Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Chukas.
In this Parsha,HaShem instructs about the Parah Adumah - the Red Heifer that cleanses from high levels of Tum'a - Impurity.
It is also in this Parsha, that sadly we learn of the passing of Miriam,Moshe and Aharon's sister,who as a little girl had watched over little baby Moshe when Moshe was placed in a basket in Mitzrayim,to hide him from Par'o's evil decree.It was after Miriam passed,that the Well of Miriam ceased its water flow and it was then that the people quarreled about the lack of water and where Moshe struck the Rock instead of Speaking to it as instructed by HaShem and the decree was issued that. He would not enter the land of Canaan.
Moshe then asks Edom's permission to go through the land but Edom refuses.When Israel arrives at Mount Hor, HaShem tells Moshe that his brother Aharon is to die on that mountain and Aharon's son Elazar takes over as Kohein Gadol. At the passing of Aharon,the Clouds of Glory that surrounded and helped protect Israel, retreated.It is then, that Amalek attacks Israel pretending to be Canaanites and so the Torah refers to them as such also due to the fact that they acted like Canaanites in their deceit and also because they lived in the land of Canaan. HaShem delivered them into our hands.
Again the people started to complain and HaShem sent fiery serpents against the people. HaShem instructed Moshe to make a fiery serpent and put it on a pole so those who would look up toward it,thus in essence,looking upwards toward HaShem Above, would live. This snake on a pole was kept by Israel for centuries and sadly became an object of worship that was destroyed much later in history,by King Chizkiyahu.
The Parsha continues with HaShem's Instruction to fight Sihon king of the Amorites ,whom Israel beats and then they defeated Og King of Bashan.Og was the same Og that clung onto the outside of Noach's Ark and the same Og that lived in Avraham and Sarah's time, who had gotten Sarah to look at Avraham from afar,from a hill top just as Avraham was about to sacrifice Yitzchak, when she died of fright.He was called Og as Avraham had referred to him as Uga,which meant 'Cakes,' for it was at that time when Avraham foresaw it would be Pesach night, that Avraham was making Matzah Cakes when Og suddenly came to warn Avraham of the capture of his nephew Lot and so he became known as Og after the name Uga which meant Cakes from 'Matzah Cakes.'Thus when Avraham saved Lot,it was at the time of Passover.This Og was a child of the Nephilim that were living in Noach's time before the Mabul - Flood.He was thus a Giant and it is from his name that the word 'Ogre' comes .This is where this Parsha ends, after this battle with Og.
This Parsha is called Chukas and starts with the Decree of the Parah Adumah - The Red Heifer and it's preparations.
HaShem speaks to Moshe and Aharon and tells them ,'Zos Chukas Ha Torah,' - 'This is the Decree of the Torah,' and then proceeds to explain the Parah Adumah, which on the surface is hard to understand, for the ashes of the Parah Aduma,while purifying a person from a major Impurity, makes those involved in preparing it, impure,There are other examples in the Torah where the word 'Chok or Chukim' appear, like for the laws of Chalitzah, where a brother whose brother dies childless, is to take his brother's wife to wed and bring up a child in the deceased brother's name.Another example in Torah is the offering to Azazel in the Yom Kippur Service, where it cleanses and atones yet all those involved in preparing it are made impure. Another Decree where the word or root of the word 'Chok' appears is to do with Shaatnez, the forbidden mixing of wool and linen, yet they can appear together in the Tzitzis. There are others like sending away of the mother bird ,all beyond our surface understanding.
These Chukkim do not have a logical explanation , for their reasoning is far beyond us. Within the word 'Chok,' is the word 'Rachok' which means,' Far Away.' Thus their reasoning is far away from us.
So why would HaShem give is a Decree that is hard to explain. Isn't understanding His Law , a sure way of ensuring that we keep it. That is just it for that may possibly be the reason for the ' Chok. ' It is so much easier for us to keep a Law that we understand for it is so much easier for us to obey G-D when we know the 'Why,'
The real test, I think comes , when we really don't know why and we do HaShem's Law , just to show we love HaShem . That to me, is a very great reason to obey G-D , when we ourselves , cannot see what we will get out of it and thus simply obey G-D just because we love Him and show perfect trust and faith - Emunah in all HaShem Tells us to do . That alone, is enough reason to follow HaShem's Commandments . That to me would be the purest show of love to G-D .
In actual fact all Laws of the Torah have a deeper dimension that is beyond our comprehension . Even though there are apparent shown reasons for why, HaShem is too Deep , to fully comprehend all His Reasons.
So what can we learn from the Chukkim. The sweetest lesson I think, is to learn to obey G-D and all He Instructs us to do, without question and because we truly love Him .
He is so far beyond what we can ever imagine, that no matter how wise we get, we will never be able to grasp even a fraction of His Wisdom.
We can offer explanations to why the Chukkim may have been given, but we don't truly know. Even the wisest of the wise, Shlomo Hamelech said that he understands the other Chukkim, but this one about the Parah Adumah, is 'Far from him.' And perhaps it is meant to be , for HaShem is always Above us in every way.
Let this Parsha teach us that G-D is to be followed without question in everything He Asks of us . How comforting a thought to know, that we can relax and trust HaShem in all things . Show HaShem love always and love beyond yourself.
With love to HaShem I wish HaShem with love, a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
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Friday, 30 June 2017
Friday, 23 June 2017
Parashas Korach Rosh Chodesh
Our Parsha this Shabbos which is also Rosh Chodesh is Parashas Korach.
In this Parsha,Korach who is related to Moshe and Aharon, approach them with 250 men,who were leaders of the assembly to question Moshe's appointment of his brother Aharon as Kohein Gadol, among other things.
