This Shabbos is Yom Kippur on the Tenth of Tishrei,the Day of Atonement.
It was on this day that Moshe came down with the Second Luchos after HaShem forgave for the Chait Ha Eigel.
So this day is certainly a day for Atonement and HaShem in His Mercy Gives us this opportunity to return to Him and make things right and Atonement to Him.
Many important events happened on this Tenth of Tishrei as Rabbi Chrysler's Luach tells us.It was on this day that Avraham Avinu had his Bris and entered into the Covenant with HaShem.
It was on this Tenth of Tishrei that Avraham took his beloved son Yitzchak up to the Akeidah ,when Avraham was told to go and bring his son up the mountain as an offering,as a test to them both and thus it was on this day that Avraham's beloved wife Sarah passed away.
It was on this day that Yitzchak, their son ,after the Akeidah,entered into the Yeshiva of Shem and Eiver , on a higher spiritual plane level.
It was on this day that Moshe Commanded the Building of the Mishkan.
It was on this day that the Prophet Yechezkel was shown a model of the Third Beis Ha Mikdash Temple.
It was on this Tenth of Tishrei that Dovid ha Melech was forgiven for his action to do with Bathsheva.
It was on this day that Zechariah the Prophet and Kohein Gadol was murdered.It was on this day that Rabbi Akiva was killed by the romans and so , during the Yom Kippur service we read of the 'Asarah Harugay Malchut ' - the ' Ten Jewish Martyrs ' (including Rabbi Akiva ) who were killed by the romans in the cruelest of ways .These Ten Sages were : Rabbi Yishmael Ben Elisha the High Priest , Rabbi Shimon Ben Gamliel Hazaken , Rabbi Chanina Ben Tradyon , Rabbi Akiva , Rabbi Yehudah Ben Bava , Rabbi Chutzpit Hameturgeman , Rabbi Yeshevav Hasofer , Rabbi Elazar Ben Shamua , Rabbi Chanina Ben Chachinai and Rabbi Yehudah Ben Dama . ( Chabad site ) .
It was on this day that Rabbi Achai ben Rabbo bar Avu'ho passed away.
It was this day of the Tenth of Tishrei that was the Seventh day of Achashveirosh' party.
It was on this day that the Brisker Rov,Rav Velvel passed away.
So as we see , this is a very significant day of holiness .
The words we read at this time where ' On Rosh Ha Shanah it is written and On Yom Kippur it is sealed ' brings home the deep message and seriousness of this very Holy Day.
HaShem on this day is Giving us an opportunity to atone for ourselves and turn our very destiny around.
HaShem comes down to hear our prayers in closeness and deeply hopes for our Teshuvah.The word 'Teshuvah ' means 'Repentance,Return and to Answer .'
Thus we come to HaShem with deep heartfelt Atonement and Regret , and if we truly return in Repentance, then HaShem Answers us with Forgiveness. Teshuvah is a True Return to the Ways of G-D , His Way only , with a realization that it is only through HaShem's Laws , that we are to live .Atonement can only be gained by putting our own wants aside and giving ourselves over to HaShem and truly feeling sorry for what we have done wrong .
True Repentance is never just words , but must always be heartfelt with an assurance that we never commit that Aveirah again . Saying sorry for the moment and continuing with wrong behaviour is never Repentance or Regret . The whole point of correcting oneself , is to step completely away from the wrongs of before and come to HaShem anew ,completely doing His Will and Wish.
We cannot even truly imagine the special gift from HaShem that His Tenth of Tishrei Yom Kippur offers us, for it is truly the most special opportunity to put things right and change our whole destiny around and give it true , real and everlasting life and meaning .
When humans wrong each other , the wronged party usually waits for the perpetrator to come and say sorry.
How different and humble HaShem Is , for though we wrong Him , it is He , Who comes to us to give us the opportunity to make it right and that opportunity is all for our benefit . How Beyond Beautiful and Special is HaShem .
So if G-D , The Almighty HaShem , Can Love us enough to Come to us and Give us this beautiful opportunity to fix ourselves so we can grow and lift ourselves closer to Him and enter Shamaim, how can we not completely humble ourselves and do all we can to atone for our wrongs to Him .
So let us take this Beautiful Gift of HaShem's Mercy and Return to HaShem and His Laws and Wants , and Atone for the hurts we caused Him .
As we stand this Yom Kippur before our Creator and beg for His forgiveness , let us stand in Awe and realize Who we are standing in front of and do all we can to return to HaShem in love .
With Love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and Special thanks for this Holy Day of Yom Kippur and to my fellow Yidden , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and a Meaningful Fast .
Thursday, 28 September 2017
Wednesday, 20 September 2017
Parashas Haazinu just after Rosh Ha Shanah
Our Parsha this Shabbos just after Rosh HaShanah , is Parashas Haazinu.
In this Parsha, Moshe, on his last day composes a Song , a Shira.This is one of the Ten Shiros - Prophetic Songs that feature in the span of the Jewish people.
The Midrash tells us of the Ten Songs that get composed.
The First Shira - Song was composed by the first man Adam in Gan Eiden when he composed 'Mizmor Shir Leyom Ha Shabbos - A Song A Poem For The Sabbath Day,' where Adam praises HaShem and HaShem's Holy Sabbath.
The Second Shira was sung by Moshe and Bnai Yisrael at the Yam Suf,The Reed Sea or as we commonly know it as , the Red Sea,where Shira were sung at our miraculous delivery from Par'o and his army.We read this portion and Song in our morning Shacharis Service every day and so , remember how HaShem took us out of Mitzrayim and saved us . It is a Torah Commandment to remember every day all the time ,how HaShem took us out of Egypt .
The Third Shira was sung by Bnai Yisrael when they offered praise for the Well of Miriam,in Parashas Chukas.
The Fourth Shira was this one which we read of in this week's Parsha of Haazinu,which Moshe teaches to the people on his last day before he returns to HaShem.
The Fifth Shira was sung by Yehoshuah - Joshua when he fought the Emorites at Givon when he was granted the miracle for the Sun standing still in the sky so the Jewish Army could conquer their adversary during daylight.
The Sixth Shira was composed by Devorah and Barak when HaShem delivered our enemy into their hands and the Canaanite General Sisera was killed .This is to be found in the Book of Shoftim (Judges) 5 .
The Seventh Shira was composed by Chanah,when she bore Shmuel after being childless for so many years, so she praised HaShem in her prophetic song in the Book of Shmuel 2 .
The Eighth Shira was composed by Dovid Ha Melech as he neared the end of his life, so as to thank HaShem for Saving him from his enemies all the years and this Shira is to be found in II Shmuel 22.
The Ninth Shira was written by Shlomo Ha Melech when he composed Shir Ha Shirim .
