Parashas Shoftim

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Shoftim.
In this Parsha HaShem Commands us to set up Judges and Officers in our cities,men of righteousness,who judge fairly,not favoring one over another,who don't' accept bribes or favors.
The Sedra continues on with HaShem Telling us not to plant an idolatrous tree or any tree near the Altar of HaShem , as the other nations did in their idolworship and we are not to erect flooring stones or pillars to pray on, as other nations did while following their Avodah Zorahs.This HaShem Hates.
HaShem then Commands that our Korbanot must be without blemish and then HaShem Warns against idolworshipping Avodah Zorah and to put to death anyone who commits such foul actions.
HaShem Instructs on the actions and behaviour of a Jewish King, unlike how Kings of other nations act, for a Jewish King is to be one of our own Jewish brothers , who shall not have too many horses or return to Egypt to get them or look to fighting wars not commanded, with these horses ,for HaShem Said about Egypt,' We shall not return on that road again.' HaShem Tells us that a King of Israel,must not have too many wives, lest his heart turn away from HaShem and His Laws and a Jewish King should not increase Gold or Silver for himself.He should write for himself two Torahs and he should always carry a Torah with him and he should read from it always so he will learn to fear HaShem and observe HaShem's Commandments and Decrees and he should not put himself above his brethren but be one with them.
HaShem then Talks of the Priestly Gifts and what is to be given to the Levites.
The Parsha then reminds us to be wary of a false prophet who deceives and pretends to speak in the Name of HaShem, that which HaShem did not speak,or one who follows idol ways , shall be an abomination and shall be put to death.HaShem tells us that if such a false prophet speaks of an occurrence that does not come to pass when the false prophet says it will, we will know he is false.
The Parsha then teaches of the 'Arei Miklat,' The 'Cities of Refuge,' to which an unintentional murderer is to flee and Torah teaches how all roads leading to the City of Refuge are to be well sign-posted and made easy to travel on, so that it will be easier for the person to flee there ,away from the Revenger of the Blood, the closest relative to the one slain.HaShem Defines the difference between intentional and unintentional murder and Reminds us not to let an intentional murderer live, under any circumstances.
The Laws of Witnesses are then mentioned,that they must be honest and not conspire against another.
The Parsha then teaches about when Israel goes to war and how the Kohanim must bless the people and how the people are to have faith in HaShem and the criteria of those who should not go out to battle and should return home.We are told to first offer peace before engaging in battle and not to cut down the fruit trees.
The Sedra ends with the Laws of the 'Egla Arufah,' for when a corpse is found on the land without knowing who killed them and the process to be followed by the closest city to the corpse and how the elders of that city are to clear the guilt from their city, from which the victim should have been safe in their vicinity.This is where the Sedra finishes.
This Parsha is called 'Shoftim,' - 'Judges,' where HaShem Commands us to set up honest 'Shoftim' - 'Judges,' for Judgements and 'Shotrim' - 'Officers,' to ensure the Judgements are carried out and to oversee that the society remains a just one . One of the Nachide Laws is to set up Courts of Law, to ensure a just and moral society and to ensure a clean and lawful World . A World where there is no Law, is a World headed for destruction - a World where all fall to the Yetzer Horah and people's own wants and bad and evil needs. Such is a World, that seeks to travel away from HaShem , Chas Ve Shalom.
In this Parsha, HaShem Commands us to set up 'Shoftim Ve Shotrim,' Judges and Offices who are to act with 'Mishpat Tzeddek,' - 'Righteous Judgement,' and thus be acting on HaShem's behalf as agents of HaShem to lead the World back to G-D in Purity . 
The Commandment to set up 'Shoftim Ve Shotrim,' is not only for outside ourselves,but for within ourselves too, for our World starts from within . Therefore HaShem is Telling us also that we are to set up within ourselves, 'Shoftim Ve Shotrim,' and be a fair Judge to ourselves ,making sure that we too, keep HaShem's Laws as He Requests and to be 'Shotrim' - 'Officers' to ourselves to make sure, as an Officer does, that we are strict on ourselves, before we start to judge others, for our Sedra says very clearly that 'Tzeddek Tzeddek Tirdof,' - Righteousness Righteousness shall we pursue,' meaning that we are first to make ourselves Righteous,before we start pointing fingers at others.How often, we see mistakes in others because we ourselves possess those very same errors.First we are to correct ourselves from within and then look outwards, for otherwise we are not judging fairly, as it will not be just other's errors we are seeing, but our own and we can't help our fellow, if we are looking through our own tainted eyes.