The first verse states clearly how Korach had separated himself from the very wishes of HaShem and who HaShem wishes to Appoint .It is interesting to note,how in Pirkei Avos, Korach and his followers are mentioned in such a way as to show, that even Korach and his followers were not even in agreement with each other.Such is the nature of Machlokes,like a spreading virus that eats away at humanity. Torah says that Korach,a Levite came with Dasan and Aviram ,who were from the Tribe of Reuvein and joined Korach in his actions of rebellion.
Another man, On son of Peles , also a Reubenite joined Korach at the beginning but when the time came to approach Moshe and Aharon, On stayed in his tent for his wife told him that whether he serves Moshe or Korach he will still be subservient.This action of his wife saved his life and thus he isn't mentioned in the conflagration that took place against the rebels.
The Parsha continues with what happened to Korach and Dasan and Aviram and their rabble. The Parsha then mentions the beautiful miracle of Aharon's Staff budding blossoms and almonds ripening to prove he is the chosen High Priest of HaShem.Duties of the Kohanim are then discussed and more Laws of the Levites, which ends the Parsha.
So who was this Korach and Dasan and Aviram.
Moshe knew them from before, in Mitzrayim - Egypt.
It was in Mitzrayim that one day Moshe went out and saw an Egyptian Taskmaster beating a Jew.This Jew was Dasan,who had come home and found the Egyptian Taskmaster had defiled his wife, who tended to flaunt herself .It was Dasan who Moshe had saved, from this Egyptian Taskmaster.On the following day as our Midrash tells, Moshe went out again to his brothers and this time found that same Dasan in an aggressive row with Aviram, his Brother-in-Law ,for Dasan wanted to divorce his wife and Aviram objected.It was them who said to Moshe at the time,'Who made you a Judge over us.' Korach on the other hand was a Levite. His wife constantly ,wanting a higher station in life for her own benefit , complained about his status and position where Moshe was concerned, wanting her husband Korach to have a higher position in the Kehuna and a higher status in life.He,Korach, foresaw with Ruach HaKodesh that his descendant would be the holy Shmuel,whom we read about in the Haftorah of Korach when it doesn't come out on Rosh Chodesh.Korach was also one of the Levites who carried the Aron as the Midrash tells.It is interesting to note that the root of the word Korach ,is 'Kareich,' which means 'Division of Separation,' and it was even the case that the hair on Korach's head separated itself on either side - for this was a man of division .His wife constantly nagged him about pushing himself forward and she became his downfall,unlike On's wife who saved her husband.
So it was these three men whom Moshe and Aharon now faced.
How sad that the lack of faith in HaShem continued , to the extent that HaShem's Choice of Who leads and who is Kohein Gadol, could not be accepted by these rebels.
As I mentioned, On's wife saved her husband by not egging him on, unlike the wife of Korach , who constantly incited him to anger and to constantly challenge Moshe and made Korach feel even more negative and dissatisfied than he already felt with his already high status.
How important is a woman.She can make or break her man.
A true Eishes Chayil is one who stands by her husband , helping him climb higher spiritually toward G-D . This is one of her tasks, as it is one of his tasks , to help her climb higher to HaShem . In becoming one as a couple they gain HaShem .Both their tasks are not to create Machlokes - friction , but to promote peace with all and build up their partner and the World around them . Our Rabbis say there is no more beautiful a Blessing than for a man to find a true Woman of Valor, who honors HaShem and helps her husband do so too . Every Erev Shabbos , the Jewish Husband praises his wife, with Shlomo Hamelech's words of Eishes Chayil , a beautiful testimony to King Solomon's writings and love for a True Jewish Woman of Valor , for it is the Jewish Wife that is the Blessing to her husband and to their home . A man who is unmarried is looked upon as not having been blessed yet.
Certainly, Korach's wife was not an Eishes Chayil, for she brought her man down.What was the result of their rebellion.HaShem performed a miracle and the Earth opened wide its mouth and swallowed Korach and all that were with him and a flame came forth from HaShem and consumed the 250 men who had come with Korach , dressed in Tzitzis with Techeiles (The Blue Thread from the dye of the Chilazon ) , as a mockery to Moshe. G-D rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.
A story is told of a Rabbi who was once walking in this very desert that is the Wilderness mentioned in the Torah and heard cries coming from deep in the ground from an opening crack.When the Rabbi peered into the crack, the voice of Korach's pleading was heard,begging for Moshe's forgiveness while mixed with the words of the pain and heat Korach has since been forced to endure till Moshiach's time.Our Rabbis say that only on Shabbos, does Korach get to have his searing punishment relaxed and after Shabbos,he returns to the Pit. This was not the result of On, whose wife saved him.
Such is the difference between a wife of valor and holiness and one of machlokes and unholiness.
May all couples be blessed to meet true partners that lift them up to HaShem in Heaven.
Wishing HaShem with Love, a Sweet and Peaceful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love and to my fellow Yidden, a sweet and peaceful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love.
In this Parsha,Korach who is related to Moshe and Aharon, approach them with 250 men,who were leaders of the assembly to question Moshe's appointment of his brother Aharon as Kohein Gadol, among other things.
The first verse states clearly how Korach had separated himself from the very wishes of HaShem and who HaShem wishes to Appoint .It is interesting to note,how in Pirkei Avos, Korach and his followers are mentioned in such a way as to show, that even Korach and his followers were not even in agreement with each other.Such is the nature of Machlokes,like a spreading virus that eats away at humanity. Torah says that Korach,a Levite came with Dasan and Aviram ,who were from the Tribe of Reuvein and joined Korach in his actions of rebellion.
