Our Parsha this Shabbos is 'Va'eschanan,' where Moshe implored HaShem to allow him to enter Holy Eretz Yisroel.
Moshe had led the people through the wilderness for 40 years and now,on reaching the border,wanted so dearly to be let in.But G-D said No.
The Hebrew word 'Va'eschanan,' has the Gematrical value of 515 and our sages tell us that this is how many times and ways Moshe implored HaShem to allow him to enter Israel.Can you imagine asking for something 515 times even after being told 'No.'
Moshe so desperately wanted to set his feet on this beautiful land of 'Milk and Honey.'From our point of view,Moshe sure deserved this sweet reward for all he had done for us.Yet not one of the 515 times that Moshe implored HaShem to enter,did Moshe ever tell HaShem he deserved it.Not even once.He still pleaded with humility and never asked in a way like he was owed this privilege.HaShem listened with tears as Moshe pleaded yet he was still not allowed in.
The number 515 has great significance,for in the Kabbalah,it says that the angels say 515 prayers to HaShem every day.Yet at times,we rush through our own Tefillah that only takes place 3 times a day. Moshe showed true sweetness.HaShem patiently,without upset,listened to Moshe's many pleadings unlike us,who would have gotten impatient after the first few requests.
Moshe mentioned that it was due to us that HaShem became angry with him.This is true for we still continued to pester him even after he had just lost his sister Miriam.
A few times Moshe mentions us and perhaps we should have taken the hint,for so many times did Moshe pray for us and get HaShem to forgive us,so we too should have all uttered one prayer up for him at that time when he most needed it and beg HaShem to let our greatest holy leader also come into the land for which he worked so hard to bring us to.The answer probably still would have been 'No' yet still we should have done it.We too should have all implored HaShem for him then.
We are told that Moshe was not allowed to enter the land because of his action at Kadesh.HaShem's ways are very deep and we seldom understand them.They are so far beyond us.We also implore HaShem for things at times and feel we are not heard and answered.HaShem always hears but does not always grant our request.We may not understand why,but this is where love of HaShem and Emunah comes in.We need to trust that HaShem's 'No' is in our and the world's best interests even if we cannot see it at the time.HaShem sees all.We cannot deny HaShem's Greatness far beyond anything we could ever comprehend.In the case of Moshe,HaShem said 'No.' HaShem knew all the reasons why He had to say 'No.' We don't.Moshe had reached the age of 120.Moshe died in the Jewish year of 2488 and our present world's end will be in the year 6093 at the Final Redemption ,6093 years after Creation and according to the Aish Dass,that means that there would be 3605 years between the time of Moshe's passing and the Final Redemption.If we divide this 3605 years by Shemittah Cycles (7 year cycles),an amazing fact shows itself,for 3605 divided by the number of Shemittah Cycles till the final year of Redemption shows that there will be 515 Shemittah Cycles (7 year cycles) from Moshe's passing to the time of the End at the Redemption as the Midrash also says.This could mean that every time Moshe implored HaShem,it will stand for us to keep G-D merciful till Mashiach comes.This is just one reason.HaShem is so deep that we can never fully understand.We need to learn to trust Him,no matter what.HaShem grants what He knows is best for us.
In this Parsha is our beautiful Shema which attests to the Forever Oneness of G-D and a reminder to keep our homes and ourselves holy with Tzitzis and Mezuzahs and thus,to make our very homes and selves into a Temple in which HaShem can dwell.
HaShem does not always grant our requests,but by His completely superior knowledge and wisdom and The Creator of Knowledge and Wisdom,we can rest assured and trust HaShem that He always knows best.
Our task is to ensure that we keep our homes and ourselves holy and that is the best sweetness we can show HaShem as we implore HaShem to end our Galus and restore our Third Temple on its Holy Site in Jerusalem.
Let us remember our precious Moshe Rabbeinu now and all implore HaShem on his behalf that we may all enter Eretz Yisrael and that the Final awaited Redemption comes now in our days and that Moshe can finally enter the Holy Land after so praying for us,not just when he was with us,but even today since then does his soul pray for us to follow G-D and G-D's Laws whole-heartedly and become finally one,with our Creator.
With love and faith for HaShem.I wish HaShem a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Friday, 31 July 2015
Friday, 24 July 2015
Parashas Devarim
Our Parsha this Shabbos Chazon of the 9th of Av,just before the Fast of Tisha B' Av, is Parashas Devarim.
Moshe requested of HaShem to review the Torah in the last 37 days of his life from the 1st of Shevat until the 7th of Adar until Moshe went up to HaShem. Moshe's request was granted and for 36 days,Moshe reviewed the Torah Laws.
The Book of Devarim is Moshe's discourse which he gave throughout these days until he went to HaShem.
