This Shabbos is also Pesach so we don't read a regular Parsha , but focus on the Holy Festival of Pesach.
Hashem Created the World for Shabbos , to enjoy every moment with HaShem . This is true Freedom .Our Physicality binds us and holds us down and only when we get in touch with our Spiritual side, can we truly soar upwards to HaShem.Every day was say a Psalm of the Day, we call it a numbered day of the Sabbath , for all things in Creation are a preparation for Shabbos and hidden as part of the preparation for the Shabbos to come.
The World around us tries to tie us down and keep us tempted to physical delights.Some have the opinion that this is freedom, but how far wrong they are, for their soul is tied down to the physical and can't fly up to HaShem , Who Is Never - Ending .These people live each day for their Yetzer Horahs , and realize only too late , that they have gained nothing of value and haven't truly lived a true Life purpose.
They have lived a life of no meaning and thus haven't truly lived.How sad for them.
HaShem offers us a touch of the Eternal in every Shabbos we Keep. A climb above the mundane, to have the opportunity to touch the Eternal.Shabbos is the final destination of Creation . HaShem , When Creating Creation , Gave too much Light in His Abundant Love of Giving and so Withdrew some of that Light ( and Withdrew Himself a few times to Make Creation for HaShem is All Encompassing in a processes called Tzimtzum ) , and so HaShem Put this Light away for Mashiach's time . A little glimmer of this Light comes down and reaches us every Shabbos and thus ,this full Light HaShem Gave in the Beginning , is the Original Intention of HaShem's Creation .This is the Eternal Shabbos . This is the True Freedom. Freedom in the Loving Arms of HaShem .As we Jews celebrate Pesach and remember how HaShem took us out of Egypt,may we never forget the goodness HaShem Gave us in Freeing us to come close to Him, and out of the lowest spiritual place on Earth at the time - Egypt, the place of inescapable Mitzrayim - Borders.
When we left Egypt, Torah Tells of how when we left, the Matza was so precious to us that we bound it up close on our shoulders, and our other possessions were on our donkeys. So should HaShem and our love for Him,always be precious, for so should we tell our children of HaShem and His Miracles in freeing us from slavery to freedom. We need to work at every Mitzvah of the Torah to make every moment a moment of Heaven and lifting ourselves out of the physical with HaShem's Mitzvos and entering Heaven,realizing the final and true freedom at the End of Days when we live within the Eternal Shabbos.
Wishing HaShem with love, a Blessed Holy Shabbos Kodesh and Sweet Pesach with Love, and to all my fellow Yidden a Blessed Shabbos Kodesh with love and Chag Pesach Sameach.
Friday, 30 March 2018
Friday, 23 March 2018
Parashas Tzav Shabbos Ha Gadol
The Parsha this Shabbos HaGadol before Pesach is Parashas Tzav.
In this Parsha, more details are given on the Korbanos from the perspective of the Kohanim , to whom these Commands were directed.
The first service of the day was to remove the ash of the Altar from the previous day. This is a lesson even for us today, that we must better ourselves every day and work every day to become more holy, raising ourselves from the day before , to higher spiritual heights.
The Meal Offering is discussed again and the Sin Offering followed by a lesson on Kashering.Then the Guilt Offering is mentioned followed by the Thanks-Giving Offering and we are reminded not to eat fat or blood.The Parsha discusses the Consecration of the Kohanim and the dressing of the Kohanim and the Parsha ends with Moshe anointing Aharon and his vestments and Aharon's sons and their vestments.
It being Shabbos Ha Gadol , The Great Sabbath before Pesach , we remember on this Sabbath how we were Commanded to take the lamb in preparation for the Korban , in full view of the egyptians who saw their deity lamb tied to the bedpost. We also remember in these Comandments , the sign on our doorposts - Mezuzos , that we would be passed over at this time in Mitzrayim. The Haftorah for this time before Pesach, is from Malachi 3 :4-24 and deals with offerings of our people to be pleasing to HaShem, as the offering of the Korban , was pleasing. As we were freed then from egypt, so does our Haftorah of this Shabbos before the Pesach Festival of Freedom remind us in the Haftorah , of our Final Redemption with Eliyahu Ha Navi and Mashiach at the End of Days.