The word 'Tirdof,' has within it , the words 'Radah,' which means 'Rule Over,' and 'Radaf' which means ' To Chase,' showing how we are to go all out to Rule over ourselves to ensure we are Righteous and to literally 'Chase after,' with all our Might, Righteousness and Righteous ways.
HaShem Instructs us to Appoint 'Shoftim Ve Shotrim' 'Be Chol Sh'Arecha,' - 'In all our Gates,' which includes ourselves . 
If we do this, then HaShem Will Bless us and the World around us and the Verse that starts out this Sedra, takes on a deeper meaning, for 'Shoftim Ve Shotrim Titen Lecha Be Chol Sh' Arecha,',shows deeper, that HaShem Will Appoint Positive ' Shoftim ' - ' 'Angels' who will speak up for us and the good actions we do and call for mercy upon us, and 'Shotrim,' - 'Spiritual Protection' for us against the Yetzer Horah and our enemies , for these Malachim that HaShem Will 'Titein Lecha' - 'Give to us,' will help us to overcome our Yetzer Horah and our enemies ,so that we can come closer to HaShem in Righteousness.
So, before we 'Judge and Officer' others, first let us Judge ourselves and let us be an Officer to ourselves and remember to be as merciful with others as we ourselves would like HaShem to be Merciful with us.
With Love to HaShem, I wish HaShem wiith Love, a Beautiful Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all, a beautiful sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.

Parashas Re'eh

This Shabbos we read Parashas Re'eh where we are told HaShem Presents us with a Blessing and a Curse.We will be Blessed if we keep HaShem's Commandments and cursed if we don't.
HaShem Instructs that when we enter the Land of Canaan, that we are to stand and call out the Blessings on Mount Gerizim and the Curses on Mount Eival so as soon as we come into the land, we get a very strict reminder to always obey G-D .
HaShem then reminds us to keep the Land Sanctified and to utterly destroy all the places and altars and pillars and trees where other nations performed their Avodah Zarah. 
Then HaShem Tells us not to use private altars but only to offer offerings at the place HaShem Chooses.
We are told not to copy any of the ways of the Canaanites or other nations , but to remain a pure and holy people unto our G-D .
HaShem then Teaches us not to listen to the words of a false prophet who performs signs and wonders, but tells us to follow other ways other than what G-D Tells us in His Torah, or tries to get us to follow deities or ways that are foreign to us or pagan, and so HaShem Warns us that we are not to hearken to the words of this prophet.Just before this part, HaShem Tells us to listen to His Word that He Commands us not to add to or subtract from His Word , or add new testaments , for only Torah and Tanach and HaShem's Words to Moshe and to our Prophets who keep HaShem's Laws, are from G-D .HaShem even reminds us , that such a false person is a test to see how much we love G-D and will be faithful to G-D Only and thus , we are told to ignore the words of such a 'dreamer of a dream.' Torah goes on to what to do to one who tries to entice a Jew away from His Laws and then continues to speak of a wayward city where a whole town exists that has been enticed away from HaShem, to follow Avodah Zarah, and how we must utterly , after investigation and finding it is a 'wayward city' ,how the city must be destroyed and not even its tainted articles be used, but must be burnt.
HaShem Continues to Explain how we Jews are a Treasured People and not to make a bald spot or cut ourselves for the dead, as other nations did.Thus , we are not to go along with even the fashions and fads of the other nations, but remain holy and unique.
HaShem then talks of forbidden foods and tithes, the remission of loans and being kind to our brethren and bondsmen and then the Parsha talks of the Pilgrim Festivals of Pesach, Shavuos and Succos and how three times a year,are our males to appear before HaShem our G-D ,in the ' Place He will Choose ' on the Festival of Matzos, on the Festival of Shavuos and on the Festival of Succos ,' not appearing empty-handed but to give according to the Blessing that HaShem Blessed us with.
Our Parsha is called Parashas Re'eh , where HaShem says ,' Re'eh Anochi Notein Lif'neichem Hayom Bracha U'K'lala,' - ' See , I present before you today a Blessing and a Curse .' 