If we think of the sweet holiness of our beloved Moshe who wanted to spend the last days of his life ensuring that G-D has the faithfulness of His people and ensuring that our people keep to G-D's Laws,one cannot imagine a finer more holy man than Moshe.If other people would be asked what they would want to do for the last days of their life,they would say ,go on holidays,have fun,go skydiving and other things.But not Moshe.On Moshe's last days,he wanted to continue making G-D happy.He wanted to continue making us holy.This is true life.He didn't waste a single moment on meaningless physical pursuits.He didn't even waste a single moment at such a time,to serve himself.No,not our beloved Moshe.Even at a time like this,Moshe still thought of HaShem and us.There are really no words to thank Moshe enough for all he did for us.No words are great enough.No words are special enough.Thank you beloved Moshe.Instead,Moshe writes Devarim and gives us more of his Blessed words.
The word 'Devarim' means 'Words.'Moshe's words from his heart, to which HaShem Spoke.
The word 'Devarim' - 'Words' have within it the word 'Daber,' - 'Speak.'With our words,we can either make or destroy things.HaShem Created Creation with His Words.Words spoken have power.Words spoken offer the speaker a choice.One can either speak words of Holiness and Righteousness ,or one can speak words of harm that hurt others Chas Ve Shalom.One can either speak words to build others up to Holiness,or one can speak words to or about others that bring them down Chas VeShalom.The choice is ours.Moshe chose the Holy faithful and caring choice.His words were given for love of HaShem.His words were given to bring us closer to HaShem.His words were given to build us up.His words were given to make us Holy.His words were given out of pure love for HaShem and His people.
A word can make or break Chas Ve Shalom.A word can take Creation where it needs to go or slow it down Chas Ve Shalom .Creation itself is made of matter - of things and within the word 'Davarim,' is the word 'Davar' which also means 'Things.' The very 'Word' itself is the essence of all things within Creation,spoken with Words- Devarim.
Within Creation,we have a constant choice to follow HaShem or turn away Chas Ve Shalom.HaShem gave us a mouth.We should use this mouth and every word that comes out of it , to praise HaShem.Each moment brings with it a choice.Each moment brings with it an opportunity to follow G-D.Each moment brings with it an opportunity to bring HaShem to this World that He may dwell with us.Each moment is an opportunity to bring Creation to where it is to go.Each moment is a choice for us to follow HaShem's Laws.It all starts with our 'Devarim'-' our 'Words.'Moshe used the last few days of his life in HaShem's Service.Would any of us do the same?Would any of us give every breath to G-D ?Even our last breath?This is what Moshe did.Every breath we have ,we must remember Who gave it (G-D) and use it for G-D.
We stand on the verge of Tisha B' Av which is the day of our greatest tragedy when our Temples were destroyed,our city besieged and so many other terrible calamities took place throughout our history.At such a time as this when we lost faith in our Beloved Creator Who had set us free and Who had brought us to the verge of our Holy Land,we need to wake up our very souls and return fully to G-D.We need to increase Miitzvos.We need to follow G-D's Holy Torah.For all those who are not keeping Shabbos,they need to choose to remember who they are and start keeping HaShem's Holy Shabbos and Torah Laws.We need to all follow HaShem only.We need to all work together to repair the wrongs we have done and for once and for all,choose to follow G-D with our Words and our very being and our actions so that this day can become the Yom Tov it is to be in the future.As we stand before HaShem on this Tisha B'Av,let us all stand together and make that Word 'choice' to be what G-D wants us to be.May the Final Redemption come now and may we all delight in HaShem's Essence in the Eternal Shabbos in a Restored and Rebuilt Jerusalem.
With love to HaShem,I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love and a meaningful Tzom Kal.
Moshe requested of HaShem to review the Torah in the last 37 days of his life from the 1st of Shevat until the 7th of Adar until Moshe went up to HaShem. Moshe's request was granted and for 36 days,Moshe reviewed the Torah Laws.
The Book of Devarim is Moshe's discourse which he gave throughout these days until he went to HaShem.
If we think of the sweet holiness of our beloved Moshe who wanted to spend the last days of his life ensuring that G-D has the faithfulness of His people and ensuring that our people keep to G-D's Laws,one cannot imagine a finer more holy man than Moshe.If other people would be asked what they would want to do for the last days of their life,they would say ,go on holidays,have fun,go skydiving and other things.But not Moshe.On Moshe's last days,he wanted to continue making G-D happy.He wanted to continue making us holy.This is true life.He didn't waste a single moment on meaningless physical pursuits.He didn't even waste a single moment at such a time,to serve himself.No,not our beloved Moshe.Even at a time like this,Moshe still thought of HaShem and us.There are really no words to thank Moshe enough for all he did for us.No words are great enough.No words are special enough.Thank you beloved Moshe.Instead,Moshe writes Devarim and gives us more of his Blessed words.
The word 'Devarim' means 'Words.'Moshe's words from his heart, to which HaShem Spoke.
The word 'Devarim' - 'Words' have within it the word 'Daber,' - 'Speak.'With our words,we can either make or destroy things.HaShem Created Creation with His Words.Words spoken have power.Words spoken offer the speaker a choice.One can either speak words of Holiness and Righteousness ,or one can speak words of harm that hurt others Chas Ve Shalom.One can either speak words to build others up to Holiness,or one can speak words to or about others that bring them down Chas VeShalom.The choice is ours.Moshe chose the Holy faithful and caring choice.His words were given for love of HaShem.His words were given to bring us closer to HaShem.His words were given to build us up.His words were given to make us Holy.His words were given out of pure love for HaShem and His people.