The Tenth and final Shir, is one that will come in the future and will be sung by the Jewish people, when HaShem Will Redeem us from this present Galus - Exile as Targum Yonasan informs us .
The Midrash tells us that the first Nine Shiros are all called Shira, in the feminine form, unlike the Tenth one that is called Shir , in the masculine gender, for we are told of it in Yeshayahu 26:1 , which writes 'On that day shall this Shir be sung in the land of Yehudah.'This Tenth Shir will be the end of our Galus - Exile and will be followed by The End of Days , where there will be no sickness or hardship or suffering, but only peace and love and closeness with HaShem.
In the previous Parsha, Moshe announced this song of Haazinu and in this Parsha, his song is presented.
We note that he starts this Shira with the word 'Haazinu,' which calls on 'Shamaim - Heaven ' to Haazinu - 'Give Ear and Listen ' to the words that Moshe will speak.
How interesting that Moshe asks The Heaven to listen to the words that Moshe 'Will' speak, for Moshe will not be here after this day that he gives this song to us. So how can Heaven 'Listen' to the Words that he will speak in the Future?
This is because the words of Moshe carry forever just as the Heavens are above the Earth forever. Moshe's Words from HaShem are right here in the Torah .The Torah Laws are from HaShem . HaShem Wrote the Torah two thousand years before Creation and as our Sages say, HaShem Looked into the Torah , as the foundation of the World , and Created Creation .Thus Torah is Eternal and Moshe was chosen as HaShem's Representative and has so often been called 'The Law Giver,' a title so fitting to Moshe Rabbeinu. The words of Moshe will carry to the End of Time, even beyond his normal lifespan and so , in every word of Torah that he passed on to our people, he is within the Torah and is there teaching us as we learn .
Thus , Moshe calls Ha Shamaim ( The Heaven ) as a witness ,so as to listen to what we will speak and the Earth to hear our words and stand as a witness to the prophetic words Moshe spoke that would come about, which Moshe writes in this Shira.
Moshe asks that his 'teaching drop like rain' and his ' utterance like dew.' What Moshe is saying is that, as Rain drops from on high and as dew seeps within and their result is seen after they have been absorbed into what they fall on, so should we let the Rain of Heaven of HaShem's Sweet Words of Torah come down to us from above and enter into us deeply and seep in and change us from within , like dew.
Thus the Dew and Rain of Torah should quietly become a part of us, and we should carry the Law of
HaShem within us.HaShem Commanded Moshe to come and take His people out of bondage and so, come to follow HaShem and be a light unto the nations. Though there will be trials and tribulations through history for us, as this Prophetic Song of Moshe shows, so does it show that our people will be redeemed and comforted at the end.
HaShem Will Always Be Faithful to His people.
At the end of this Parsha, HaShem calls Moshe up to Har Nevo to see the Land of Canaan with his own eyes,for Moshe saw spiritually more than any man could have seen physically.And so ends our Parsha.
Moshe calls The Heavens and the Earth to remain as faithful witnesses to his words, for Heaven and Earth were Created at the beginning and were there also to offer the result of us choosing to follow HaShem and go to Shamaim if we listen to HaShem, or to go against HaShem and thus have need for Earthly Learning and lessons.
Moshe, even on his last day just before he is about to leave, still cares for HaShem and His people ,beyond his own needs and so desperately pleads in this Shira that we listen to G-D ,even when Moshe has gone to HaShem and is no longer physically in front of us, as Heaven and Earth still is. How we behave is how Heaven and Earth will respond to us.
This time being also, Rosh Ha Shanah, which was the day Adam was Created, makes us realize, that this is the perfect time for us all to 'Haazinu,' - 'Give Ear and Listen ' to HaShem and what He Wants from us. So many times have we seen the result of not listening to HaShem Chas Ve Shalom .The very fact that we are no longer in Gan Eiden proves what happens when we don't listen.The way to work at getting back in, is to start to 'Haazinu' - ' Give Ear and Listen,' to HaShem's Holy Commands. For as the prophet says about the Torah, ' It is a Tree of Life to those who grasp it.' This is the perfect time on the anniversary of the Creation of Adam, that we stand and 'Haazinu,' - 'Give Ear and Listen to HaShem now and forever , never to stray.
It is at this period of the year that HaShem comes down closer to us to Judge . So may we all from this moment forth and forever more ' Haazinu' - ' Give ear to HaShem's Torah Mitzvos and let HaShem Shower His World with Blessings that abound, with the greatest Blessing being to ' Haazinu,' - ' Give Ear and listen ' to HaShem by being very close to Him, wrapped up in His Warm and Loving Arms.
So may Creation return to HaShem in love and 'Haazinu,' - ' Give Ear and Listen' to Him always with love.
With Love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love , a Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with Sweet Love and Shanah Tova and a sweet year filled with our obedience and our faithfulness in HaShem, and to all my fellow Yidden a, beautiful Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love and a Gut Gebenchte Yor Shanah Tova Kesiva Ve Chasima Tova with love and to all Creation , a beautiful and sweet New Year.
In this Parsha, Moshe, on his last day composes a Song , a Shira.This is one of the Ten Shiros - Prophetic Songs that feature in the span of the Jewish people.
The Midrash tells us of the Ten Songs that get composed.
The First Shira - Song was composed by the first man Adam in Gan Eiden when he composed 'Mizmor Shir Leyom Ha Shabbos - A Song A Poem For The Sabbath Day,' where Adam praises HaShem and HaShem's Holy Sabbath.
The Second Shira was sung by Moshe and Bnai Yisrael at the Yam Suf,The Reed Sea or as we commonly know it as , the Red Sea,where Shira were sung at our miraculous delivery from Par'o and his army.We read this portion and Song in our morning Shacharis Service every day and so , remember how HaShem took us out of Mitzrayim and saved us . It is a Torah Commandment to remember every day all the time ,how HaShem took us out of Egypt .
The Third Shira was sung by Bnai Yisrael when they offered praise for the Well of Miriam,in Parashas Chukas.
The Fourth Shira was this one which we read of in this week's Parsha of Haazinu,which Moshe teaches to the people on his last day before he returns to HaShem.
The Fifth Shira was sung by Yehoshuah - Joshua when he fought the Emorites at Givon when he was granted the miracle for the Sun standing still in the sky so the Jewish Army could conquer their adversary during daylight.
The Sixth Shira was composed by Devorah and Barak when HaShem delivered our enemy into their hands and the Canaanite General Sisera was killed .This is to be found in the Book of Shoftim (Judges) 5 .
The Seventh Shira was composed by Chanah,when she bore Shmuel after being childless for so many years, so she praised HaShem in her prophetic song in the Book of Shmuel 2 .