Another man, On son of Peles , also a Reubenite joined Korach at the beginning but when the time came to approach Moshe and Aharon, On stayed in his tent for his wife told him that whether he serves Moshe or Korach he will still be subservient.This action of his wife saved his life and thus he isn't mentioned in the conflagration that took place against the rebels.
The Parsha continues with what happened to Korach and Dasan and Aviram and their rabble. The Parsha then mentions the beautiful miracle of Aharon's Staff budding blossoms and almonds ripening to prove he is the chosen High Priest of HaShem.Duties of the Kohanim are then discussed and more Laws of the Levites, which ends the Parsha.
So who was this Korach and Dasan and Aviram.
Moshe knew them from before, in Mitzrayim - Egypt.
It was in Mitzrayim that one day Moshe went out and saw an Egyptian Taskmaster beating a Jew.This Jew was Dasan,who had come home and found the Egyptian Taskmaster had defiled his wife, who tended to flaunt herself .It was Dasan who Moshe had saved, from this Egyptian Taskmaster.On the following day as our Midrash tells, Moshe went out again to his brothers and this time found that same Dasan in an aggressive row with Aviram, his Brother-in-Law ,for Dasan wanted to divorce his wife and Aviram objected.It was them who said to Moshe at the time,'Who made you a Judge over us.' Korach on the other hand was a Levite. His wife constantly ,wanting a higher station in life for her own benefit , complained about his status and position where Moshe was concerned, wanting her husband Korach to have a higher position in the Kehuna and a higher status in life.He,Korach, foresaw with Ruach HaKodesh that his descendant would be the holy Shmuel,whom we read about in the Haftorah of Korach when it doesn't come out on Rosh Chodesh.Korach was also one of the Levites who carried the Aron as the Midrash tells.It is interesting to note that the root of the word Korach ,is 'Kareich,' which means 'Division of Separation,' and it was even the case that the hair on Korach's head separated itself on either side - for this was a man of division .His wife constantly nagged him about pushing himself forward and she became his downfall,unlike On's wife who saved her husband.
So it was these three men whom Moshe and Aharon now faced.
How sad that the lack of faith in HaShem continued , to the extent that HaShem's Choice of Who leads and who is Kohein Gadol, could not be accepted by these rebels.
As I mentioned, On's wife saved her husband by not egging him on, unlike the wife of Korach , who constantly incited him to anger and to constantly challenge Moshe and made Korach feel even more negative and dissatisfied than he already felt with his already high status.
How important is a woman.She can make or break her man.
A true Eishes Chayil is one who stands by her husband , helping him climb higher spiritually toward G-D . This is one of her tasks, as it is one of his tasks , to help her climb higher to HaShem . In becoming one as a couple they gain HaShem .Both their tasks are not to create Machlokes - friction , but to promote peace with all and build up their partner and the World around them . Our Rabbis say there is no more beautiful a Blessing than for a man to find a true Woman of Valor, who honors HaShem and helps her husband do so too . Every Erev Shabbos , the Jewish Husband praises his wife, with Shlomo Hamelech's words of Eishes Chayil , a beautiful testimony to King Solomon's writings and love for a True Jewish Woman of Valor , for it is the Jewish Wife that is the Blessing to her husband and to their home . A man who is unmarried is looked upon as not having been blessed yet.
Certainly, Korach's wife was not an Eishes Chayil, for she brought her man down.What was the result of their rebellion.HaShem performed a miracle and the Earth opened wide its mouth and swallowed Korach and all that were with him and a flame came forth from HaShem and consumed the 250 men who had come with Korach , dressed in Tzitzis with Techeiles (The Blue Thread from the dye of the Chilazon ) , as a mockery to Moshe. G-D rewards the righteous and punishes the wicked.
A story is told of a Rabbi who was once walking in this very desert that is the Wilderness mentioned in the Torah and heard cries coming from deep in the ground from an opening crack.When the Rabbi peered into the crack, the voice of Korach's pleading was heard,begging for Moshe's forgiveness while mixed with the words of the pain and heat Korach has since been forced to endure till Moshiach's time.Our Rabbis say that only on Shabbos, does Korach get to have his searing punishment relaxed and after Shabbos,he returns to the Pit. This was not the result of On, whose wife saved him.
Such is the difference between a wife of valor and holiness and one of machlokes and unholiness.
May all couples be blessed to meet true partners that lift them up to HaShem in Heaven.
Wishing HaShem with Love, a Sweet and Peaceful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love and to my fellow Yidden, a sweet and peaceful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov with love.
Friday, 16 June 2017
Parashas Shelach
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Shelach.In this Parsha we read of the terrible incident of the Spies and how their slander of HaShem's Gift of the Land that caused the people to weep in fear on what was the night of the Ninth of Av,resulted in that generation,not entering the land and having to complete the wanderings in the Wilderness till the fortieth year and that night becoming the most tragic in Jewish History,for it was on the Ninth of Av - Tisha B' Av that our Two Temples were destroyed as well as so many other tragic happenings like the signing of the order for the Jews to leave Spain in 1492 BCE , the Chmielnitsy massacres through Ukraine and Poland in 1642-43 BCE , The order to use Zyklon B Gas for the Final Solution of the nazis and so many other terrible happenings through time on this date.
Our Parsha this week describes how the Spies were sent, their journey and their slanderous report back , which caused panic and the resultant Decree of G-D.
The Parsha talks of those that still wanted to enter the Land straight after the Decree and were killed.The Parsha then goes on to describe the Libations with offerings,the Need to do Lehafrish Challah,where a portion of dough was to be given for HaShem to the Kohanim.Torah then teaches about Unintentional sin and the grave sin of idolworship.