HaShem Says to us that we have a choice, to choose whether we want to do the right thing or not and whatever we choose, will bring about its own consequences .It is interesting that HaShem uses the word ' Re'eh,' which means 'See.' Thus HaShem wants us to see what is before us.HaShem tells us that before our choice is a Blessing or a Curse and so , HaShem Let's us see what the result will be before we act either way.HaShem Warns us that we can bring upon ourselves hardship if we don't listen and HaShem Tells us that we can also bring upon ourselves Blessings if we do listen. The choice is ours to make.HaShem puts both paths 'Lif'neichem' - 'Before us' and let's us choose.
How are we to choose? By 'Re'eh,' seeing,looking ahead at where each path will lead. But how are we supposed to choose correctly when we get so tempted by the Yetzer Horah? The answer to that is in the first word and name of this Parsha - ' Re'eh ', which teaches us how to look and see .' For within the word 'Re'eh,' is the word 'Yir'eh,' which means to 'Fear.' Thus in 'Re'eh' - 'looking and seeing ,' we must always keep 'Yir'eh,' - the 'Fear of HaShem,' Lif'neichem before us and then the Yetzer Horah , will have no power over us. If we Fear HaShem with love, then the path 'Lifneichem before us will always lead us to a Bracha, a Blessing . HaShem also Uses the word 'Re'eh,' - 'See,' for it is with the eyes that first see all things around us, that gets us to want and desire that which is not correct. Thus if we keep 'Yir'eh ' - 'Fear ' of HaShem ,withing our 'Re'eh ,' - 'Seeing ' and let it lead us to keep HaShem's Will and Torah Laws , we will always keep to the right path and be Blessed. It is for our own sakes that we choose wisely for HaShem Wants to Bless us and does not delight in the punishment of those that deserve punishment.Within the word 'K'lal,' - 'Cursed,' is the word 'Kalal,' which means ' Burnished Metal,' which is metal that has burnished , which means 'Polished,' and polished means it has been cleaned .Thus even in the 'Kilel,' - 'Curse,' and punishment, there is a cleaning,a cleansing and fixing of the Aveirah.
HaShem is most merciful , and wishes us only to do His Will .
If we do His Will, then we choose to be nearer to Him , the result of that will be the most beautiful 'Bracha,' of all - 'Blessing of all, to 'Re'eh,' - to 'See' and be close to His Beautiful Shechinah at the End of Days.
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love, a Beautiful Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all , a beautiful sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.

Parashas Eikev

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Eikev.
In this Parsha Moshe continues to speak to the people and remind them of how they must follow HaShem wholeheartedly and the reward they will get for following HaShem's Laws.
Moshe tells the people how HaShem will Bless the land of Eretz Yisroel if we follow HaShem';s Laws in the Land of Israel.Moshe reminds us in this Parsha how HaShem helped us out of Mitzrayim and other strong nations.Moshe speaks of how HaShem watched over us and protected us and fed us in the Wilderness and how HaShem fed us the Mannah and reminded us how we don't live on bread alone,but by all that comes from HaShem's Mouth.
Moshe warns us not to become complacent and follow the deities of other nations Chas Ve Shalom,when in the Land of Israel or anywhere and to always remember that it is HaShem Who Gives us all things.
Moshe speaks of how we tested HaShem at Har Sinai and how HaShem forgave us.We are reminded to serve HaShem Only and follow His Mitzvos and love Him and safeguard His Charge,His Decrees , His Ordinances and His Commandments all the days forever,never to change them or abrogate them Chas Ve Shalom.HaShem's Laws are forever.
HaShem Only Created All Things and HaShem Only is to be served .Moshe reminds us of how the rebels were punished and how the Earth opened up its mouth and swallowed them.
Moshe then mentions the beauties of the Land of Israel and how it is a Blessed Land with HaShem's Eyes always on it. 
Then follows the verses that make up the Second paragraph of the Shema and how HaShem Blesses the land if we listen to Him.HaShem Warns against idolworship and its result and punishment for as Gemorrah Avodah Says, for those who serve idols or anything else but G-D , those things , whether mortar or stone or even humans,will stand up at the End of Days and testify against those idolworshipers . But those who follow HaShem Wholeheartedly , will help make a Malach who will stand up and testify to the faithful person's merit.HaShem reminds us as Jews to wear Tefillin and to teach His Way to our children, for Jews to put Mezuzos on our doorposts.
The Parsha ends with Moshe telling us how HaShem Will Stand with us against those that want to hurt us and as our Gemorrah tells us, this also includes our Yetzer Horah, and how HaShem will set terror and fear on the entire face of the Earth where we as Jews tread for we will represent HaShem and not be hurt by the nations anymore for HaShem Will be with us.