A word can make or break Chas Ve Shalom.A word can take Creation where it needs to go or slow it down Chas Ve Shalom .Creation itself is made of matter - of things and within the word 'Davarim,' is the word 'Davar' which also means 'Things.' The very 'Word' itself is the essence of all things within Creation,spoken with Words- Devarim.
Within Creation,we have a constant choice to follow HaShem or turn away Chas Ve Shalom.HaShem gave us a mouth.We should use this mouth and every word that comes out of it , to praise HaShem.Each moment brings with it a choice.Each moment brings with it an opportunity to follow G-D.Each moment brings with it an opportunity to bring HaShem to this World that He may dwell with us.Each moment is an opportunity to bring Creation to where it is to go.Each moment is a choice for us to follow HaShem's Laws.It all starts with our 'Devarim'-' our 'Words.'Moshe used the last few days of his life in HaShem's Service.Would any of us do the same?Would any of us give every breath to G-D ?Even our last breath?This is what Moshe did.Every breath we have ,we must remember Who gave it (G-D) and use it for G-D.
We stand on the verge of Tisha B' Av which is the day of our greatest tragedy when our Temples were destroyed,our city besieged and so many other terrible calamities took place throughout our history.At such a time as this when we lost faith in our Beloved Creator Who had set us free and Who had brought us to the verge of our Holy Land,we need to wake up our very souls and return fully to G-D.We need to increase Miitzvos.We need to follow G-D's Holy Torah.For all those who are not keeping Shabbos,they need to choose to remember who they are and start keeping HaShem's Holy Shabbos and Torah Laws.We need to all follow HaShem only.We need to all work together to repair the wrongs we have done and for once and for all,choose to follow G-D with our Words and our very being and our actions so that this day can become the Yom Tov it is to be in the future.As we stand before HaShem on this Tisha B'Av,let us all stand together and make that Word 'choice' to be what G-D wants us to be.May the Final Redemption come now and may we all delight in HaShem's Essence in the Eternal Shabbos in a Restored and Rebuilt Jerusalem.
With love to HaShem,I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Holy Shabbos Kodesh with love and a meaningful Tzom Kal.
Friday, 17 July 2015
Parashas Mattos-Masei.
Our Parsha for this Shabbos Rosh Chodesh is a double portion of Mattos-Masei.Mattos starts out with Moshe talking to the heads of the tribes (Mattos) and explaining the Laws of Vows and Oaths and Parsha Masei,starts out talking of the Journeys which the Children of Israel took in their travels from Egypt Mitzrayim to the Holy Land.Egypt-Mitzrayim means 'Borders,' for those who stayed in Egypt were bordered in and couldn't just leave without permission from Par'o yet we were set free so we could follow HaShem and head toward the Holy Land.
HaShem instructed Moshe on the Laws of Vows and Oaths and Moshe taught this to the leaders of the tribes of Israel of how important what comes out of our mouths really is.Words are powerful.HaShem Created all things with His Words.When we speak and say that we will do something,we are to carry out what we say.Our words are our bond and to go back on what we say is a great aveirah.This world needs to rest on truth and so,we are to be inside ourselves,as we speak out to others.To say one thing and do another,is not honest and cuts at the very grain of existence and makes for disention between the physical and spiritual,for we (our physical being ) are to be what our souls are (and that is) 'Holy.' Our souls are given to us by HaShem and they are the spark of Him within us.To act contrary to His Holy Spark within us and to physically do negative things,is to hurt HaShem within us all.A person who acts contrary to the Holiness we are all given within,never finds their comfortable path in life and will always be unhappy and discontent with life.We need to be the same within ourselves as we are to people outside.This is the same as keeping Kashrus in one's home,but sadly not keeping Kosher outside.We need to Keep and be Kosher wherever we go and are To be a total human being of holiness,the light within us needs to shine out and this can only happen when we are Holy on the inside and on the outside.This starts by what we say.Every word we say is recorded on High.Should we say something with HaShem's spark of Soul within us and not fulfill our words,we will be brought to account,for it is with HaShem's Spark,that we made this acknowledgement with.It needs to be fulfilled for we made it with HaShem's light within us.So,we need to be very careful what we say.This Law is told to the tribal leaders of Israel also to remind the Children of Israel,before entering the land,that we made an acknowledgement to G-D,that we will do HaShem's Commandments and listen to all HaShem says.These words we acknowledged to G-D,we must fulfill.We must keep our words we made to G-D.When we made this acknowledgement to G-D - 'Na'aseh Ve Nishmah,' 'To do and to Listen', all our people,including those alive at the time,those Jewish souls who had passed and also those Jewish souls still to be born as well as all the righteous Gairim (converts) were called to Har Sinai to hear G-D speak and to be given HaShem's Commandments.This acknowledgement stands with us all.We are reminded of this,just before the borders of Israel are discussed in these Parshas so that when we enter the land we know that we are to keep what which we said we would keep.This week we are in the Nine days before Tisha B'Av ,the day of our greatest tragedies in history and today is the first of Av.This is a time to really remember the words we acknowledged to HaShem and those are that we would keep His Torah and follow Him.This is a week to work on mending our relationship with HaShem and traveling the path that HaShem wants us to travel,as we did then,in the Wilderness.