The Eighth Shira was composed by Dovid Ha Melech as he neared the end of his life, so as to thank HaShem for Saving him from his enemies all the years and this Shira is to be found in II Shmuel 22.
The Ninth Shira was written by Shlomo Ha Melech when he composed Shir Ha Shirim .
The Tenth and final Shir, is one that will come in the future and will be sung by the Jewish people, when HaShem Will Redeem us from this present Galus - Exile as Targum Yonasan informs us .
The Midrash tells us that the first Nine Shiros are all called Shira, in the feminine form, unlike the Tenth one that is called Shir , in the masculine gender, for we are told of it in Yeshayahu 26:1 , which writes 'On that day shall this Shir be sung in the land of Yehudah.'This Tenth Shir will be the end of our Galus - Exile and will be followed by The End of Days , where there will be no sickness or hardship or suffering, but only peace and love and closeness with HaShem.
In the previous Parsha, Moshe announced this song of Haazinu and in this Parsha, his song is presented.
We note that he starts this Shira with the word 'Haazinu,' which calls on 'Shamaim - Heaven ' to Haazinu - 'Give Ear and Listen ' to the words that Moshe will speak.
How interesting that Moshe asks The Heaven to listen to the words that Moshe 'Will' speak, for Moshe will not be here after this day that he gives this song to us. So how can Heaven 'Listen' to the Words that he will speak in the Future?
This is because the words of Moshe carry forever just as the Heavens are above the Earth forever. Moshe's Words from HaShem are right here in the Torah .The Torah Laws are from HaShem . HaShem Wrote the Torah two thousand years before Creation and as our Sages say, HaShem Looked into the Torah , as the foundation of the World , and Created Creation .Thus Torah is Eternal and Moshe was chosen as HaShem's Representative and has so often been called 'The Law Giver,' a title so fitting to Moshe Rabbeinu. The words of Moshe will carry to the End of Time, even beyond his normal lifespan and so , in every word of Torah that he passed on to our people, he is within the Torah and is there teaching us as we learn .
Thus , Moshe calls Ha Shamaim ( The Heaven ) as a witness ,so as to listen to what we will speak and the Earth to hear our words and stand as a witness to the prophetic words Moshe spoke that would come about, which Moshe writes in this Shira.
Moshe asks that his 'teaching drop like rain' and his ' utterance like dew.' What Moshe is saying is that, as Rain drops from on high and as dew seeps within and their result is seen after they have been absorbed into what they fall on, so should we let the Rain of Heaven of HaShem's Sweet Words of Torah come down to us from above and enter into us deeply and seep in and change us from within , like dew.
Thus the Dew and Rain of Torah should quietly become a part of us, and we should carry the Law of
HaShem within us.HaShem Commanded Moshe to come and take His people out of bondage and so, come to follow HaShem and be a light unto the nations. Though there will be trials and tribulations through history for us, as this Prophetic Song of Moshe shows, so does it show that our people will be redeemed and comforted at the end.
HaShem Will Always Be Faithful to His people.
At the end of this Parsha, HaShem calls Moshe up to Har Nevo to see the Land of Canaan with his own eyes,for Moshe saw spiritually more than any man could have seen physically.And so ends our Parsha.
Moshe calls The Heavens and the Earth to remain as faithful witnesses to his words, for Heaven and Earth were Created at the beginning and were there also to offer the result of us choosing to follow HaShem and go to Shamaim if we listen to HaShem, or to go against HaShem and thus have need for Earthly Learning and lessons.
Moshe, even on his last day just before he is about to leave, still cares for HaShem and His people ,beyond his own needs and so desperately pleads in this Shira that we listen to G-D ,even when Moshe has gone to HaShem and is no longer physically in front of us, as Heaven and Earth still is. How we behave is how Heaven and Earth will respond to us.
This time being also, Rosh Ha Shanah, which was the day Adam was Created, makes us realize, that this is the perfect time for us all to 'Haazinu,' - 'Give Ear and Listen ' to HaShem and what He Wants from us. So many times have we seen the result of not listening to HaShem Chas Ve Shalom .The very fact that we are no longer in Gan Eiden proves what happens when we don't listen.The way to work at getting back in, is to start to 'Haazinu' - ' Give Ear and Listen,' to HaShem's Holy Commands. For as the prophet says about the Torah, ' It is a Tree of Life to those who grasp it.' This is the perfect time on the anniversary of the Creation of Adam, that we stand and 'Haazinu,' - 'Give Ear and Listen to HaShem now and forever , never to stray.
It is at this period of the year that HaShem comes down closer to us to Judge . So may we all from this moment forth and forever more ' Haazinu' - ' Give ear to HaShem's Torah Mitzvos and let HaShem Shower His World with Blessings that abound, with the greatest Blessing being to ' Haazinu,' - ' Give Ear and listen ' to HaShem by being very close to Him, wrapped up in His Warm and Loving Arms.
So may Creation return to HaShem in love and 'Haazinu,' - ' Give Ear and Listen' to Him always with love.
With Love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love , a Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with Sweet Love and Shanah Tova and a sweet year filled with our obedience and our faithfulness in HaShem, and to all my fellow Yidden a, beautiful Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love and a Gut Gebenchte Yor Shanah Tova Kesiva Ve Chasima Tova with love and to all Creation , a beautiful and sweet New Year.
Friday, 15 September 2017
Parashas Nitzavim and Parashas Vayeilech
Our Parsha this Shabbos is a double Parsha of Parashas Nitzavim and Parashas Vayeilech ,this year coming just before Rosh HaShanah, the New Year on the day Adam Ha Rishon was Created.
In Parashas Nitzavim,Moshe , who now speaks on the very last day of his life, reminds us of the Covenant we Jews have.Moshe assembles the men, women and children , who stand there that very day and this is a spiritual call to their descendants too,who will stand with before HaShem .
Moshe warns against Avodah Zarah Idolatry and he refers to the fact that there is , even on that very day someone considering Idolatry in their heart , which he could spiritually see,and that this person and all , who would consider such a detestable Aveirah must desist from such unfaithfulness to HaShem and that we are to remember all that HaShem did for us in Taking us out of Mitzrayim. We are warned of the curses mentioned previously , that will come upon people who turn away from HaShem and how , we will be dispersed and then we will repent and HaShem Will Have Mercy upon us and HaShem Will Bring us back to our land from where we were dispersed into exile, and HaShem Will Redeem us.
Moshe reminds us how accessible The Holy Torah is , that all Yidden must keep It, that It is not distant or high up or across the sea, but Torah is very near us in our mouth and heart to perform It.