The Parsha for this week is called 'Tzav,' which means 'Command.'This word is given in conjunction with the Elevation Offering that is to be kept aflame all night till the morning.
Here HaShem is showing us,with the direct Command Word ' Tzav ' that it is imperative that we be strong in always keeping within us a perpetual flame for HaShem , burning continually and that we not let it go out within us. This is the drive toward Holiness, keeping HaShem's Commandments . HaShem puts it in strong terms, with the word 'Tzav' - ' Command ' to show us that it is so important to keep the fire burning in our souls for HaShem's Torah , for it will lead us to our destination to HaShem ,helping us keep the Mitzvos if a fire burns in love for HaShem within us .
Though HaShem Gives us Free Choice, HaShem here is showing us the importance of elevating ourselves all the time. Not to grow, is to stagnate and not improve and that is akin to not living Chas Ve Shalom. The spark must come from inside of us and the fire must constantly burn in love for HaShem.
This shows that every Mitzvah we do, must be done with energy , love and alacrity .Serving HaShem with only a part of our heart and effort, is like not serving Him at all Chas Ve Shalom . Every ' Commandment' - 'Tzav' we do, must be done with extreme effort and we must never be lax or a habitual in service to our Creator. When we Daven , we must Daven with kevanah and Give HaShem our attention and will, for to do otherwise, our Rabbis say , is like following Avodah Zarah Chas Ve Shalom.
To only take from HaShem and not give HaShem ourselves, is so very wrong.
We notice that in the second verse of this Parsha, the word 'Mokdah' - 'Flame ' has a small ' Mem.' This is as if the word might also read ' 'Kadah' or 'Kadad' , which means ' To Bow,' for the Flame on the Altar was literally looking like an ethereal human form that bowed in honor of HaShem. So must we always be with HaShem (for through the centuries we bowed in humility to HaShem as we walked and the nations mocked the Jews through the centuries for this) for we walked with our heads bowed humbly to HaShem , as it is instructed in Halacha . So must we act, as a bowed humble servant of HaShem at all times, ready always to do His Bidding and follow HaShem's 'Tzav' - ' Command' always humbly, without question .
If we take that little 'Mem ' and put it at the end of the word ' Kadah,' we get 'Kadem ,' or in this case 'Kadmah,' which means,' What came before ,' and also means 'The East,' - the dawn of ' Creation ,' which is what came before ,at the Beginning. So , in humbly following HaShem's 'Tzav'- 'Commands,' we return to the Beginning and to the East and it is there where Gan Eiden is, as it says in Bereishis / Genesis 2:8 , " HaShem Planted a Garden in Eden , to the East," so as we work closer to HaShem, we are working closer to how things were given in the Beginning. Thus in being humble to HaShem and Bowing to only Him, and following only His Commandments, 'Tzav,' we return to the close relationship we had with HaShem in the Beginning and we thus will return to Gan Eiden and Blessed Shamaim .
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with love ,a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to HaShem with love and to my fellow Jews , a Sweet Blessed Pesach of freedom and may HaShem send Mashiach in our days and usher in the End of Days.Good Shabbos and for Pesach Chag Pesach Sameach with love.
In this Parsha, more details are given on the Korbanos from the perspective of the Kohanim , to whom these Commands were directed.
The first service of the day was to remove the ash of the Altar from the previous day. This is a lesson even for us today, that we must better ourselves every day and work every day to become more holy, raising ourselves from the day before , to higher spiritual heights.
The Meal Offering is discussed again and the Sin Offering followed by a lesson on Kashering.Then the Guilt Offering is mentioned followed by the Thanks-Giving Offering and we are reminded not to eat fat or blood.The Parsha discusses the Consecration of the Kohanim and the dressing of the Kohanim and the Parsha ends with Moshe anointing Aharon and his vestments and Aharon's sons and their vestments.
It being Shabbos Ha Gadol , The Great Sabbath before Pesach , we remember on this Sabbath how we were Commanded to take the lamb in preparation for the Korban , in full view of the egyptians who saw their deity lamb tied to the bedpost. We also remember in these Comandments , the sign on our doorposts - Mezuzos , that we would be passed over at this time in Mitzrayim. The Haftorah for this time before Pesach, is from Malachi 3 :4-24 and deals with offerings of our people to be pleasing to HaShem, as the offering of the Korban , was pleasing. As we were freed then from egypt, so does our Haftorah of this Shabbos before the Pesach Festival of Freedom remind us in the Haftorah , of our Final Redemption with Eliyahu Ha Navi and Mashiach at the End of Days.