HaShem was with us at every part of our journey through the wilderness all those years and so,as we are reminded of the vow we made to G-D,so G-D asks that every part of our journey (in the second Parsha we read this Shabbos Masei' - 'Journeys') ,is recorded as a Father records every part of a special journey he and his son takes,because every moment with his son is precious.Every place that we stopped throughout our Journeys was written down.Every place HaShem surrounded us with His Clouds of Glory , was special to G-D.The names of the places we stopped at also had significance within the names the places had, like 'The Wilderness of Sin' where the Mountain on which we received the Ten Commandments was renamed 'Sina'i' where the place was called 'Sin' originally,it got an extra 'Yud' to make it 'Sinai' for 'Yud' has the Gematrical value of '10' and it was on this mountain that the Ten Commandments were given.The first place we received the Clouds of Glory was as we left Egypt,where we encamped at 'Succoth' and it reminds us of our precious Festival of Succot when we live in a Succah commemorating the Clouds of Glory that surrounded us then.Every place we encamped was recorded as a reminder to us of how HaShem watched over us and as a show to the nations of how HaShem made an uninhabitable place habitable for His people.Each step we took was a miracle.Within the word 'Masei' - 'Journeys' is the word 'Neis' -'Miracle' for only with the power of HaShem did we survive this Journey.
So,we read 'Mottos-Masei' together also to remind us of where we came from and the vow we made near the beginning of our journey,the journey itself and also to where we are going,to the Holy Land of Milk and Honey,our beautiful and precious Eretz Yisrael,with its borders and its goodness and to remind us to enter there with the same promise we made on our lips to HaShem that we do and we will listen.
With deepest love,I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love and to all a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love.
HaShem instructed Moshe on the Laws of Vows and Oaths and Moshe taught this to the leaders of the tribes of Israel of how important what comes out of our mouths really is.Words are powerful.HaShem Created all things with His Words.When we speak and say that we will do something,we are to carry out what we say.Our words are our bond and to go back on what we say is a great aveirah.This world needs to rest on truth and so,we are to be inside ourselves,as we speak out to others.To say one thing and do another,is not honest and cuts at the very grain of existence and makes for disention between the physical and spiritual,for we (our physical being ) are to be what our souls are (and that is) 'Holy.' Our souls are given to us by HaShem and they are the spark of Him within us.To act contrary to His Holy Spark within us and to physically do negative things,is to hurt HaShem within us all.A person who acts contrary to the Holiness we are all given within,never finds their comfortable path in life and will always be unhappy and discontent with life.We need to be the same within ourselves as we are to people outside.This is the same as keeping Kashrus in one's home,but sadly not keeping Kosher outside.We need to Keep and be Kosher wherever we go and are To be a total human being of holiness,the light within us needs to shine out and this can only happen when we are Holy on the inside and on the outside.This starts by what we say.Every word we say is recorded on High.Should we say something with HaShem's spark of Soul within us and not fulfill our words,we will be brought to account,for it is with HaShem's Spark,that we made this acknowledgement with.It needs to be fulfilled for we made it with HaShem's light within us.So,we need to be very careful what we say.This Law is told to the tribal leaders of Israel also to remind the Children of Israel,before entering the land,that we made an acknowledgement to G-D,that we will do HaShem's Commandments and listen to all HaShem says.These words we acknowledged to G-D,we must fulfill.We must keep our words we made to G-D.When we made this acknowledgement to G-D - 'Na'aseh Ve Nishmah,' 'To do and to Listen', all our people,including those alive at the time,those Jewish souls who had passed and also those Jewish souls still to be born as well as all the righteous Gairim (converts) were called to Har Sinai to hear G-D speak and to be given HaShem's Commandments.This acknowledgement stands with us all.We are reminded of this,just before the borders of Israel are discussed in these Parshas so that when we enter the land we know that we are to keep what which we said we would keep.This week we are in the Nine days before Tisha B'Av ,the day of our greatest tragedies in history and today is the first of Av.This is a time to really remember the words we acknowledged to HaShem and those are that we would keep His Torah and follow Him.This is a week to work on mending our relationship with HaShem and traveling the path that HaShem wants us to travel,as we did then,in the Wilderness.