Moshe tells us to choose life, which is HaShem's Path of Torah Law and that Heaven and Earth, Created in the beginning , will be the two witnesses of this Covenant.The choice is ours to choose Life and Blessing, us and our offspring.We are to Love HaShem our G-D , for He is our Life and the length of our days, to listen to His Voice and cleave to Him , to dwell on the land that HaShem Swore to our ForeFathers Avraham , Yitzchak and Yaakov that HaShem Gives us Jews .
Then Parashas Vayeilech continues with Moshe telling us that he is One Hundred and Twenty years old and how Joshuah will now take our people the Children of Israel over the River Jordan and how HaShem will lead us with Joshuah as our physical leader, into Canaan and How HaShem Will Fight the battles with us.Moshe summoned Joshuah in the presence of the entire people and charged him with HaShem's Word.
Moshe wrote this Torah and gave it to the Kohanim and Commanded them about the Sabbatical year during the Succos Festival that all Israel are to come before HaShem in the place HaShem Chooses and how the Jewish King or leader will read from The This Torah and that all members of the people young and old, men and women and children will hear and learn to fear HaShem our G-D ,The One and Only G-D .
HaShem then Tells Moshe to summon Joshuah and for both of them to stand in the Tent of Meeting,HaShem Tells of what will occur in the future.
Moshe tells the Levites , the bearers of the Ark of The Covenant, to take this Book of the the Torah and to place it at the side of the Ark of the Covenant of HaShem ,as a witness.This Torah was to stand as a witness to all future Scrolls written, that they would be kept the same with the same words as Moshe wrote, to stand for all time through every generation, till today and forever . Infact,as the Midrash tells us,on the day of Moshe's passing, he wrote Thirteen Torah Scrolls on this Seventh of Adar 2488, giving a copy of The Torah to each Tribe and giving one for the Levites to keep in the Aron. May HaShem Always Bless the beloved Neshomele of Moshe .
This Parsha finishes where the Song of Moshe is introduced, the song which comes in the next Parsha.
The Names of these two Parshas , is Parashas Nitzavim and Parashas Vayeilech which means 'Nitzavim ' - 'Standing' - and 'Vayeilech' - 'Went or Going To.' Put together these words say that we are to go constantly to HaShem , for we Stand before Him all the time .We stand before Him when we awaken and are to go to Him with alacrity . We wake up to Him every morning and we are to go to Him and Stand before Him with alacrity . Our day is filled with Mitzvos , where we Go to Him and Stand before Him with alacrity.
At all times, we are to ' Go ' to HaShem , who ' Stands ' in front of us , day and night, in the light and in the dark , at all times, are we to Go to HaShem and Stand before Him with each step we take.
When Moshe said we. 'Nitzavim' ' Stand' before HaShem that day,,that day is every day,for it is every day that we all stand before HaShem and thus we are to always behave with Holiness and Righteousness. HaShem could have used the word 'Omeid,' for ' Stand,' so why did HaShem use the word Nitzavim?' It is possible , as one of the reasons, that HaShem used this word , as within this word , is the word 'Tzav,' which means 'Decree or Command or Order, ' for to Stand before HaShem , and be in HaShem's Sweet Presence, we are to be keeping HaShem's Order and Commandments and Decrees.It is not just enough to wait till we need to do something good. We are to 'Vayeilech go out of our way to seek the sweetness of the Torah Law to go with alacrity to follow The Torah.
In keeping HaShem's Torah Mitzvos, is if for our benefit.We see this within the word 'Vayeilech ,' for within this word is the word 'Lecha,' which means ' For You.' HaShem is telling us that when we go out to keep HaShem's Laws , it is for us and for our benefit , so that we may 'Nitzavim,' stand before HaShem with love .
The Torah is our life and the length of our days and is in reach of each and every one of us Jews, to follow its beauty and Holiness so that we may 'Vayeilech ' - 'Go ,' and 'Nitzavim ,' - ' Stand ' before HaShem in purity .
HaShem Alone is G-D . His Law , is His Sweet Hand stretching out to us and bringing and carrying us up to 'Shamaim' Heaven .
All we have to do is show Him our love and choose. HaShem and His Torah Law , choose Life , choose G-D in everything we do .
We 'Nitzavim ' 'Stand ' now , on the threshold of a New Year , as Rosh Ha Shanah is approaching, the time in Creation when HaShem Created Adam Ha Rishon,the time when HaShem feels ever so close to His Creation and actually comes down closer to us . So at such a time , I ask most humbly , that all of you , look deeper into yourselves and step toward life , and from now on follow HaShem in all that HaShem Wants , following in His Way , following His Beautiful Commandments that lead to Life , that lead to HaShem and follow HaShem Only and nothing and no one else but HaShem , Who is G-D and let us all , now as we approach Rosh Ha Shanah 'Vayeilech' - 'Go,' and 'Nitzavim' - ' Stand' before HaShem and follow His Commandments as HaShem Wants us to and may HaShem surround us all with the Light of His Loving Shechinah .
With Love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love, a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and Shanah Tovah with Love and to all my fellow Yidden , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and Shanah Tovah Chasima Ve Kesiva Tovah.
In Parashas Nitzavim,Moshe , who now speaks on the very last day of his life, reminds us of the Covenant we Jews have.Moshe assembles the men, women and children , who stand there that very day and this is a spiritual call to their descendants too,who will stand with before HaShem .
Moshe warns against Avodah Zarah Idolatry and he refers to the fact that there is , even on that very day someone considering Idolatry in their heart , which he could spiritually see,and that this person and all , who would consider such a detestable Aveirah must desist from such unfaithfulness to HaShem and that we are to remember all that HaShem did for us in Taking us out of Mitzrayim. We are warned of the curses mentioned previously , that will come upon people who turn away from HaShem and how , we will be dispersed and then we will repent and HaShem Will Have Mercy upon us and HaShem Will Bring us back to our land from where we were dispersed into exile, and HaShem Will Redeem us.
Moshe reminds us how accessible The Holy Torah is , that all Yidden must keep It, that It is not distant or high up or across the sea, but Torah is very near us in our mouth and heart to perform It.
Moshe tells us to choose life, which is HaShem's Path of Torah Law and that Heaven and Earth, Created in the beginning , will be the two witnesses of this Covenant.The choice is ours to choose Life and Blessing, us and our offspring.We are to Love HaShem our G-D , for He is our Life and the length of our days, to listen to His Voice and cleave to Him , to dwell on the land that HaShem Swore to our ForeFathers Avraham , Yitzchak and Yaakov that HaShem Gives us Jews .
Then Parashas Vayeilech continues with Moshe telling us that he is One Hundred and Twenty years old and how Joshuah will now take our people the Children of Israel over the River Jordan and how HaShem will lead us with Joshuah as our physical leader, into Canaan and How HaShem Will Fight the battles with us.Moshe summoned Joshuah in the presence of the entire people and charged him with HaShem's Word.