The Parsha then continues to tell of the sad event of the Shabbos Desecrator and then HaShem Teaches about the holy Tzitzis to be worn on the corners of the garment,to remind us of HaShem's 613 Mitzvos , where the word 'Tzitzis in Gematriah comes to 600 and to this is added the number of the 5 knots on each string and the 8 strings at the end of each corner hanging from the last knot on each corner - thus reminding us of the 613 Mitzvos , when we look at the Tzitzis.It is on this Holy note of verses which form our third paragraph of The Shema Prayer that this Parsha ends.
Throughout this Parsha we are deeply taught to have faith in all HaShem Tells us.It is in times where there is a lack of faith that we lower our level of spirituality.
What really happened with the Spies? Was there really any need to spy out a land that G-D told us was 'Milk and Honey.' Of course not, so what really happened.
It was not HaShem who Wanted the Spies.Nor was it Moshe who truly wanted them.We see this in the first two verses of this Parsha when HaShem says,' Shelach Lecha,' which means ' Send for you,' not for Me , HaShem. HaShem didn't Want this at all. It was the people who came to Moshe and continued to bother him after they had just had a confident win in the battle in Hormah.They felt so overconfident that they felt their own abilities were what won the battle,instead of admitting it was HaShem,thus thinking very physically and this caused them to continue doing things physically, by wanting to do a physical thing and not trust HaShem Spiritually, so they wanted to physically check the land for themselves.They had it already in mind that they would slander the land , before they even left and this is proven by their names for within their names were clues to this.They enjoyed a life of little responsibility, which would have been the case had they entered and they themselves feared the battles.So they approached Moshe who told them of the beauty of the land and that they should trust HaShem, but they spoke him down and insisted that he should first check with HaShem if they could go,hoping to find a way to go , using their given free choice . But HaShem was very against it. Thus said HaShem , 'Shelach Lecha ' ,' Send for you,' not for Me. How sad it is how this turned out.
It was only two of the Spies Yehoshuah ( whom Moshe had added a letter to his name to strengthen his resolve against the Spies,for his name was originally Hosheah) and Kalev , who stood against the slander of the Spies and it was only these two holy men who praised the land while the other ten slandered it.
They described their own selves as grasshoppers in their own eyes, not in the eyes of the three giants (Achiman,Shaishay and Talmay as our Midrash tells us ) who lived there but in their own eyes. They had completely lost faith in G-D and thus felt small in their own eyes.
When HaShem Heard their hurtful words calling this beautiful Gift He was Giving them, 'a land that devours its inhabitants,' that was as far as the immortality would be allowed to go,for this Land was everything but. It is a Land Flowing with Milk and Honey, a land where HaShem's Love and Watchful Eyes are always upon it, a land of sweetness, unlike any , this physical World could compare to . The actions of the Spies caused the people to fear and cry in their tents for no reason for HaShem would have been with them to allow them to miraculously take possession of the land, yet on this night - the Ninth of Av,the people lost faith in G-D and so, on this night, when there was no reason to be pained, so did this night become a night of suffering, only to end when Moshiach's time arrives.
For every year from this time ,in the Wilderness till they got to the land, at least 15 000 of the people would dig their graves and die on this night, the Ninth of Av . It was only on the fortieth year when the people neared the Land of Canaan again, that the people saw they never died. Thinking they had mistaken the date, they continued to lie in the graves they had dug waiting for themselves to die.They repeated this action for the next 6 nights until the 15 of Av, till the Full Moon appeared where they saw now that they had not mistaken the date and so they realized the Decree had been lifted.To this day we mourn on the Ninth of Av and celebrate on the 15 th of Av to rejoice at the lifting of the Decree.
How different is what happened here in this event of the Spies , to what we read of the two spies,that were sent to spy out Yericho , that brought back a favorable report of the land, saying the exact opposite of what ten of the spies said , in this Parsha.
Sadly, after the Decree was given, some still tried to enter the land , not listening to Moshe and they were killed by the Amelekites and Canaanites.
It is interesting that the word used in this Parsha for 'Spy out' is ' 'Vayaturu,' which has within it the word 'Yoter' which means ' More,' Thus the Spies should have found ' More' Beauty to the land, yet they chose purposefully not to see it , due to their own wishes,needs and failings, which brings about an interesting point. We have all heard how some people see a half-filled cup as 'Half' empty,' while others see it as 'half-full.' It all depends on our eyes and perspective. HaShem Created for us a beautiful World, as was the land of Canaan beautiful,so much 'Yoter' - 'More ' beautiful than could even be described,yet the Spies only chose to see negativity . Such is the basis of Loshon Horah .How we choose to see people and things is how we end up reacting. Truly , only G-D Knows all and if we learn to have complete faith in HaShem, all will look sweet. So often it is our perspectives we need to change . We don't need to ever spy out tomorrow or any Gift that HaShem Gives us. All we need to do is trust HaShem and He Will Take Care of all things .
Never must we forget that all we have and are given, is from Him . Had the Spies remembered that , they would have not just trusted themselves, but the Beautiful Creator Who had Taken them out of bondage, Split the Yam Suf - The Reed Sea , Spoken to them directly on Har Sinai and constantly watched over them in the Wilderness with His Clouds of Glory.
Tomorrow is already Made. Trust HaShem for HaShem to Take Care of Tomorrow and put yourself always in HaShem's Loving Care.Follow His Mitzvot and wear Them as a mantle as we wear the Tzitzis and know for sure that HaShem Created all , from the Beginning of Creation,until it will have reached where it needs to go.