HaShem was with us at every part of our journey through the wilderness all those years and so,as we are reminded of the vow we made to G-D,so G-D asks that every part of our journey (in the second Parsha we read this Shabbos Masei' - 'Journeys') ,is recorded as a Father records every part of a special journey he and his son takes,because every moment with his son is precious.Every place that we stopped throughout our Journeys was written down.Every place HaShem surrounded us with His Clouds of Glory , was special to G-D.The names of the places we stopped at also had significance within the names the places had, like 'The Wilderness of Sin' where the Mountain on which we received the Ten Commandments was renamed 'Sina'i' where the place was called 'Sin' originally,it got an extra 'Yud' to make it 'Sinai' for 'Yud' has the Gematrical value of '10' and it was on this mountain that the Ten Commandments were given.The first place we received the Clouds of Glory was as we left Egypt,where we encamped at 'Succoth' and it reminds us of our precious Festival of Succot when we live in a Succah commemorating the Clouds of Glory that surrounded us then.Every place we encamped was recorded as a reminder to us of how HaShem watched over us and as a show to the nations of how HaShem made an uninhabitable place habitable for His people.Each step we took was a miracle.Within the word 'Masei' - 'Journeys' is the word 'Neis' -'Miracle' for only with the power of HaShem did we survive this Journey.
So,we read 'Mottos-Masei' together also to remind us of where we came from and the vow we made near the beginning of our journey,the journey itself and also to where we are going,to the Holy Land of Milk and Honey,our beautiful and precious Eretz Yisrael,with its borders and its goodness and to remind us to enter there with the same promise we made on our lips to HaShem that we do and we will listen.
With deepest love,I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love and to all a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love.
Friday, 10 July 2015
Parashas Pinchas
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Pinchas.Pinchas was the grandson of Aharon and thus a Levite.Pinchas showed immense courage in his action of slaying a leader of a house of the tribe of the Simeonites and the Midianite princess,who the Simeonite had brought into the tent in the sight of Moshe,Pinchas' teacher.The insult to G-D and Moses,was too much for Pinchas to bear and so,he took action and saved our people from HaShem's vengeance at this immoral action.He could have been killed himself but that did not matter.Pinchas put aside his own existence,for G-D.This was a true Kiddush HaShem,where Pinchas stopped the plague that had gone out from the wrath of HaShem against the Children of Israel.Thus Pinchas saved lives and so,HaShem rewarded him with longevity and in fact,our Rabbis say that he returned in the soul of Eliyahu Ha Navi who will be the harbinger of Mashiach who will bring Eternal peace to us ,as Pinchas made peace between HaShem and His people.
Pinchas continued to live a very long life and was even one of the spies that Joshuah sent into Yericho,to spy out the land,that Rachav hid and helped escape.
The reward for defending HaShem is very sweet especially if it comes with no personal motive for personal gain.A true action of selfless love for Hashem, was displayed by Pinchas.This action of his,made him a Kohein.
If we look closely at his name at the beginning of our Parsha,we see that within his name,there is a little 'Yud.' His name did not have to be spelt with a 'Yud,' but in this case it was,as the 'Yud' which represents HaShem ,(for HaShem's Name starts with a 'Yud' in the Name 'Yud Hei Vav Hei,') was given to Pinchas' soul ,for HaShem Blesssed Pinchas with His Holy Name.The 'Yud' as I mentioned,is also smaller than the other letters,as HaShem Himself made Pinchas great in the sight of G-D and the people around Him,for Pinchas had saved our people.
The 'Yud' that is smaller ,also divides Pinchas' name into 'Pen'(Face or lest) and 'Chas.'(Pity or spare) and here ,shows us that Pinchas caused HaShem to 'pity' us and turn HaShem's 'Face' of anger away 'lest' we be destroyed Chas Ve Shalom and thus Pinchas caused HaShem to 'spare' us.
Pinchas saved our people.
This is an action to emulate for all time,for no matter what others do wrong around us,we must stand fast by G-D and not turn away or stray from G-D.No matter how immoral we may feel the World may be,we must not come down to immorality ourselves or even do what others do wrong,to survive here.HaShem will always stand by the righteous ,so we need to be the standing lighthouse of holy light to the dark around us.One candle in the dark can light the path.The candle of Torah and its Laws will light up anything and lead us to G-D.
Our sages say,'For one man Adam,the world was Created.'For One man Noach,the World was spared.So each one of us,can be the one among others that can save the World and sweeten the World and we can be that 'one,'that keeps HaShem from total anger at the actions of those that defy Him.It only takes one to give hope.It only takes one to bring light to all around us.It only takes one.It only takes 'you.'
The far reaching effects of a Holy Action,are beyond what we can imagine.We cannot see the result of our actions but we can make sure that we do the right thing by G-D and not by ourselves for that is what leads to Holiness.Pinchas became the holy Prophet Eliyahu HaNavi who calls Mashiach and annoints him.Pinchas never knew this would be his Blessing for what he did as he did it purely for HaShem,Moshe and us.We too,need to increase our Mitzvos and be the one who stands up for HaShem's Honor and saves our people.The reward must be secondary.For it must always be HaShem that we serve and thank for every breath we have that should be used in HaShem's service.
