your soul and HaShem will be there.Let us spend the rest of our days,reaching out to HaShem,approaching HaShem the Way HaShem(Who knows best). Tells us to do.Every second HaShem gives us ,is for approaching HaShem.Let us use our lives wisely,not just for ourselves,but for HaShem and all HaShem Creates.
I wish HaShem with love a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.

Parshat Miketz

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parshat Miketz. Where Par'o has his dreams and Yosef is released from prison and made viceroy over Egypt.
Our Parsha tells us that it was two years to the day ,so on the exact day that HaShem chose,Yosef rose to power.The word 'Miketz' - 'At the end' shows that at exactly the time,not a minute later,Yosef was to be ruler in Egypt.
Yosef had spent many years in prison and also a slave to Potifar and waited so long to be free.But only that the time appointed by HaShem,'At the End' - 'Miketz,' of the time ordained by HaShem,was Yosef quickly rushed out of the dungeon,dressed in finery and brought before Par'o.It all happened so quickly exactly at the time it was to happen and not a minute sooner or later.Though Yosef so pleaded to be let out of the dungeon,going as far as asking the Cup-Bearer to remember him,he still had to wait till HaShem said 'Miketz,' - ' At The End,' - now it is time.
This shows that HaShem still rules the world.We are not in charge of it.We are not the Creators of it.But we can make it better by our own actions.
Sometimes,when things get rough we hope HaShem will come and save us.Our Jewish people have suffered so,for thousands of years and for thousands of years we have prayed for Moshiach and the 'End Of Days,' yet still,we wait.We look around and see that this world doesn't appear to be getting any better and we cry out to HaShem as our ancestors did,when they were tortured and burned and gassed and killed,"When is Mashiach coming,when is HaShem going to come and save us and bring us and the world around us,peace." How often did our people cry and plead for Mashiach,but still,we wait,as Yosef waited,through this long and bitter exile.When will the light come.When will peace come.When will HaShem come and save us.How much longer will we wait.How many more of our people will be hurt (Chas Ve Shalom) by our enemies before we are saved.Before our ever so long prayer is answered.
HaShem is watching.HaShem knows all.HaShem knows the 'Miketz'- 'The End,' and there will be an end.How do we know? Because HaShem told us in the Tanach.As HaShem warned us that we need to keep His Shabbos and Commandments and not stray to other ways that are not Torah.Ways that ,though look and are designed to appear as the path to follow,are actually paths leading away.HaShem gave us His Path to follow in Torah.This is the way to go.The sooner we all as Jews follow what HaShem wants,the sooner the 'End'- 'Miketz,' will come.It may appear as though it is taking so long,but when HaShem brings our 'Miketz,' it will come like a flood,as it did for Yosef.
We are now in the beautiful midst of Chanukah where HaShem saved us, when we finally stopped mixing into foreign beliefs and ways and returned to our Holy Ways and lit the Holy Oil.This is a time when we need to rid ourselves of contamination and beliefs that are foreign and purify ourselves for HaShem.It was then that HaShem saved us then and it will be when HaShem will save us now.HaShem will provide His Sweet Light and Miracle, if we are vessels of purity and holiness.As HaShem saved us then,so will HaShem save us now and bring on the final 'Miketz,' - 'End,' with light.
Our enemies smile now as they have before,but as Parshas Miketz teaches us,even their time will come,like it did for Egypt and its rulers,as it did for so many that hurt us.But it will be in HaShem's own time,when HaShem knows when it spiritually needs to be.As I said,we can bring the 'Ketz'. (From 'Miketz') - 'End' closer by changing our ways and returning to HaShem and His Torah.Failure to do that,will bring more reasons why we will need to.Let us not wait for that and do our own part in making ourselves and our surroundings Holy so that HaShem will want to dwell with us and so that the ' Miketz'- 'The End,' can come.It will,whether we do the right thing or not,but let us rather not let it come the hard way.For when HaShem chooses to bring it when we have not earned it,it will be a cleaning and purifying and removal of bad in a stricter way as iron is burned in the furnace.
It is time we trusted HaShem and not strange ways.For that trust in HaShem will bring about the 'Miketz' at an earlier time.Our Rabbis say that had Yosef not asked the Head of the Cup -Bearers to help him and tell Par'o. Earlier and rather trusted that HaShem would let him out,Yosef may not have had to spend that extra time in the dungeon.The same goes for us.Let us do the right thing HaShem's way and follow HaShem's Laws and not other foreign ways and beliefs that started out in unholy ways(Chas Ve Shalom) that profess to get people there.They will not work and only delay others too.Drop unholy ways.drop unholy morals.Drop foreign ways that are not Torah and return to HaShem in His Truth and let our faithfulness in HaShem's Laws and Ways be our guide from now on.If you are not keeping Shabbos,start now.If you ate not keeping Kosher,start now.If you are not learning Torah and following it,start now.Make a special decision today to do what HaShem wants and make HaShem happy and smile from today onwards when HaShem looks upon you.,May the "Final Miketz" come in our Days.And may we all be granted to sit under HaShem's loving presence and be at one with HaShem.
With love to HaShem I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and a Happy Chanukah and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and a Happy Chanukah.