The Parsha for this week is called 'Tzav,' which means 'Command.'This word is given in conjunction with the Elevation Offering that is to be kept aflame all night till the morning.
Here HaShem is showing us,with the direct Command Word ' Tzav ' that it is imperative that we be strong in always keeping within us a perpetual flame for HaShem , burning continually and that we not let it go out within us. This is the drive toward Holiness, keeping HaShem's Commandments . HaShem puts it in strong terms, with the word 'Tzav' - ' Command ' to show us that it is so important to keep the fire burning in our souls for HaShem's Torah , for it will lead us to our destination to HaShem ,helping us keep the Mitzvos if a fire burns in love for HaShem within us .
Though HaShem Gives us Free Choice, HaShem here is showing us the importance of elevating ourselves all the time. Not to grow, is to stagnate and not improve and that is akin to not living Chas Ve Shalom. The spark must come from inside of us and the fire must constantly burn in love for HaShem.
This shows that every Mitzvah we do, must be done with energy , love and alacrity .Serving HaShem with only a part of our heart and effort, is like not serving Him at all Chas Ve Shalom . Every ' Commandment' - 'Tzav' we do, must be done with extreme effort and we must never be lax or a habitual in service to our Creator. When we Daven , we must Daven with kevanah and Give HaShem our attention and will, for to do otherwise, our Rabbis say , is like following Avodah Zarah Chas Ve Shalom.
To only take from HaShem and not give HaShem ourselves, is so very wrong.
We notice that in the second verse of this Parsha, the word 'Mokdah' - 'Flame ' has a small ' Mem.' This is as if the word might also read ' 'Kadah' or 'Kadad' , which means ' To Bow,' for the Flame on the Altar was literally looking like an ethereal human form that bowed in honor of HaShem. So must we always be with HaShem (for through the centuries we bowed in humility to HaShem as we walked and the nations mocked the Jews through the centuries for this) for we walked with our heads bowed humbly to HaShem , as it is instructed in Halacha . So must we act, as a bowed humble servant of HaShem at all times, ready always to do His Bidding and follow HaShem's 'Tzav' - ' Command' always humbly, without question .
If we take that little 'Mem ' and put it at the end of the word ' Kadah,' we get 'Kadem ,' or in this case 'Kadmah,' which means,' What came before ,' and also means 'The East,' - the dawn of ' Creation ,' which is what came before ,at the Beginning. So , in humbly following HaShem's 'Tzav'- 'Commands,' we return to the Beginning and to the East and it is there where Gan Eiden is, as it says in Bereishis / Genesis 2:8 , " HaShem Planted a Garden in Eden , to the East," so as we work closer to HaShem, we are working closer to how things were given in the Beginning. Thus in being humble to HaShem and Bowing to only Him, and following only His Commandments, 'Tzav,' we return to the close relationship we had with HaShem in the Beginning and we thus will return to Gan Eiden and Blessed Shamaim .
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with love ,a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to HaShem with love and to my fellow Jews , a Sweet Blessed Pesach of freedom and may HaShem send Mashiach in our days and usher in the End of Days.Good Shabbos and for Pesach Chag Pesach Sameach with love.
Friday, 16 March 2018
Parashas Vayikra
Our Parsha this Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Nissan,is Parashas Vayikra. This Parsha starts off the Third Book of the Torah and was known as 'Toras Kohanim,' the ' Book of the Priests,' for this Book is mainly about the Laws of the Kohanim and Korbanos Offerings . In the previous Parsha, all the work for the Tabernacle and Altars were completed and all the articles and clothing of the Kohanim Priests were finished being made.It was then that HaShem's Glory filled the Tabernacle , and so , it was now time for the Kohanim (from the Tribe of Levi - the Levites [as this Book "Vayikra" is known also as "Leviticus" ] ) to do their Avodas HaShem , so this Parsha follows on from the previous Parsha and this is also shown in the text , where this Parsha starts with a "Ve" before the word 'Vayikra,' which is the first word of this Book and Parsha, thus connecting the previous Parsha to this one.