With Love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love. A Very Sweet and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all, a very sweet and beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Our Parsha this week describes how the Spies were sent, their journey and their slanderous report back , which caused panic and the resultant Decree of G-D.
The Parsha talks of those that still wanted to enter the Land straight after the Decree and were killed.The Parsha then goes on to describe the Libations with offerings,the Need to do Lehafrish Challah,where a portion of dough was to be given for HaShem to the Kohanim.Torah then teaches about Unintentional sin and the grave sin of idolworship.
The Parsha then continues to tell of the sad event of the Shabbos Desecrator and then HaShem Teaches about the holy Tzitzis to be worn on the corners of the garment,to remind us of HaShem's 613 Mitzvos , where the word 'Tzitzis in Gematriah comes to 600 and to this is added the number of the 5 knots on each string and the 8 strings at the end of each corner hanging from the last knot on each corner - thus reminding us of the 613 Mitzvos , when we look at the Tzitzis.It is on this Holy note of verses which form our third paragraph of The Shema Prayer that this Parsha ends.
Throughout this Parsha we are deeply taught to have faith in all HaShem Tells us.It is in times where there is a lack of faith that we lower our level of spirituality.
What really happened with the Spies? Was there really any need to spy out a land that G-D told us was 'Milk and Honey.' Of course not, so what really happened.
It was not HaShem who Wanted the Spies.Nor was it Moshe who truly wanted them.We see this in the first two verses of this Parsha when HaShem says,' Shelach Lecha,' which means ' Send for you,' not for Me , HaShem. HaShem didn't Want this at all. It was the people who came to Moshe and continued to bother him after they had just had a confident win in the battle in Hormah.They felt so overconfident that they felt their own abilities were what won the battle,instead of admitting it was HaShem,thus thinking very physically and this caused them to continue doing things physically, by wanting to do a physical thing and not trust HaShem Spiritually, so they wanted to physically check the land for themselves.They had it already in mind that they would slander the land , before they even left and this is proven by their names for within their names were clues to this.They enjoyed a life of little responsibility, which would have been the case had they entered and they themselves feared the battles.So they approached Moshe who told them of the beauty of the land and that they should trust HaShem, but they spoke him down and insisted that he should first check with HaShem if they could go,hoping to find a way to go , using their given free choice . But HaShem was very against it. Thus said HaShem , 'Shelach Lecha ' ,' Send for you,' not for Me. How sad it is how this turned out.
It was only two of the Spies Yehoshuah ( whom Moshe had added a letter to his name to strengthen his resolve against the Spies,for his name was originally Hosheah) and Kalev , who stood against the slander of the Spies and it was only these two holy men who praised the land while the other ten slandered it.
They described their own selves as grasshoppers in their own eyes, not in the eyes of the three giants (Achiman,Shaishay and Talmay as our Midrash tells us ) who lived there but in their own eyes. They had completely lost faith in G-D and thus felt small in their own eyes.
When HaShem Heard their hurtful words calling this beautiful Gift He was Giving them, 'a land that devours its inhabitants,' that was as far as the immortality would be allowed to go,for this Land was everything but. It is a Land Flowing with Milk and Honey, a land where HaShem's Love and Watchful Eyes are always upon it, a land of sweetness, unlike any , this physical World could compare to . The actions of the Spies caused the people to fear and cry in their tents for no reason for HaShem would have been with them to allow them to miraculously take possession of the land, yet on this night - the Ninth of Av,the people lost faith in G-D and so, on this night, when there was no reason to be pained, so did this night become a night of suffering, only to end when Moshiach's time arrives.
For every year from this time ,in the Wilderness till they got to the land, at least 15 000 of the people would dig their graves and die on this night, the Ninth of Av . It was only on the fortieth year when the people neared the Land of Canaan again, that the people saw they never died. Thinking they had mistaken the date, they continued to lie in the graves they had dug waiting for themselves to die.They repeated this action for the next 6 nights until the 15 of Av, till the Full Moon appeared where they saw now that they had not mistaken the date and so they realized the Decree had been lifted.To this day we mourn on the Ninth of Av and celebrate on the 15 th of Av to rejoice at the lifting of the Decree.
How different is what happened here in this event of the Spies , to what we read of the two spies,that were sent to spy out Yericho , that brought back a favorable report of the land, saying the exact opposite of what ten of the spies said , in this Parsha.
Sadly, after the Decree was given, some still tried to enter the land , not listening to Moshe and they were killed by the Amelekites and Canaanites.
It is interesting that the word used in this Parsha for 'Spy out' is ' 'Vayaturu,' which has within it the word 'Yoter' which means ' More,' Thus the Spies should have found ' More' Beauty to the land, yet they chose purposefully not to see it , due to their own wishes,needs and failings, which brings about an interesting point. We have all heard how some people see a half-filled cup as 'Half' empty,' while others see it as 'half-full.' It all depends on our eyes and perspective. HaShem Created for us a beautiful World, as was the land of Canaan beautiful,so much 'Yoter' - 'More ' beautiful than could even be described,yet the Spies only chose to see negativity . Such is the basis of Loshon Horah .How we choose to see people and things is how we end up reacting. Truly , only G-D Knows all and if we learn to have complete faith in HaShem, all will look sweet. So often it is our perspectives we need to change . We don't need to ever spy out tomorrow or any Gift that HaShem Gives us. All we need to do is trust HaShem and He Will Take Care of all things .
Never must we forget that all we have and are given, is from Him . Had the Spies remembered that , they would have not just trusted themselves, but the Beautiful Creator Who had Taken them out of bondage, Split the Yam Suf - The Reed Sea , Spoken to them directly on Har Sinai and constantly watched over them in the Wilderness with His Clouds of Glory.