This Parsha is called Parashas Eikev. In this context,it refers to the 'Eikev' - the ' Reward,' that we will get for obeying HaShem.
The word 'Eikev' is not a usual word for 'Reward.' The word Eikev actually means ' Heel,' as Yaakov was called 'Yaakov ' (within it is the word 'Eikev') for he was born holding on to his brother's heel for they were fighting in the womb. Even though in the womb, Yaakov was the elder, his brother Eisav pushed him aside and came out first and so became the eldest son but it actually belonged to Yaakov.In other words, it was Yaakov's truth to deserve the birthright that was taken in the womb by his brother Eisav.When Eisav was born he wanted to make sure his Mother would have no more heirs and so, he ruined his Mother's womb on the way out.But it was actually Yaakov who deserved the birthright and reward of the firstborn . Here, in our Parsha, the word 'Eikev ,' appears again and is certainly a hint to a similar idea , for though the other nations think the Jews are lost and forgotten, if we , as Jews would only keep HaShem's Commandments, then our true status would appear to all and all would see that HaShem Has Never forsaken us as His Chosen ones . To be Chosen , is not a matter of arrogance at all for we are not chosen because we are better. No , we are part of all the children of Adam and all people are special to HaShem . Being chosen should never be from a point of view of making out one is better than another. Not at all . Being chosen in this case refers to that we ,as children of Avraham , who chose HaShem while those around him followed idols, thus HaShem saw in his Neshoma, that he was worthy of representing HaShem and teaching HaShem's Will, for no one else at the time did. Avraham was called the Ivri from the root 'Eiver' which means ' on the other side,' for Avraham turned away from the idol worshiping ways of the entire humanity around him and followed HaShem faithfully as did Melchitzedek ( who was Avraham's Antecedent and Noach's son Shem who lived at the time of Avraham ) and worshiped HaShem and taught all others who he came across, to do so too.
It is for this that we Jews are chosen,not to be higher, for all are HaShem's children,but to teach the ways of HaShem and bring morality to this Earth .So when we Jews take up our chosen role and teach the World , including ourselves , to follow HaShem Wholeheartedly , and be the ' Heel , Basis ' of this World and of ourselves in following HaShem , then we will receive the ' Eikev ' the 'Reward' of our Forefathers , who did the same .
But before starting with others, we must first look to ourselves , for we are at the centre of our own personal World. We need to follow all HaShem's Commandments , Decrees and Ordinances and so , be a shining example of a representative of HaShem and then we can have HaShem Dwell among us .
It all starts with us . HaShem Desires a relationship with each and every part of His Creation . All we need to do is chose to do so . Follow His Torah always and Emulate Him in His Holy and Moral Ways and as HaShem Wants of His Chosen Ones , and tells us in Neviim , 'Be a Light unto the Nations .'
I wish HaShem WIth Love , a Sweet and Beautifully Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all , a sweet and beautifully blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love.

Parashas Va'eschanan

Our Parsha this Shabbos Nachamu is Parashas Va'eschanan .
This Shabbos is called Shabbos Nachamu ,as it is the Shabbos after Tisha B' Av in which we read in the Haftorah, the Portion of Isaiah that starts with the words 'Nachamu Nachamu Ami Yomar Elokeichem,' - ' Comfort , Comfort My people says your G-D .' 
In this Haftorah , HaShem Forgives us and allows us to return home after exile and so, we are comforted .
In our Parsha,Parashas Ve'eschanan, Moshe talks of how he implored HaShem to let him enter the land and how Moshe was told no.
The Parsha continues with Moshe reminding us how HaShem Spoke to us Jews from the midst of the fire and how keeping His Commandments leads to life.
Moshe against talks of the Cities of Refuge and then Moshe repeats the Ten Commandments,that was given originally on Har Sinai,a humble Mountain in Sinai.
The Parsha then shows the sweetest holy Blessing of our daily Shema which is said every day twice and also in the Bedtime prayer by a Jew and acknowledges HaShem as Our and The One and Only G-D .We are taught here how every part of our lives, from the homes we live in to our very actions with our arms and all we see with our eyes and how we must talk of and follow and teach HaShem's Commandments ,must always be in following HaShem and at all times even when we travel and rest and how we must always be toward HaShem Only, must be the way we must lead ourselves home to HaShem .