Pinchas' Name in Gematria comes to 208 which adds up to Ten,the number of final completion,the number of the Ten Commandments,the number of the Ten Pronouncements with which HaShem Created the World (Pirkei Avot),The number of the Ten generations from Adam to Noach and the number of the Ten Generations from Noach to Avraham as well as the number of the Ten trials for Avraham and also the number of the Ten miracles that took place in the Holy Temple as well as the number of the Ten things that were Created at Sabbath Eve at twilight just before Shabbos so this number,granted to Pinchas, being the same number of pronouncements that G-D used to make the World,shows that for Pinchas and one person alone,this world is worth being Created being given HaShem's Continuing Mercy.Let us all ,from now on,show HaShem our love of Him,by being that one person,keeping HaShem's Torah Laws and forever honoring HaShem.
With love,I wish HaShem with Love,a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Pinchas continued to live a very long life and was even one of the spies that Joshuah sent into Yericho,to spy out the land,that Rachav hid and helped escape.
The reward for defending HaShem is very sweet especially if it comes with no personal motive for personal gain.A true action of selfless love for Hashem, was displayed by Pinchas.This action of his,made him a Kohein.
If we look closely at his name at the beginning of our Parsha,we see that within his name,there is a little 'Yud.' His name did not have to be spelt with a 'Yud,' but in this case it was,as the 'Yud' which represents HaShem ,(for HaShem's Name starts with a 'Yud' in the Name 'Yud Hei Vav Hei,') was given to Pinchas' soul ,for HaShem Blesssed Pinchas with His Holy Name.The 'Yud' as I mentioned,is also smaller than the other letters,as HaShem Himself made Pinchas great in the sight of G-D and the people around Him,for Pinchas had saved our people.
The 'Yud' that is smaller ,also divides Pinchas' name into 'Pen'(Face or lest) and 'Chas.'(Pity or spare) and here ,shows us that Pinchas caused HaShem to 'pity' us and turn HaShem's 'Face' of anger away 'lest' we be destroyed Chas Ve Shalom and thus Pinchas caused HaShem to 'spare' us.
Pinchas saved our people.
This is an action to emulate for all time,for no matter what others do wrong around us,we must stand fast by G-D and not turn away or stray from G-D.No matter how immoral we may feel the World may be,we must not come down to immorality ourselves or even do what others do wrong,to survive here.HaShem will always stand by the righteous ,so we need to be the standing lighthouse of holy light to the dark around us.One candle in the dark can light the path.The candle of Torah and its Laws will light up anything and lead us to G-D.
Our sages say,'For one man Adam,the world was Created.'For One man Noach,the World was spared.So each one of us,can be the one among others that can save the World and sweeten the World and we can be that 'one,'that keeps HaShem from total anger at the actions of those that defy Him.It only takes one to give hope.It only takes one to bring light to all around us.It only takes one.It only takes 'you.'
The far reaching effects of a Holy Action,are beyond what we can imagine.We cannot see the result of our actions but we can make sure that we do the right thing by G-D and not by ourselves for that is what leads to Holiness.Pinchas became the holy Prophet Eliyahu HaNavi who calls Mashiach and annoints him.Pinchas never knew this would be his Blessing for what he did as he did it purely for HaShem,Moshe and us.We too,need to increase our Mitzvos and be the one who stands up for HaShem's Honor and saves our people.The reward must be secondary.For it must always be HaShem that we serve and thank for every breath we have that should be used in HaShem's service.
Pinchas' Name in Gematria comes to 208 which adds up to Ten,the number of final completion,the number of the Ten Commandments,the number of the Ten Pronouncements with which HaShem Created the World (Pirkei Avot),The number of the Ten generations from Adam to Noach and the number of the Ten Generations from Noach to Avraham as well as the number of the Ten trials for Avraham and also the number of the Ten miracles that took place in the Holy Temple as well as the number of the Ten things that were Created at Sabbath Eve at twilight just before Shabbos so this number,granted to Pinchas, being the same number of pronouncements that G-D used to make the World,shows that for Pinchas and one person alone,this world is worth being Created being given HaShem's Continuing Mercy.Let us all ,from now on,show HaShem our love of Him,by being that one person,keeping HaShem's Torah Laws and forever honoring HaShem.
With love,I wish HaShem with Love,a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Friday, 3 July 2015
Parashas Balak
Our Parsha for this Shabbos is Parashas Balak,when Balak calls Bilaam to curse the Jewish people.
Israel had just defeated the Giants Og and Sichon and now,Moab got very worried that Israel was headed that way,so they appointed Balak,who was partly Moabite and partly Midianite,as his parents were from both these nations,to come and lead the Moabites.Balak knew Bilaam from before,who had previously prophesied that Balak would eventually rule Moab and when it came to cursing the Jewish people,Balak knew that Bilaam was the curser of cursers,for whomever Bilaam blessed would be blessed and whomever Bilaam cursed,would be cursed.Bilaam himself was from Midian and was the grandson of Lavan,who also delved into the powers of tum'a impurity to reach his goals as did Lavan.So Bilaam hated the Jewish people with a passion and Bilaam would do anything for money including cursing a person one day and blessing them the next,if the pay was right.Balak himself was not without his own powers of negativity and so was referred to at the beginning of this Parsha,as 'Balak ben Tzippor,' for Tzippor in Hebrew means 'Bird,' as Balak was known for using a model of a bird into which he would put the tongue of a live bird,so that he could use it for prophecy.This is similar to what Lavan did,with his teraphim,which were human skulls,into which the tongue of a person who had died,was put,so as to prophesy.