Now that HaShem has Filled the Tabernacle, He now "Vayikra," - 'Called," to Moshe from the Tent of Meeting and Told Moshe to instruct the Kohanim and B'nei Yisrael on the Korbanos. The Parsha talks of the different Korbanos to be brought, and not only for Aveirahs, but also for "Olah" - Elevation Offerings ; "Mincha" - Meal Offerings ( including Salt, which was to accompany every Mincha Offering , as a Covenant that was made with HaShem at the beginning of Creation when HaShem Split the lower waters with the upper ones , that HaShem Said that a part of the lower waters ( containing Salt - would accompany the offerings so that the lower waters too could rise to HaShem ) ; "Zevach Shlamim " - Feast Peace Offerings ; "Chatas" - Sin Offering ( which could only be brought for an unintentional Sin , thus HaShem would not allow an Offering Korban to be brought for an intentional Sin at all ). ; an "Asham" - Guilt Offering and it is here that the Parsha ends . Seeing as this Shabbos is also Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the Maftir of Parashas HaChodesh is from the Book of Shemos - Exodus 12:1-20, dealing with Rosh Chodesh the New Moon and also Pesach Laws and the Haftorah is in Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 45:16-46:18 , dealing with Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh New Moon .
The word "Vayikra," means "Called," and it refers to HaShem Calling Moshe to instruct the B'nei Yisrael and the Kohanim. But on a deeper level, the Tabernacle has been built and HaShem Has Come to Reside within the vicinity of our people and so , now , HaShem is also Calling us closer to Him to come and meet Him and be at one with Him .This is similar to the idea in Mashiach's time, where HaShem will Show His Shechinah and we will be called to come out and meet Him with love.
In a Torah Scroll, we notice that in the word "Vayikra, the last letter of the word "Vayikra," is a Hebrew letter Alef, and it is written smaller than the other letters. Our Rabbis say that when HaShem asked Moshe to write the word with all the letters the same size, Moshe was unhappy for Moshe knew that later on in the Torah,Bilaam would be referred to with the word "Vayikar" ( without the Alef at the end ) in Numbers 23:16 , which can also mean 'Chance Happening' ( suggesting that HaShem only met with Bilaam out of necessity and not lovingly ) , and so in humility, Moshe objected making himself humbly unworthy and so, a compromise was reached between HaShem and Moshe , that the word here would be written as " Vayikra " , but with the Alef made smaller so it would appear that Moshe is being addressed in no greater a way than Bilaam ( as 'Vayikar' ) and thus Moshe was making HaShem's Revelation appear no more grand to Moshe than it was to Bilaam , out of pure humility, so that Moshe would not look greater . What a humble special person is beloved Moshe .
HaShem could also thus have made the letter 'Alef' smaller for this reason , to show His Acknowledgement of Moshe's Humility.
Another possible reason for the Alef here to be written smaller, could also be to make out that the Alef should appear as a separate word to the "Vayikar", for the word 'Yakar' means 'Dear,' and the Alef refers to HaShem and His Name which sometimes starts with an Alef ( Elokim ) and this shows that HaShem Must be Dear to us and we are Dear to HaShem and all we do and follow must be toward the path of Holiness to come closer to HaShem. This could also show how Dear HaShem is to Moshe ( so humble ) and also how Dear Moshe is to HaShem.
One of the ideas of Korbanos is to come closer to HaShem . Within the word ' Korbanos ,' is the word ,' Karov ,' which means 'To Come Close ,'and by giving ourselves to HaShem in love and doing all He Asks of us, we are coming closer to Him . The Korbanos also show that HaShem is merciful and accepts our Teshuvah. ( Repentance ) because He Loves us and Wants the best for us. HaShem is always " Vayikra " - " Calling " us 'Karov' - ' Closer ' to Him ,with each Mitzva, with each Law and ordinance, with each moral lesson we learn , with each breath of wind in the air that He Gives us, with each test we are put through , all is designed to raise our levels of Holiness and Correct ourselves so we can come ' Karov ' - ' Closer to ' HaShem's "Vayikra " - " Calling ."