Moshe wrote this Torah and gave it to the Kohanim and Commanded them about the Sabbatical year during the Succos Festival that all Israel are to come before HaShem in the place HaShem Chooses and how the Jewish King or leader will read from The This Torah and that all members of the people young and old, men and women and children will hear and learn to fear HaShem our G-D ,The One and Only G-D .
HaShem then Tells Moshe to summon Joshuah and for both of them to stand in the Tent of Meeting,HaShem Tells of what will occur in the future.
Moshe tells the Levites , the bearers of the Ark of The Covenant, to take this Book of the the Torah and to place it at the side of the Ark of the Covenant of HaShem ,as a witness.This Torah was to stand as a witness to all future Scrolls written, that they would be kept the same with the same words as Moshe wrote, to stand for all time through every generation, till today and forever . Infact,as the Midrash tells us,on the day of Moshe's passing, he wrote Thirteen Torah Scrolls on this Seventh of Adar 2488, giving a copy of The Torah to each Tribe and giving one for the Levites to keep in the Aron. May HaShem Always Bless the beloved Neshomele of Moshe .
This Parsha finishes where the Song of Moshe is introduced, the song which comes in the next Parsha.
The Names of these two Parshas , is Parashas Nitzavim and Parashas Vayeilech which means 'Nitzavim ' - 'Standing' - and 'Vayeilech' - 'Went or Going To.' Put together these words say that we are to go constantly to HaShem , for we Stand before Him all the time .We stand before Him when we awaken and are to go to Him with alacrity . We wake up to Him every morning and we are to go to Him and Stand before Him with alacrity . Our day is filled with Mitzvos , where we Go to Him and Stand before Him with alacrity.
At all times, we are to ' Go ' to HaShem , who ' Stands ' in front of us , day and night, in the light and in the dark , at all times, are we to Go to HaShem and Stand before Him with each step we take.
When Moshe said we. 'Nitzavim' ' Stand' before HaShem that day,,that day is every day,for it is every day that we all stand before HaShem and thus we are to always behave with Holiness and Righteousness. HaShem could have used the word 'Omeid,' for ' Stand,' so why did HaShem use the word Nitzavim?' It is possible , as one of the reasons, that HaShem used this word , as within this word , is the word 'Tzav,' which means 'Decree or Command or Order, ' for to Stand before HaShem , and be in HaShem's Sweet Presence, we are to be keeping HaShem's Order and Commandments and Decrees.It is not just enough to wait till we need to do something good. We are to 'Vayeilech go out of our way to seek the sweetness of the Torah Law to go with alacrity to follow The Torah.
In keeping HaShem's Torah Mitzvos, is if for our benefit.We see this within the word 'Vayeilech ,' for within this word is the word 'Lecha,' which means ' For You.' HaShem is telling us that when we go out to keep HaShem's Laws , it is for us and for our benefit , so that we may 'Nitzavim,' stand before HaShem with love .
The Torah is our life and the length of our days and is in reach of each and every one of us Jews, to follow its beauty and Holiness so that we may 'Vayeilech ' - 'Go ,' and 'Nitzavim ,' - ' Stand ' before HaShem in purity .
HaShem Alone is G-D . His Law , is His Sweet Hand stretching out to us and bringing and carrying us up to 'Shamaim' Heaven .
All we have to do is show Him our love and choose. HaShem and His Torah Law , choose Life , choose G-D in everything we do .
We 'Nitzavim ' 'Stand ' now , on the threshold of a New Year , as Rosh Ha Shanah is approaching, the time in Creation when HaShem Created Adam Ha Rishon,the time when HaShem feels ever so close to His Creation and actually comes down closer to us . So at such a time , I ask most humbly , that all of you , look deeper into yourselves and step toward life , and from now on follow HaShem in all that HaShem Wants , following in His Way , following His Beautiful Commandments that lead to Life , that lead to HaShem and follow HaShem Only and nothing and no one else but HaShem , Who is G-D and let us all , now as we approach Rosh Ha Shanah 'Vayeilech' - 'Go,' and 'Nitzavim' - ' Stand' before HaShem and follow His Commandments as HaShem Wants us to and may HaShem surround us all with the Light of His Loving Shechinah .
With Love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love, a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and Shanah Tovah with Love and to all my fellow Yidden , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and Shanah Tovah Chasima Ve Kesiva Tovah.
Friday, 8 September 2017
Parashas Ki Savo
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parasha Ki Savo.This Parsha starts out by HaShem Telling us that, as Jews, when we come out of the Wilderness and finally enter the land after HaShem freed us from Mitzrayim and have conquered the enemies that were at that time and taken possession of the Land, we are to bring our Bikkurim, our First Fruits that ripen in our Land , in a basket to the Kohanim , to the place that HaShem Chooses , thus always reminding ourselves, that although we work our own territories,everything belongs to HaShem Who Makes all things and Gives all things to us, from His Goodness.The Mishna gives a beautiful rendition of the beautiful processions that people of the different towns would make, with their representatives called Maamadim,when bringing their Bikkurim of the Seven Species for which Eretz Yisrael is famed,being wheat , barley , grapes , figs , pomegranates , olives and dates , packed in a basket in a specific order ,so we can bring our Bikkurim , our First Fruits , as HaShem Instructed in His Torah . When noticing the First Fruits of the owner's crop, the owner would tie a red ribbon or blade of grass around that stalk and declare it Bikkurim .The Mishna tells how the First Fruits would be put in a basket and carried in the procession,while the people in the procession would be playing flutes and singing ,as they would make their way to Yerushalayim , where they would be welcomed by the residents of the City and the Kohanim and at the place designated, would make their declaration that is written in this Parsha and then leave the fruits for the Kohanim designated at that time.
Then the Laws of Tithes are discussed.These Laws are related to the fact that the Children of Israel were about to enter the Land of Israel and thus , these Laws would come into effect.HaShem Reminds us in this Parsha that we Jews are to Him a Treasured people and that we are to always observe His Commandments.
HaShem then Instructs that when we enter the Land of Canaan, we are to set up great stones and coat them with plaster and inscribe on them this Torah and these stones shall be on Mount Eival.Thus all Jews who would enter the land would be reminded of their Covenant between HaShem and His people, the Jews.The Tribes would stand ,six on Mount Eival and six on Mount Gerizim , while the Levites would speak and say the words of curse written in this Perek ,to those who do not uphold that which is written in the Perek and the entire people would say Amein.It is after this section that HaShem, through Moshe, Tells us of the Blessings that will come about for keeping HaShem's Commandments and the Curses one brings upon oneself for going one's own way and disobeying HaShem and His Commandments.