Tomorrow is already Made. Trust HaShem for HaShem to Take Care of Tomorrow and put yourself always in HaShem's Loving Care.Follow His Mitzvot and wear Them as a mantle as we wear the Tzitzis and know for sure that HaShem Created all , from the Beginning of Creation,until it will have reached where it needs to go.
With Love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love. A Very Sweet and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all, a very sweet and beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Friday, 9 June 2017
Parashas Beha'aloscha
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Beha'aloscha.HaShem Tells Moshe to speak to Aharon and tell him that when he 'Beha'aloscha' - 'Kindles ' the lamps,that it is toward the face of the Menorah that the seven lamps shall cast light.
It is on the last day of Chanukah that we read this passage just after the dedication of all the Tribes, so our Torah in depth speaks of the Chanukah event long before it ever happened.
HaShem gives the action of kindling to Aharon who must always keep his prayers upward and Heaven-Ward toward HaShem.
The Hebrew text of these verses state that the seven lamps ,which included the six on the left and the six on the right of the central stem were to always face and cast light toward the face of the Menora.How can a Menorah have a face?Our Rabbis tell us that the face of the Menorah was its centre.But why would the centre be the face? HaShem puts the soul from Him within all things and thus to find HaShem , we don't need to climb a high mountain or go deep into the sea or go to far off lands. No , To find HaShem all we need to do is look within ourselves to the soul He Gave us - to look within all things that He Made .
The very fact that Aharon had to 'Beha'aloscha' - 'Kindle ' the lamps toward the face -toward the centre shows that all things must be toward HaShem - Every action we do,every thought we have, all are to be for the purpose of Heaven .The lamps that are to face the face of the Menorah can also be a representation of how all of us are to collectively face toward HaShem and His Mitzvos. What will the result of this be? The answer to that is in the word 'Beha'aloscha' for within this word is the word 'Aleh' which means 'To Climb/ To Rise / To lift ourselves above' the physical toward HaShem . This is the destination of Creation of the Physical .
The Parsha continues to talk of the Consecration of the Levites,their apprenticeship and then the Law of the Pesach Offering and the allowance for those Jews who were far away to make up for the Pesach offering that they were not able to offer on its appointed time,by offering it a month later on the 14th of Iyar . Our Rabbis discuss what the depth of meaning is on 'being far away,' including being spiritually far away.
HaShem then refers to the Clouds of Glory that traveled around us in all four directions and also above and below us and also how the Cloud on the Tabernacle would lift to signal that Israel was to journey ,so we would travel only at the Command of HaShem. So should we do today in full faith of HaShem. Then the trumpets are discussed,signalling the summoning and order to journey of our people.Moshe invites Yisro to join and he declines.
The Holy Ark traveled three days ahead of us to clear the way and the special verses here appear as a separate book within upside down Hebrew letter Nun's as a separation from the holiness before these verses to the aveirahs committed afterwards.
It is then, that the people complained and HaShem Blessed us with Manna,which the people did not know what it was and thus in Hebrew ,said when they saw it 'Man Hu ,' 'What is this.' The Manna was Heavenly food that we were given till we reached Canaan before the 40th year in the Wilderness.This Manna could have the taste of anything Kosher one thought of according to one's own personal holiness, provided every day except Shabbos where a double portion was sweetly given the day before by HaShem on a blanket of dew. The people requested Basar and the Quail was sent , and HaShem was upset.
Moshe requested of HaShem for assistance to help him bear and HaShem allowed from his (Moshe's) prophetic power that was not diminished ,as flames from a candle wick don't diminish the original flame when taken to form other flames , for others to help and so the 70 men number of the Sanhedrin's beginnings was borne.
Our Parsha ends with Miriam talking and slandering to Aharon about Moshe staying away from Tzipporah and so, Miriam is given leprosy and the camp doesn't move till she returns healed .
All the Laws of G-D are given so that we will turn ourselves toward HaShem always . Every action we do, must be to 'Beha'aloscha ' - 'Kindle ' our Neshomas toward G-D . The way to G-D is to lift ourselves above the mundane and so, look forever upward toward G-D making each step we do, a step toward G-D.
Our entire lives must be a 'Beha'aloscha ' - a ' Kindling' of ourselves upward toward G-D and His Holy Torah Light .
This World has so much apparent darkness and each of us , like the Menorah ' must bring the Light of HaShem wherever we go . May we all be a light for HaShem from HaShem , lighting up HaShem's Creation with His Light .
With love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with love , a Beautiful Special Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all , a beautiful special Shabbos Kodesh with love.
It is on the last day of Chanukah that we read this passage just after the dedication of all the Tribes, so our Torah in depth speaks of the Chanukah event long before it ever happened.
HaShem gives the action of kindling to Aharon who must always keep his prayers upward and Heaven-Ward toward HaShem.
The Hebrew text of these verses state that the seven lamps ,which included the six on the left and the six on the right of the central stem were to always face and cast light toward the face of the Menora.How can a Menorah have a face?Our Rabbis tell us that the face of the Menorah was its centre.But why would the centre be the face? HaShem puts the soul from Him within all things and thus to find HaShem , we don't need to climb a high mountain or go deep into the sea or go to far off lands. No , To find HaShem all we need to do is look within ourselves to the soul He Gave us - to look within all things that He Made .