HaShem then reminds us in this Parsha how , when we enter the land of Israel, we are to remember that it was HaShem Who Gave us all this Goodness and serve Him faithfully as HaShem Tells us to serve Him.
The Parsha ends with telling us that when we come into the Land of Israel,that HaShem Will Deliver the seven nations into our hands and that we are not to ever make a covenant with these nations or show them favor and to not find grace in them or their appearance and never intermarry with them for they will lead people astray to idolworship Chas Ve Shalom.
HaShem Tells us that we Jews are a Treasured People unto Him ,to carry His Truth to the nations and those who keep His Word and love Him, will be Blessed for a thousand generations.
The last verse of this Parsha states clearly that we are to Observe His Commandments,His Decrees and His Ordinances that He Commands us to Perform them.
The Parsha starts with how Moshe ,'Va'eschanan' - 'Implored,' HaShem to enter the land.
The word - 'Implore 'is usually 'Bikeish,' so why does Torah use the word 'Va'eschanan here?' 
The Gematriah of the word 'Va'eschanan' comes to 515 and we are taught that it was this many times, 515 times , that Moshe implored and pleaded with HaShem in different ways, to allow him to enter the land.
Can you imagine how many times , 515 times is . Usually a person would only ask a few times and leave it there. But Moshe continued to try.Moshe so wanted to fulfill The Torah Laws that can only be fulfilled in Eretz Yisroel. Moshe was a man who never thought he had ever done enough for HaShem and always wanted to do more for his Creator. So much love for HaShem did Moshe have. 
For this reason, HaShem told him a few verses later after the beginning of this Parsha, that 'Al Tosef,' 'It is finished ,it is enough for you,' you Moshe have done enough and you are very beloved and special , so return to Me . To a very high place . You have done what you needed to do and now it is time to rest with Me . Yet Moshe still implored HaShem , for that was His nature, to do more than he has to , to go beyond the letter of the Law, for therein, lies true love of HaShem .
Though some may be saddened that Moshe of all people deserved to enter the land and yet couldn't at the time , there is so much we don't know. There is an opinion that in Moshiach's time, Moshe will enter the land with his own steps and behind him many in Galus will follow him in . We only see a most minute tiny part of things and so we trust that HaShem Knows all .
HaShem's Actions are always Merciful . We see this even in Moshe's Imploring, for within the word 'Va'eschanan,' is the word 'Chanan,' which means 'Mercy .' Even though Moshe could not see the true understanding then of his having to leave, it was for the sake of Mercy for Moshe's Neshoma, that he had to leave exactly 120 years to the minute that he came into this world as Moshe Avigdor .
I will offer a thought as to the possibility why it had to be this moment exactly.
Our Rabbis say that Moshe may have been the Gilgul of Noach .If we remember, Noach was asked to build an Ark, which took him 120 years exactly. During this time, he built the Ark, he might have also prayed for the people around him , yet he,Noach didn't , thinking they were not following HaShem's Will and that he must fulfill HaShem's Will to the letter and doing more , may be against HaShem's Wish, but HaShem wants us to do more and give more of .This action of Noach was unlike Avraham ,who prayed for Sodom .
So when the possible Gilgul of Noach returned as Moshe, Moshe had to pray for his people constantly for 40 years , the same as the 40 days and nights of the Mabul , the Flood in Noach's time .
Thus when that period of 120 years had come in Moshe's life , not a minute later, for Moshe to be given an opportunity to make up for before,possibly, this was why Moshe could not stay a moment longer and out of mercy for Moshe's Neshoma, HaShem Mercifully allowed Moshe ,Without Moshe's full knowledge ( or it wouldn't have been making up for it) ,Moshe was given the merciful opportunity to make up for this - just my opinion . 
Thus, HaShem was showing Moshe true and beloved mercy.Again,just my thought. 
But always, HaShem has His good reason and that is always for our benefit.
Such a thought makes us think. We need to be very careful with everything we do and say. For we cannot see the harm that we might do to others and to ourselves and we might cause the need for us to have the opportunity to make up for it. It could be now. It could be later and it could even be in another Gilgul. 
HaShem Gives us the Perfect Guide, His Torah , which is our Lighthouse to guide us always on the right and safe path back to shore, back to His Light .We need only follow His Guidelines and put our own wants aside and we can be sure that we will always reach Home , HaShem .
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love, a Beautiful and Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a beautiful and sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.