Parshat VaYeishev

Our Parsha this Shabbos just before Chanukah is Parshas VaYeishev where we read about Joseph going down to Egypt and how this leads to Jacob's family going down to Egypt ,where we became slaves and HaShem took us out afterwards with our beloved Moshe.
It is interesting that the Parsha is 'VaYeishev,' - 'Settled' when it is actually about our people leaving our home in Israel and going to a foreign land.This is not 'being settled.' This sounds more like being 'unsettled.'
In Yiddishkeit there is a concept that the date of the start of a tragedy is the date of the tragedy in History where it is felt the worst.We see this in the burning of our Temple which started on the 9th of Av and continued into the 10th of Av.The 9th of Av is the worst point when this terror began and so,it felt the most painful.Afterwards,people tend to get used to heartache after a while hoping that it will not get any worse,yet it is actually as bad as it can be,when our Temple burns.The reality is that pain is pain.This is why HaShem does not want us to be slaves to man and why a man or woman who chooses to continue servitude,when his freedom is due,is not looked up on very highly.This was not to be the case with our ancestors in Egypt,who were to never get used to the slavery but to constantly beg for freedom.People must never sit in a habit of hardship ,but must work toward rising above the problems that to try pull them down,always seeking to climb in Holiness toward HaShem.The same was for our ancestors in Egypt.We were never to mix with the Egyptians or follow their evil ways Chas Ve Shalom but to seek freedom.Never were we to fear being saved, as some of the people felt, when they constantly complained to Moses not rock the boat,in case the oppressors would make the hardship worse.That is when is is already too late. But still,the beginning of a hardship is the worst part .The same goes for positive things too.The start of us as a Jewish people,began when we went down to Egypt for it was there that we truly became a nation-a settled nation of Jews.Note the words 'going down to Egypt,' as it was literally going 'down' to a place of a low spiritual level.At the beginning of us going down to Egypt,the Parsha starts with the word 'VaYeishev' - 'Settled,' for ,as the start of this Parsha hints ,'Vayeishev Ya'akov B'Eretz M'Gurei Aviv B'Eretz K'na'an,' - 'Jacob settled in the land of his Father's sojournings,in the land of Canaan.' It was thus,now,that the spiritual settling into being a nation of the Jewish people began.
The Parsha verse continues, "Eileh Toldot Ya'akov Yoseif ben Sh'va-Esrei Shanah Hayah Ro'eh Et Echaiv Batzon,' - 'These are the chronicles of Jacob:Joseph,at the age of seventeen,was a shepherd with his brothers.'So we see here that this was the chronicle beginning of the forming of a nation,our nation of Israel that would come out of Egypt,back to the Holy Land as Children of HaShem.
Within these words is a very interesting thought.It says that Joseph was a shepherd with his brothers.The word 'Et' also means 'To' so it can also be translated as 'Joseph at the age of seventeen was a shepherd 'to' his brothers.'It would be Joseph who leads them on the path to finally becoming a nation.But more is meant here.Our Rabbis tell us that Joseph would bring reports about the brothers to his Father Yaakov.These reports were never to hurt the brothers but Joseph, who spent more time studying with his Father than the rest of his brothers,took it upon himself to do his best to keep up the spiritual level of his brothers so that we would remain a holy people.This is a sign to us all.Each and every Jew is responsible for their fellow Jew to make sure they work up toward HaShem.We all have this obligation to be a shepherd to our fellow Jew and also our fellow human beings,to teach them the correct and moral way to live.When we can all do this,we will be truly 'Vayeishev,' - 'Settled' for if we help and raise the level of every Jew and person,then HaShem can 'Vayeishev' - 'Settle' within us all and we will each be a home within,where HaShem can 'Settle' and 'Dwell.'
This is what HaShem has wanted all along since the very beginning of Creation.We therefore need to do Hashem's Will and Commandments so that we can finally make this world a place where HaShem can dwell and settle - 'VaYeishev.'
This starts,with each one of us going out from our comfort zones and bringing others,with love,to HaShem's beauty.A holy person is a fragrance to the world around them, where their sweet smell permeates the very air around them and draws them to HaShem.This is what Joseph did.He left his Beloved Father's house and went 'down' to the lowest spiritual place on Earth at the time -Egypt.' And brought HaShem's Holiness within him that all around him noticed,by his moral and holy ways.He did not change and become like the people around him.He was not tainted by it,but remained a faithful shepherd to HaShem and our people.So is the same expected of each one of us.We each have it within us to remain true to HaShem's Will.Never must we let our surroundings make us into something HaShem would never want.To be truly 'Settled,' is to be a Home where HaShem can Dwell and 'Settle.'
This is the right path of the servants of HaShem.This is true freedom.As we approach the miracle of Chanukah and light our Chanukiah let us draw down the very light of Heaven and make a true 'Settled' place where HaShem can Dwell and so,experience true freedom with HaShem within us.HaShem wishes so dearly to shower us with love and light.All we need to do is open ourselves up to HaShem as we did on Chanukah and HaShem will 'VaYeishev,' -'Settle,' within us.
HaShem has always saved us in so many hard times.HaShem is there,waiting to 'Settle' within us.All we need to do is Hspeherd our people,all people and keep HaShem's Commandments.May the time come that all Jews can finally settle safely in our precious Home Eretz Yisrael and may the time come that HaShem can settle within each one of us.
Wth love,I wish HaShem a beautiful Holy Shabbos Kodesh and sweet Chanukah with love and to all,with love,a sweet Holy Shabbos Kodesh and vreiliche Chanukah.