The Parsha ends with a reminder of what HaShem Did for us when we left Egypt and how HaShem Watched over us in the Wilderness, how our garments and shoes never wore out , how our sustenance was and should be of a spiritual nature, showing that it is not by bread alone that we live, but by every Word of G-D and how HaShem Smote our enemies for us and how we are to observe the words of this Covenant so that we will succeed in all that we do.
If we look at the Name of this Parsha, it is called 'Ki Savo,' which means ' When you enter/come .' As I said above, it refers to us bringing our First Fruits to the Kohanim in honor of HaShem. This shows that our very first and best , in all that we do and are, must be for HaShem, for HaShem's Service in serving HaShem .That must be our first thought always. We see this in the Shulchan Aruch about the Law to acknowledge HaShem as soon as we wake up in the morning, by saying 'Modeh Ani,' thanking HaShem for restoring our soul within us.We avoid saying HaShem's Name till we Toivel , but our first thoughts must be to get up with alacrity so that we can as soon as possible, serve our Creator. If it was a human king who called us to attendance, we would surely go as quickly as possible. How much more so, the King of kings , The Holy One Blessed Be He , HaShem , Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu . Dovid Ha Melech always spoke of 'Waking the Dawn,' in other words,rising early to serve The Creator.'
The entire Laws of Yiddishkeit and Torah are set so that we will always serve HaShem first before anything.
This is what we are to do , when our First Fruits ripen.It is HaShem first that we thank and acknowledge, for all we have , is by His Kindness and Gift of Love.
If we look at the Name of this Parsha, it is called 'Ki Savo,' which means, 'When you enter.' Looking deeper' we see that it is written with a Hebrew letter 'Tav' which can also refer to the future tense. But in what way can these words be referring to the future tense. We find the answer to this in the Gematriah of the words 'Ki Savo,' which comes to 20 + 10 + 400 + 2 + 6 + 1 = 439 and 4 + 3 + 9 = 16 and 1 + 6 = 7 which is the Gematrical value of the Hebrew word Mashiach , which shows that HaShem could be Telling us that in Mashiach's Time, we will 'Ki Savo' - ' Come into a special closeness with HaShem and finally come and enter into the closeness of HaShem's Love. How can we accomplish this? The answer to that is, by keeping HaShem's Commandments.The very fact that we are to bring the First Fruits, to HaShem , shows that this is a way to bring Mashiach. But how would that bring Mashiach? The answer to that is in the first few lines of this Parsha, with the words 'Meireishis Kol Pri Ha Adamah,' - ' Every First Fruit of the Ground,' where the word 'Adamah' can also refer in connection , to all things physical on this Adamah - Ground - Earth , which we are to bring to HaShem , which means that one of our tasks in this World , is to make all things that are physical, to become holy, by raising their level , the level of the physical , that we interact with and so, bring this very physical World, closer to HaShem , by making it Holy .
The result of this, will be to 'Ki Savo,' to 'Enter into ' HaShem's special Garden at Mashiach's time, the Special Gan Eiden, the Special Garden of Eden . So , thus to bring Mashiach, we need to give of and from our 'Meireishis,' - 'First ,' of everything, which includes our making HaShem and His Commandments, first before anything, first before ourselves.
When we can all learn to give HaShem all of us and make everything we do,to fulfill His Will, then we can look forward to 'Ki Savo,' 'Entering and Coming ,'closer to HaShem .
With Love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love , a Very Special and Sweet and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all , a very special and sweet and beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Then the Laws of Tithes are discussed.These Laws are related to the fact that the Children of Israel were about to enter the Land of Israel and thus , these Laws would come into effect.HaShem Reminds us in this Parsha that we Jews are to Him a Treasured people and that we are to always observe His Commandments.
HaShem then Instructs that when we enter the Land of Canaan, we are to set up great stones and coat them with plaster and inscribe on them this Torah and these stones shall be on Mount Eival.Thus all Jews who would enter the land would be reminded of their Covenant between HaShem and His people, the Jews.The Tribes would stand ,six on Mount Eival and six on Mount Gerizim , while the Levites would speak and say the words of curse written in this Perek ,to those who do not uphold that which is written in the Perek and the entire people would say Amein.It is after this section that HaShem, through Moshe, Tells us of the Blessings that will come about for keeping HaShem's Commandments and the Curses one brings upon oneself for going one's own way and disobeying HaShem and His Commandments.
The Parsha ends with a reminder of what HaShem Did for us when we left Egypt and how HaShem Watched over us in the Wilderness, how our garments and shoes never wore out , how our sustenance was and should be of a spiritual nature, showing that it is not by bread alone that we live, but by every Word of G-D and how HaShem Smote our enemies for us and how we are to observe the words of this Covenant so that we will succeed in all that we do.
If we look at the Name of this Parsha, it is called 'Ki Savo,' which means ' When you enter/come .' As I said above, it refers to us bringing our First Fruits to the Kohanim in honor of HaShem. This shows that our very first and best , in all that we do and are, must be for HaShem, for HaShem's Service in serving HaShem .That must be our first thought always. We see this in the Shulchan Aruch about the Law to acknowledge HaShem as soon as we wake up in the morning, by saying 'Modeh Ani,' thanking HaShem for restoring our soul within us.We avoid saying HaShem's Name till we Toivel , but our first thoughts must be to get up with alacrity so that we can as soon as possible, serve our Creator. If it was a human king who called us to attendance, we would surely go as quickly as possible. How much more so, the King of kings , The Holy One Blessed Be He , HaShem , Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu . Dovid Ha Melech always spoke of 'Waking the Dawn,' in other words,rising early to serve The Creator.'
The entire Laws of Yiddishkeit and Torah are set so that we will always serve HaShem first before anything.
This is what we are to do , when our First Fruits ripen.It is HaShem first that we thank and acknowledge, for all we have , is by His Kindness and Gift of Love.
If we look at the Name of this Parsha, it is called 'Ki Savo,' which means, 'When you enter.' Looking deeper' we see that it is written with a Hebrew letter 'Tav' which can also refer to the future tense. But in what way can these words be referring to the future tense. We find the answer to this in the Gematriah of the words 'Ki Savo,' which comes to 20 + 10 + 400 + 2 + 6 + 1 = 439 and 4 + 3 + 9 = 16 and 1 + 6 = 7 which is the Gematrical value of the Hebrew word Mashiach , which shows that HaShem could be Telling us that in Mashiach's Time, we will 'Ki Savo' - ' Come into a special closeness with HaShem and finally come and enter into the closeness of HaShem's Love. How can we accomplish this? The answer to that is, by keeping HaShem's Commandments.The very fact that we are to bring the First Fruits, to HaShem , shows that this is a way to bring Mashiach. But how would that bring Mashiach? The answer to that is in the first few lines of this Parsha, with the words 'Meireishis Kol Pri Ha Adamah,' - ' Every First Fruit of the Ground,' where the word 'Adamah' can also refer in connection , to all things physical on this Adamah - Ground - Earth , which we are to bring to HaShem , which means that one of our tasks in this World , is to make all things that are physical, to become holy, by raising their level , the level of the physical , that we interact with and so, bring this very physical World, closer to HaShem , by making it Holy .