Bilaam possessed the power to know when to curse,that it would be most effective,while Balak knew the place from where to curse.Both these men complimented each other and came together to hurt the Jewish people.Balak forgot his debt to the Jewish people,for our Forefather Avraham had saved Lot,the Moabite's predecessor and Bilaam too,forgot his debt to us,for had it not been for Yaakov living with Lavan,Lavan would never have had sons from whom Bilaam came (for the presence of Yaakov,blessed the house of Lavan while Yaakov was there) and Bilaam would never have been born from them.This is the sadness of an evil person.Even the good that an evil person does,they use it for evil.
HaShem told Bilaam that Bilaam would never be able to curse the Jewish people,but Bilaam was insistent on trying and this ended up with his words Blessing us.Even when G-D told Bilaam not to go,when the emissaries of Balak came to call him and pay him tribute,Bilaam didn't straight away send them back and say no as G-D had told him.Bilaam still asked them to stay so as to perform forbidden acts with these men and hoping against hope that by morning,G-D might change His decision.G-D did not change Hs decision for Israel is Blessed by G-D with an eternal Blessing.
Even when Bilaam was warned on the way,by his donkey speaking and going off the path and Bilaam being hurt on the very mound that Lavan and Yaakov had agreed,never to go over,to hurt each other,still,Bilaam's evil pushed him to try,hoping against hope that G-D would change his mind and that he might still be able to curse the Jewish people.Even when the angel tried to stop the donkey from continuing,Bilaam, who hadn't yet seen the angel,still pressed to continue his journey,hitting his donkey,who had seen an angel,even when Bilaam hadn't been on a level to see it.Bilaam responded to his donkey talking to him,by killing his donkey.An evil man does not want to see the result of his evil actions.So G-D let him finally go,for G-D says,that if an evil person is intent on going to perform evil,then the evil person is then allowed to walk toward his own downfall.
No matter how many times,Bilaam and Balak tried from different vantage points to find impurity in Israel,so that G-D would be made angry and allow them to curse Israel,they could not find it ,for Israel was a pure nation that kept such purity that even the openings to each of the tribe's tents,would never face the opening of their neighbor's tent,so that family purity remained intact and this is why Bilaam commented on how holy are the tents of Jacob,that we still say today in our Shacharis morning service till today.
What is interesting to note,is that Bilaam who was the prophet to the nations,could have been holy if he had only chosen to be holy.But he was the opposite of our beloved Moshe Rabbeinu,for Moshe Rabbeinu spoke only words of complete holiness.
This trip of Bilaam can also be compared to ,but is the opposite in Holiness of ,the calling of Avraham to the Akeidah when he was called to go and give his son as a test.As Avraham was asked to go and Avraham went as early as he could to do G-D's bidding,early in the morning,Bilaam wanted to go as early as possible to hurt our people.As Avraham went on a donkey to do good,Bilaam went on a donkey to do bad.As Avraham went to make offerings to HaShem for good,Bilaam went to make offerings for bad.Here,it becomes apparent as it does,with every moment we live,that there are always two paths that we can travel on.We can either choose to do something for G-D ,or choose to do a negative action Chas Ve Shalom.The choice and test is ours.Everything good we do,has far reaching effects in the future that can even stand as good,in saving our children.Every action that Avraham did,in following HaShem at that test of the Akeidah and every other test that Avraham went through,stood us in the good ,so as to help contribute to saving us from Bilaam and the other Bilaams of the World.We can never imagine the wonderful effects of the little and small actions of good and mitzvot ,small and great,that we do for G-D.
Since the beginning of Creation,HaShem Created the Heavens and the Earth and so,right from the beginning,this choice to do good ,was put before us.
Bilaam and Balak tried desperately to hurt us but our choice of morals and purity kept us headed toward G-D.This is how we are to act at every moment of our lives.Each one of us is presented with choices and tests.We need to be aware and choose the path that will lead us toward G-D.For when we stray as Bilaam managed to get the people to do (that we read at the end of our Parashah),when he attracted the people's physicalities toward the negative path,they fell to those negativites.We need to always keep G-D before us in all that we do ,so that we will never leave the path to Holiness that leads toward G-D.May HaShem always give us the strength to choose correctly and may we always look toward HaShem.