Parshat Vayishlach

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parshat Vayishlach and begins,'Vayishlach Yaakov Malachim Lefanaiv,' - 'Then Jacob sent angels before him,'
Can one imagine that a man is so Holy that he can send angels to fulfill his need.So Holy was Jacob.The Parsha directly says that Jacob sent them before him to his brother Esav.Our Rabbis say that Angels for inside the Land of Israel attended Jacob as he came into Canaan and the angels that watched over him outside Canaan left him.
The Parsha starts with a 'Ve' in the word 'Vayishlach,' which usually shows in Torah that what comes,is linked to what has just been before it.We just read that Yaakov had just separated from Lavan,a man who was spiritually powerful in a negative way and Jacob survived him with HaShem's help,so the 'Ve' that starts our Parsha shows to Eisav that if Yaakov could suvive Lavan,he could certainly survive what comes next,the meeting with Eisav.This was a sign to Eisav that HaShem is with Jacob against anyone and Eisav should know he would not prevail against his brother Jacob.So Jacob sent angels,to his brother Eisav and Eisav certainly realized that Jacob could be beaten.
But how can a man become Holy enough to have angels at his command.Aren't angels only subservient to HaShem.This very Parsha teaches us that we can have angels that can help us if we ask.But HaShem would only put angels for us to listen to us if and when HaShem is sure that we will only do actions L'HaShem Shamaim,' for HaShem and the sake of Heaven.There must not be a single part of us that wants to do things for ourselves,as to command the power of angels is a great power to command.When we do good,we are still human beings and so,we need to reach a level where all we do is for the sake of Heaven for HaShem.Our Rabbis tell us that when we do a Mitzvah we make an angel that will stand for is in Judgement on our side.How true that is.So as such,doing Mitzvot for HaShem gives us Malachim - Angels that can watch over us.To do a Mitzvah is one of the greatest ways to protect ourselves,but the Mitzvah should not be done for our sake at all but purely for the sake of HaShem and the Mitzvah to do good.HaShem gave angels to be at the command of this very Holy man Yaakov,because everything he did in his life was for HaShem and his children and us.He did not have a selfish part to him at all and spent every moment of his life praising HaShem with his every breath.This is a man whom HaShem could surely trust to put Malachim to be guided by him.
HaShem did not put us here to merely just serve ourselves.HaShem created for each of us a world around us so we can bring HaShem into it.We are here to serve HaShem and not ourselves.True,we have an obligation to better ourselves too,but that must be with the intention of serving HaShem and the greater good.HaShem is always all around us and within us.We are the ones who are to connect the physicality of all around us,to HaShem,The Source of all.Never must we forget that we are here to serve HaShem.
The Parsha says that Yaakov sent Malachim 'before' him to Eisav.We know that angels were there and went ahead of Jacob to protect Jacob and his family but why the word 'Lefanaiv?'If we look deeper into this word,we get 'Le' Panaiv' - 'To My Face.' Whose face is hidden in these words.It is HaShem's Face.When Yaakov did HaShem's will and when we do HaShem's will,we create spiritual pathways to HaShem and our very good actions are 'Lefanaiv' before HaShem's Face 'Vayishlach' - 'Sent to HaShem via the angels we make by our Mitzvot.This is how high a Mitzvah can reach.This is how high doing HaShem's Will can reach.This is how high we can reach.
But we first need to do everything we do for HaShem's Sake purely for the good.
Yaakov,who had become so Holy,had literally become a vessel for a Part of HaShem to live within Yaakov.To Yaakov,there was nothing else,but HaShem.This is how we are to be.Here for the very sake of HaShem and Heaven.
Yet even though Yaakov knew this,he still prepared,by setting out the camps in a safer way.This was so,even though we may think we have done all we can,we should still not take it for granted that HaShem will automatically save us ,thus relying on a miracle.We must do what we can to protect ourselves and have the Emunah - Faith that HaShem wil help us.To just rely on HaShem,without us doing anything,is not humble,but shows we think we are so great Chas Ve Shalom that the Almighty HaShem will just automatically do it for us.No,this is not how we are to be.We need to prepare ourselves with Mitzvot that are done for HaShem's sake.
Let us start right now,following HaShem and His Commandments no matter how we feel about it ,for then it is truly for the sake of HaShem and Heaven.
With love to HaShem,I wish HaShem a beautiful sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.