The result of this, will be to 'Ki Savo,' to 'Enter into ' HaShem's special Garden at Mashiach's time, the Special Gan Eiden, the Special Garden of Eden . So , thus to bring Mashiach, we need to give of and from our 'Meireishis,' - 'First ,' of everything, which includes our making HaShem and His Commandments, first before anything, first before ourselves.
When we can all learn to give HaShem all of us and make everything we do,to fulfill His Will, then we can look forward to 'Ki Savo,' 'Entering and Coming ,'closer to HaShem .
With Love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love , a Very Special and Sweet and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all , a very special and sweet and beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Friday, 1 September 2017
Parashas Ki Seitsei
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Ki Seitzei.
This Parsha starts by what to do if a soldier goes out to war and sees among the enemy camp a 'Yefas Toar,' -a foreign 'Woman of beautiful form.'The procedure of what to do is outlined here of how she can be brought into the camp and house ,her head to be shaved and her nails to be let grow so her physical beauty will not show and hopefully put off the wishes of the soldier how she is to sit and weep for her parents for a month and hopefully, the soldier will change his mind and not look out of his faith for a wife.For the consequences of him doing that, will possibly lead to the next Law in this Torah Parsha of the Firstborn son, that should not be put second in inheritance if he his mother is not the desired wife.The Yefas Toar could then lead to the following Law that comes up in this Torah Portion , and that is the 'Bein Sorer U' Moreh,' the ' The Wayward and Rebellious son.All starting from the first mistake, of going out of the faith of Yiddishkeit to seek a wife who was not a Jew,Torah Observant and comes from foreign pagan ways.Such a move, is a move to go away from G-D , as the name of this Parsha suggests, for the words ' Ki Seitsei,' mean '' When you go out,' and this is not just a hint of going out to war, but also, When a Jew goes out from HaShem's Will and Torah and Path, he brings upon himself and his people, much hardship.
The Torah Parsha continues to teach about the concern for another person's property. Then ,Torah mentions that men and women must not wear each other's garments, the sending away of the mother bird, building a protective parapet around one's roof ,so as to care about others needs and safety and the holy Tzitzis is then mentioned.
Purity of the Jewish wife is then discussed and Laws against adultery.Torah then discusses forbidden Marriages and nations to whom a Jew may never marry into, nations like the Ammonites and Moabites , who have no inbuilt sense of kindness or purity and morality.We are reminded of the sanctity of the Jewish Camp and what to do with an escaped slave.Then is mentioned about upholding sexual purity and not taking interest and then Laws of Vows are mentioned.
Divorce and Remarriage are then spoken of and the Laws of taking a pledge and what to do with a kidnapper.Tzaraas and slander are mentioned and timely payment of a worker is Commanded as well as gifts to the poor.
Torah then speaks of Lashes and not muzzling the ox, Levirate Marriage for a woman who lost her husband, where he died childless and how his brother shall take on the deceased brother's wife, if they never had children, so as to bring up a child in the deceased brother's succession.Honest weights and measures are mentioned and this Parsha ends with the strong reminder to remember Amalek and what they did to us when we left Mitzrayim,and how they struck those hindmost who were weaker and faint and exhausted and how they did not fear G-D and how we are to wipe them out for all time.
As I mentioned ,when one 'Goes Out' - 'Ki Seitsei,' from HaShem's Commands, one lays oneself open to the physical temptations that brings on destruction and one actually steps away from HaShem .This action of 'Going out' from HaShem's Torah,' is shown very clearly in the 'Yefas Toar,' - 'The Woman of Beautiful Form.' The results of this can bring destruction, as I said, for it can lead to jealousy and finally to a Rebellious and Wayward son.An example of this is seen with Dovid Ha Melech, who married a Yefas Toar called Ma'acha after a war and out of that union,came Avshalom and Tamar .It was Avshalom, who would go and steal support from his Father,when his Father Dovid would sit and Judge and Avshalom would stand outside and persuade people away from his Father , saying he (Avshalom) would give them better judgements.The result of this Avshalom and his mother Ma' acha being a Yefas Toar, led to Avshalom trying to overthrow his Father Dovid and removing them for awhile from the Palace, while Avshalom abused his Father's Concubines.Ma'acha's daughter Tamar,as we know had the incident with Dovid's other son Amnon, who wanted her, where Tamar was not so innocent in causing his interest for she was the daughter of a Yefas Toar and thus a daughter of beautiful form who was the daughter of a Mother of beautiful form.We know the result and fate of Avshalom, where he was killed in the end, by Dovid's General Yoav and his armor-bearers,as Avshalom was riding on a mule and running away. Avshalom had gotten his long hair that he so prided,caught in an Elm Tree's branches, for Avshalom, seeing himself as a holy Nazarite and one ,as he saw himself , of 'beautiful form', never cut his hair.Yoav thrust him through with three staves for the three concubines of Dovid that Avshalom had taken and then the ten armor-bearers of Yoav surrounded Avshalom and killed him.
Such is the result of a Yefas Toar.
So Torah Teaches a very important lesson.The moment we 'Ki Seitsei,' - 'Go Out' from HaShem's Holy Wishes, we lower ourselves spiritually and put ourselves on a pathway to nothing.
This Parsha is filled with beautiful Holy Laws, of how to behave, each one, an act of G-D's Love for us.His Laws are not a means for HaShem to Control us. HaShem is not the One Who Gains by us keeping His Laws.It is us and us alone , for whom, the full benefit of His Laws are given.Thus HaShem's Laws are a beautiful Gift of His Love.To try and change His Laws or lessen them in any way, is to turn away from HaShem.
One may think a slight deviation is not major, but as with travelling on a pathway and suddenly taking one step away from the main pathway a a time and a slight angle away at a time, ends up, that with each step thereafter, the main line falls further and further away till it can't be viewed anymore .
The path of Torah is put there for our safety and it is the only true path that leads to Shamaim.
Our Tanach teaches that Torah was the Foundation of Creation and was there Two Thousand years before the Creation, at the 'Beginning of His Way,' in Making this Creation. We see this in the first word of Torah which is 'Bereishis,' for within this word is the word 'Reishis,' which refers to Torah,for this word means ' It was there at the head of and beginning of His Way of Creation. Thus , Creation exists to keep Torah and we uphold HaShem's Creation by following and observing Torah.To keep Torah is to fulfill Creation and Its Purpose.