The very fact that Aharon had to 'Beha'aloscha' - 'Kindle ' the lamps toward the face -toward the centre shows that all things must be toward HaShem - Every action we do,every thought we have, all are to be for the purpose of Heaven .The lamps that are to face the face of the Menorah can also be a representation of how all of us are to collectively face toward HaShem and His Mitzvos. What will the result of this be? The answer to that is in the word 'Beha'aloscha' for within this word is the word 'Aleh' which means 'To Climb/ To Rise / To lift ourselves above' the physical toward HaShem . This is the destination of Creation of the Physical .
The Parsha continues to talk of the Consecration of the Levites,their apprenticeship and then the Law of the Pesach Offering and the allowance for those Jews who were far away to make up for the Pesach offering that they were not able to offer on its appointed time,by offering it a month later on the 14th of Iyar . Our Rabbis discuss what the depth of meaning is on 'being far away,' including being spiritually far away.
HaShem then refers to the Clouds of Glory that traveled around us in all four directions and also above and below us and also how the Cloud on the Tabernacle would lift to signal that Israel was to journey ,so we would travel only at the Command of HaShem. So should we do today in full faith of HaShem. Then the trumpets are discussed,signalling the summoning and order to journey of our people.Moshe invites Yisro to join and he declines.
The Holy Ark traveled three days ahead of us to clear the way and the special verses here appear as a separate book within upside down Hebrew letter Nun's as a separation from the holiness before these verses to the aveirahs committed afterwards.
It is then, that the people complained and HaShem Blessed us with Manna,which the people did not know what it was and thus in Hebrew ,said when they saw it 'Man Hu ,' 'What is this.' The Manna was Heavenly food that we were given till we reached Canaan before the 40th year in the Wilderness.This Manna could have the taste of anything Kosher one thought of according to one's own personal holiness, provided every day except Shabbos where a double portion was sweetly given the day before by HaShem on a blanket of dew. The people requested Basar and the Quail was sent , and HaShem was upset.
Moshe requested of HaShem for assistance to help him bear and HaShem allowed from his (Moshe's) prophetic power that was not diminished ,as flames from a candle wick don't diminish the original flame when taken to form other flames , for others to help and so the 70 men number of the Sanhedrin's beginnings was borne.
Our Parsha ends with Miriam talking and slandering to Aharon about Moshe staying away from Tzipporah and so, Miriam is given leprosy and the camp doesn't move till she returns healed .
All the Laws of G-D are given so that we will turn ourselves toward HaShem always . Every action we do, must be to 'Beha'aloscha ' - 'Kindle ' our Neshomas toward G-D . The way to G-D is to lift ourselves above the mundane and so, look forever upward toward G-D making each step we do, a step toward G-D.
Our entire lives must be a 'Beha'aloscha ' - a ' Kindling' of ourselves upward toward G-D and His Holy Torah Light .
This World has so much apparent darkness and each of us , like the Menorah ' must bring the Light of HaShem wherever we go . May we all be a light for HaShem from HaShem , lighting up HaShem's Creation with His Light .
With love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with love , a Beautiful Special Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all , a beautiful special Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Friday, 2 June 2017
Parashas Nasso
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Nasso which continues with the tasks of the other two Levite Tribes of Gershon and Merari,where in the last Parsha ,the tasks of the Levite Tribe of Kohath was discussed.
HaShem Spoke to Moshe and asked for a 'Nasso,' - 'Census' to be taken of the sons of Gershon.We saw the same word 'Nasso,' in the previous Chapter Daled of this Sefer Bamidbar,when HaShem Spoke to Moshe and Aharon to take a Census of the children of Kohath.
HaShem lists the responsibilities of Gershon and Merari, each task and part of Levi being of equal importance showing that each Jew is needed equally to complete the World.
HaShem then Commands on Purifying the Camp and about restitution for theft.
The Torah Parsha continues with the Laws of the Sotah - The Wayward Wife who is unfaithful to her beloved and the ceremony that takes place to test for unfaithfulness.It is in this section that HaShem shows how important to Him , faithfulness is between a husband and wife,for HaShem even allows His Name to be erased from a scroll in sacred water which she drinks , to test her and as the Talmud shows, the couple, for HaShem takes unfaithfulness between couples, as if it were unfaithfulness to HaShem Himself Chas Ve Shalom .
HaShem then Gives the Laws of the Nazarite and the Parsha continues and completes with the offerings of each of the Tribes for the Tabernacle and Altar, each miraculously bringing the same amounts of offerings and articles.Each amount mentioned including its total together with the other Tribes has a very deep significance , even to each Tribe of Israel .As an example,all the silver of the vessels being two thousand four hundred was a reference to the years that had passed from Creation to the Fortieth year of Moshe's Life.The One Hundred and Twenty shekels of gold pans represented the One Hundred and Twenty Years of Moshe's Life. The Twelves that were mentioned a few times, refer to the twelve constellations and twelve months and the twelve guides of men as their organs within them . All this , the Midrash explains so beautifully .
And so, this Parsha ends with Moshe coming to the Tent of Meeting to speak with HaShem , Whose Voice Spoke from Atop the Cover on the Ark of Testimony between the Cherubim . And So HaShem Spoke to Moshe.
This Parsha has the theme of purity running through it, from the purity of the Sons of Levi and their tasks and the Purity of The Tabernacle, to the purity of the Husband and Wife and of the Nazarite and when all offerings are brought and the Nation of Israel stands as one, then HaShem Speaks to Moshe from Atop the Cover after the Dedication .
What has this idea of purity got to do with the name of this Parsha, which is 'Nasso,' - 'Census.'
The word Nasso, doesn't just refer to 'Census,' but the word 'Nasso' also means , ' To Raise Up.' Thus when HaShem Calls on the different Levites to their task , HaShem is actually 'Raising them in Holiness .' This is the case with standing up to be counted doing any Mitzvah.