With love,I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Israel had just defeated the Giants Og and Sichon and now,Moab got very worried that Israel was headed that way,so they appointed Balak,who was partly Moabite and partly Midianite,as his parents were from both these nations,to come and lead the Moabites.Balak knew Bilaam from before,who had previously prophesied that Balak would eventually rule Moab and when it came to cursing the Jewish people,Balak knew that Bilaam was the curser of cursers,for whomever Bilaam blessed would be blessed and whomever Bilaam cursed,would be cursed.Bilaam himself was from Midian and was the grandson of Lavan,who also delved into the powers of tum'a impurity to reach his goals as did Lavan.So Bilaam hated the Jewish people with a passion and Bilaam would do anything for money including cursing a person one day and blessing them the next,if the pay was right.Balak himself was not without his own powers of negativity and so was referred to at the beginning of this Parsha,as 'Balak ben Tzippor,' for Tzippor in Hebrew means 'Bird,' as Balak was known for using a model of a bird into which he would put the tongue of a live bird,so that he could use it for prophecy.This is similar to what Lavan did,with his teraphim,which were human skulls,into which the tongue of a person who had died,was put,so as to prophesy.
Bilaam possessed the power to know when to curse,that it would be most effective,while Balak knew the place from where to curse.Both these men complimented each other and came together to hurt the Jewish people.Balak forgot his debt to the Jewish people,for our Forefather Avraham had saved Lot,the Moabite's predecessor and Bilaam too,forgot his debt to us,for had it not been for Yaakov living with Lavan,Lavan would never have had sons from whom Bilaam came (for the presence of Yaakov,blessed the house of Lavan while Yaakov was there) and Bilaam would never have been born from them.This is the sadness of an evil person.Even the good that an evil person does,they use it for evil.
HaShem told Bilaam that Bilaam would never be able to curse the Jewish people,but Bilaam was insistent on trying and this ended up with his words Blessing us.Even when G-D told Bilaam not to go,when the emissaries of Balak came to call him and pay him tribute,Bilaam didn't straight away send them back and say no as G-D had told him.Bilaam still asked them to stay so as to perform forbidden acts with these men and hoping against hope that by morning,G-D might change His decision.G-D did not change Hs decision for Israel is Blessed by G-D with an eternal Blessing.
Even when Bilaam was warned on the way,by his donkey speaking and going off the path and Bilaam being hurt on the very mound that Lavan and Yaakov had agreed,never to go over,to hurt each other,still,Bilaam's evil pushed him to try,hoping against hope that G-D would change his mind and that he might still be able to curse the Jewish people.Even when the angel tried to stop the donkey from continuing,Bilaam, who hadn't yet seen the angel,still pressed to continue his journey,hitting his donkey,who had seen an angel,even when Bilaam hadn't been on a level to see it.Bilaam responded to his donkey talking to him,by killing his donkey.An evil man does not want to see the result of his evil actions.So G-D let him finally go,for G-D says,that if an evil person is intent on going to perform evil,then the evil person is then allowed to walk toward his own downfall.
No matter how many times,Bilaam and Balak tried from different vantage points to find impurity in Israel,so that G-D would be made angry and allow them to curse Israel,they could not find it ,for Israel was a pure nation that kept such purity that even the openings to each of the tribe's tents,would never face the opening of their neighbor's tent,so that family purity remained intact and this is why Bilaam commented on how holy are the tents of Jacob,that we still say today in our Shacharis morning service till today.
What is interesting to note,is that Bilaam who was the prophet to the nations,could have been holy if he had only chosen to be holy.But he was the opposite of our beloved Moshe Rabbeinu,for Moshe Rabbeinu spoke only words of complete holiness.
This trip of Bilaam can also be compared to ,but is the opposite in Holiness of ,the calling of Avraham to the Akeidah when he was called to go and give his son as a test.As Avraham was asked to go and Avraham went as early as he could to do G-D's bidding,early in the morning,Bilaam wanted to go as early as possible to hurt our people.As Avraham went on a donkey to do good,Bilaam went on a donkey to do bad.As Avraham went to make offerings to HaShem for good,Bilaam went to make offerings for bad.Here,it becomes apparent as it does,with every moment we live,that there are always two paths that we can travel on.We can either choose to do something for G-D ,or choose to do a negative action Chas Ve Shalom.The choice and test is ours.Everything good we do,has far reaching effects in the future that can even stand as good,in saving our children.Every action that Avraham did,in following HaShem at that test of the Akeidah and every other test that Avraham went through,stood us in the good ,so as to help contribute to saving us from Bilaam and the other Bilaams of the World.We can never imagine the wonderful effects of the little and small actions of good and mitzvot ,small and great,that we do for G-D.
Since the beginning of Creation,HaShem Created the Heavens and the Earth and so,right from the beginning,this choice to do good ,was put before us.
Bilaam and Balak tried desperately to hurt us but our choice of morals and purity kept us headed toward G-D.This is how we are to act at every moment of our lives.Each one of us is presented with choices and tests.We need to be aware and choose the path that will lead us toward G-D.For when we stray as Bilaam managed to get the people to do (that we read at the end of our Parashah),when he attracted the people's physicalities toward the negative path,they fell to those negativites.We need to always keep G-D before us in all that we do ,so that we will never leave the path to Holiness that leads toward G-D.May HaShem always give us the strength to choose correctly and may we always look toward HaShem.
With love,I wish HaShem with love,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all,a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
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