Never are we to 'Ki Seitsei,' - ' Go out from it, ' for that would be to turn our backs on Creation ,Chas Ve Shalom.
What is truly of beautiful form, is not that which is outside, but that which is very special and what is within , and that is the beauty of the Laws of The Torah that leads to G-D .
True beauty is not of the changing physical, but of the things that really count and have long lasting value. That which has Eternal Value, is the Essence of Beauty and that is the Torah Light that brings us home to G-D .
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Everlasting Love, a Beautiful Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a beautiful sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.
This Parsha starts by what to do if a soldier goes out to war and sees among the enemy camp a 'Yefas Toar,' -a foreign 'Woman of beautiful form.'The procedure of what to do is outlined here of how she can be brought into the camp and house ,her head to be shaved and her nails to be let grow so her physical beauty will not show and hopefully put off the wishes of the soldier how she is to sit and weep for her parents for a month and hopefully, the soldier will change his mind and not look out of his faith for a wife.For the consequences of him doing that, will possibly lead to the next Law in this Torah Parsha of the Firstborn son, that should not be put second in inheritance if he his mother is not the desired wife.The Yefas Toar could then lead to the following Law that comes up in this Torah Portion , and that is the 'Bein Sorer U' Moreh,' the ' The Wayward and Rebellious son.All starting from the first mistake, of going out of the faith of Yiddishkeit to seek a wife who was not a Jew,Torah Observant and comes from foreign pagan ways.Such a move, is a move to go away from G-D , as the name of this Parsha suggests, for the words ' Ki Seitsei,' mean '' When you go out,' and this is not just a hint of going out to war, but also, When a Jew goes out from HaShem's Will and Torah and Path, he brings upon himself and his people, much hardship.
The Torah Parsha continues to teach about the concern for another person's property. Then ,Torah mentions that men and women must not wear each other's garments, the sending away of the mother bird, building a protective parapet around one's roof ,so as to care about others needs and safety and the holy Tzitzis is then mentioned.
Purity of the Jewish wife is then discussed and Laws against adultery.Torah then discusses forbidden Marriages and nations to whom a Jew may never marry into, nations like the Ammonites and Moabites , who have no inbuilt sense of kindness or purity and morality.We are reminded of the sanctity of the Jewish Camp and what to do with an escaped slave.Then is mentioned about upholding sexual purity and not taking interest and then Laws of Vows are mentioned.
Divorce and Remarriage are then spoken of and the Laws of taking a pledge and what to do with a kidnapper.Tzaraas and slander are mentioned and timely payment of a worker is Commanded as well as gifts to the poor.
Torah then speaks of Lashes and not muzzling the ox, Levirate Marriage for a woman who lost her husband, where he died childless and how his brother shall take on the deceased brother's wife, if they never had children, so as to bring up a child in the deceased brother's succession.Honest weights and measures are mentioned and this Parsha ends with the strong reminder to remember Amalek and what they did to us when we left Mitzrayim,and how they struck those hindmost who were weaker and faint and exhausted and how they did not fear G-D and how we are to wipe them out for all time.
As I mentioned ,when one 'Goes Out' - 'Ki Seitsei,' from HaShem's Commands, one lays oneself open to the physical temptations that brings on destruction and one actually steps away from HaShem .This action of 'Going out' from HaShem's Torah,' is shown very clearly in the 'Yefas Toar,' - 'The Woman of Beautiful Form.' The results of this can bring destruction, as I said, for it can lead to jealousy and finally to a Rebellious and Wayward son.An example of this is seen with Dovid Ha Melech, who married a Yefas Toar called Ma'acha after a war and out of that union,came Avshalom and Tamar .It was Avshalom, who would go and steal support from his Father,when his Father Dovid would sit and Judge and Avshalom would stand outside and persuade people away from his Father , saying he (Avshalom) would give them better judgements.The result of this Avshalom and his mother Ma' acha being a Yefas Toar, led to Avshalom trying to overthrow his Father Dovid and removing them for awhile from the Palace, while Avshalom abused his Father's Concubines.Ma'acha's daughter Tamar,as we know had the incident with Dovid's other son Amnon, who wanted her, where Tamar was not so innocent in causing his interest for she was the daughter of a Yefas Toar and thus a daughter of beautiful form who was the daughter of a Mother of beautiful form.We know the result and fate of Avshalom, where he was killed in the end, by Dovid's General Yoav and his armor-bearers,as Avshalom was riding on a mule and running away. Avshalom had gotten his long hair that he so prided,caught in an Elm Tree's branches, for Avshalom, seeing himself as a holy Nazarite and one ,as he saw himself , of 'beautiful form', never cut his hair.Yoav thrust him through with three staves for the three concubines of Dovid that Avshalom had taken and then the ten armor-bearers of Yoav surrounded Avshalom and killed him.
Such is the result of a Yefas Toar.
So Torah Teaches a very important lesson.The moment we 'Ki Seitsei,' - 'Go Out' from HaShem's Holy Wishes, we lower ourselves spiritually and put ourselves on a pathway to nothing.
This Parsha is filled with beautiful Holy Laws, of how to behave, each one, an act of G-D's Love for us.His Laws are not a means for HaShem to Control us. HaShem is not the One Who Gains by us keeping His Laws.It is us and us alone , for whom, the full benefit of His Laws are given.Thus HaShem's Laws are a beautiful Gift of His Love.To try and change His Laws or lessen them in any way, is to turn away from HaShem.
One may think a slight deviation is not major, but as with travelling on a pathway and suddenly taking one step away from the main pathway a a time and a slight angle away at a time, ends up, that with each step thereafter, the main line falls further and further away till it can't be viewed anymore .
The path of Torah is put there for our safety and it is the only true path that leads to Shamaim.
Our Tanach teaches that Torah was the Foundation of Creation and was there Two Thousand years before the Creation, at the 'Beginning of His Way,' in Making this Creation. We see this in the first word of Torah which is 'Bereishis,' for within this word is the word 'Reishis,' which refers to Torah,for this word means ' It was there at the head of and beginning of His Way of Creation. Thus , Creation exists to keep Torah and we uphold HaShem's Creation by following and observing Torah.To keep Torah is to fulfill Creation and Its Purpose.
Never are we to 'Ki Seitsei,' - ' Go out from it, ' for that would be to turn our backs on Creation ,Chas Ve Shalom.
What is truly of beautiful form, is not that which is outside, but that which is very special and what is within , and that is the beauty of the Laws of The Torah that leads to G-D .
True beauty is not of the changing physical, but of the things that really count and have long lasting value. That which has Eternal Value, is the Essence of Beauty and that is the Torah Light that brings us home to G-D .
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Everlasting Love, a Beautiful Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a beautiful sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.
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