When we come to do a Mitzvah of HaShem, we are actually being 'Raised Up' by HaShem . That is the main purpose of the Mitzvoth. To raise us up levels and to return us to Gan Eiden to be close to our Creator HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu The Holy One Blessed Be He .
Every time we stand together with our fellow Jew and even our fellow man and woman and follow that which G-D Gives us to follow, we are really 'Nasso' - ' Raising' ourselves up to G-D .
Within the Word 'Nasso' is another Word also spelled sounding the same except with a Samech and this word is the Hebrew Word 'Neis,' which refers to a 'Miracle .' Thus whenever we perform a 'Nasso' a 'Raising Up' due to a Mitzvah, we are letting ourselves be part of a 'Neis' - a 'Miracle,' which is a 'Raising of our own Physicalities ' up to G-D . That is exactly what a miracle is, a Raising of the Physicality to Spiritual Dimensions of Wonder. Thus, whenever we do a Mitzvah and Commandment of G-D , we are making ourselves by our own Free Will, to be part of a 'Neis' a ' Miracle ,' and the result is a 'Nasso,' - 'A Raising up,' to be 'Counted ,' as a part of HaShem's Love .
Keep this in mind and follow HaShem's Mitzvoth always and ' 'Nasso,' - ' Raise yourself Up ' to HaShem and be a part of HaShem's 'Neis' - ' Miracle ,' by your own choice of love and faithfulness and purity to HaShem .
With Love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love , a Beautiful Sweet and Special Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a beautiful , sweet and special Shabbos Kodesh with love.
HaShem Spoke to Moshe and asked for a 'Nasso,' - 'Census' to be taken of the sons of Gershon.We saw the same word 'Nasso,' in the previous Chapter Daled of this Sefer Bamidbar,when HaShem Spoke to Moshe and Aharon to take a Census of the children of Kohath.
HaShem lists the responsibilities of Gershon and Merari, each task and part of Levi being of equal importance showing that each Jew is needed equally to complete the World.
HaShem then Commands on Purifying the Camp and about restitution for theft.
The Torah Parsha continues with the Laws of the Sotah - The Wayward Wife who is unfaithful to her beloved and the ceremony that takes place to test for unfaithfulness.It is in this section that HaShem shows how important to Him , faithfulness is between a husband and wife,for HaShem even allows His Name to be erased from a scroll in sacred water which she drinks , to test her and as the Talmud shows, the couple, for HaShem takes unfaithfulness between couples, as if it were unfaithfulness to HaShem Himself Chas Ve Shalom .
HaShem then Gives the Laws of the Nazarite and the Parsha continues and completes with the offerings of each of the Tribes for the Tabernacle and Altar, each miraculously bringing the same amounts of offerings and articles.Each amount mentioned including its total together with the other Tribes has a very deep significance , even to each Tribe of Israel .As an example,all the silver of the vessels being two thousand four hundred was a reference to the years that had passed from Creation to the Fortieth year of Moshe's Life.The One Hundred and Twenty shekels of gold pans represented the One Hundred and Twenty Years of Moshe's Life. The Twelves that were mentioned a few times, refer to the twelve constellations and twelve months and the twelve guides of men as their organs within them . All this , the Midrash explains so beautifully .
And so, this Parsha ends with Moshe coming to the Tent of Meeting to speak with HaShem , Whose Voice Spoke from Atop the Cover on the Ark of Testimony between the Cherubim . And So HaShem Spoke to Moshe.
This Parsha has the theme of purity running through it, from the purity of the Sons of Levi and their tasks and the Purity of The Tabernacle, to the purity of the Husband and Wife and of the Nazarite and when all offerings are brought and the Nation of Israel stands as one, then HaShem Speaks to Moshe from Atop the Cover after the Dedication .
What has this idea of purity got to do with the name of this Parsha, which is 'Nasso,' - 'Census.'
The word Nasso, doesn't just refer to 'Census,' but the word 'Nasso' also means , ' To Raise Up.' Thus when HaShem Calls on the different Levites to their task , HaShem is actually 'Raising them in Holiness .' This is the case with standing up to be counted doing any Mitzvah.
When we come to do a Mitzvah of HaShem, we are actually being 'Raised Up' by HaShem . That is the main purpose of the Mitzvoth. To raise us up levels and to return us to Gan Eiden to be close to our Creator HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu The Holy One Blessed Be He .
Every time we stand together with our fellow Jew and even our fellow man and woman and follow that which G-D Gives us to follow, we are really 'Nasso' - ' Raising' ourselves up to G-D .
Within the Word 'Nasso' is another Word also spelled sounding the same except with a Samech and this word is the Hebrew Word 'Neis,' which refers to a 'Miracle .' Thus whenever we perform a 'Nasso' a 'Raising Up' due to a Mitzvah, we are letting ourselves be part of a 'Neis' - a 'Miracle,' which is a 'Raising of our own Physicalities ' up to G-D . That is exactly what a miracle is, a Raising of the Physicality to Spiritual Dimensions of Wonder. Thus, whenever we do a Mitzvah and Commandment of G-D , we are making ourselves by our own Free Will, to be part of a 'Neis' a ' Miracle ,' and the result is a 'Nasso,' - 'A Raising up,' to be 'Counted ,' as a part of HaShem's Love .
Keep this in mind and follow HaShem's Mitzvoth always and ' 'Nasso,' - ' Raise yourself Up ' to HaShem and be a part of HaShem's 'Neis' - ' Miracle ,' by your own choice of love and faithfulness and purity to HaShem .
With Love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love , a Beautiful Sweet and Special Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a beautiful , sweet and special Shabbos Kodesh with love.
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