How close we come is a choice given to us , though HaShem Longs for our closeness, yet Loves us enough to let us make our way to Him with every choice that comes our way. How we travel that road and how easy it is, is left up to us . If we love HaShem with everything we do and follow Him with every breath we have, we will be at one with His Love. The Torah directions are there to also guide us, but we have to take that step toward HaShem all the time to reach for HaShem's Closeness.It is up to us. The Torah Laws are our Lighthouse to guide us safely to the shore of HaShem's Love. All we need to do is follow His Light through the Torah , and Creation can reach its intended goal, to bring all Creation back to the Spirituality and Holiness to be close to HaShem in love .All things lead back to the beginning before the Aveirah was originally made . This whole process of the Olam Hazeh in this Present World , is to lead us back in lessons and growing and love, to Gan Eiden . But we all need to first heed HaShem's "Vayikra ," - " Call ." We see this in the Gematria of the Word " Vayaker," which comes to 316 , where 3+1+6 = 10 ( 1+0= 1 ) which is 1 , thus all leads back to the One True HaShem and HaShem's Ten Commandments and the Ten Pronouncements that started Creation where the 'Alef' representing HaShem , Is our Beloved Creator before Creation , Who Created Creation , but when we put the Alef together with 'Vayaker,' we get " Vayikra," where we come close to and be at one with HaShem , for then HaShem will Call us Home.
I wish HaShem With Love , a Most Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov Nissan with Love and to all , a most beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov Nissan with love .
Now that HaShem has Filled the Tabernacle, He now "Vayikra," - 'Called," to Moshe from the Tent of Meeting and Told Moshe to instruct the Kohanim and B'nei Yisrael on the Korbanos. The Parsha talks of the different Korbanos to be brought, and not only for Aveirahs, but also for "Olah" - Elevation Offerings ; "Mincha" - Meal Offerings ( including Salt, which was to accompany every Mincha Offering , as a Covenant that was made with HaShem at the beginning of Creation when HaShem Split the lower waters with the upper ones , that HaShem Said that a part of the lower waters ( containing Salt - would accompany the offerings so that the lower waters too could rise to HaShem ) ; "Zevach Shlamim " - Feast Peace Offerings ; "Chatas" - Sin Offering ( which could only be brought for an unintentional Sin , thus HaShem would not allow an Offering Korban to be brought for an intentional Sin at all ). ; an "Asham" - Guilt Offering and it is here that the Parsha ends . Seeing as this Shabbos is also Rosh Chodesh Nissan, the Maftir of Parashas HaChodesh is from the Book of Shemos - Exodus 12:1-20, dealing with Rosh Chodesh the New Moon and also Pesach Laws and the Haftorah is in Yechezkel (Ezekiel) 45:16-46:18 , dealing with Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh New Moon .
The word "Vayikra," means "Called," and it refers to HaShem Calling Moshe to instruct the B'nei Yisrael and the Kohanim. But on a deeper level, the Tabernacle has been built and HaShem Has Come to Reside within the vicinity of our people and so , now , HaShem is also Calling us closer to Him to come and meet Him and be at one with Him .This is similar to the idea in Mashiach's time, where HaShem will Show His Shechinah and we will be called to come out and meet Him with love.
In a Torah Scroll, we notice that in the word "Vayikra, the last letter of the word "Vayikra," is a Hebrew letter Alef, and it is written smaller than the other letters. Our Rabbis say that when HaShem asked Moshe to write the word with all the letters the same size, Moshe was unhappy for Moshe knew that later on in the Torah,Bilaam would be referred to with the word "Vayikar" ( without the Alef at the end ) in Numbers 23:16 , which can also mean 'Chance Happening' ( suggesting that HaShem only met with Bilaam out of necessity and not lovingly ) , and so in humility, Moshe objected making himself humbly unworthy and so, a compromise was reached between HaShem and Moshe , that the word here would be written as " Vayikra " , but with the Alef made smaller so it would appear that Moshe is being addressed in no greater a way than Bilaam ( as 'Vayikar' ) and thus Moshe was making HaShem's Revelation appear no more grand to Moshe than it was to Bilaam , out of pure humility, so that Moshe would not look greater . What a humble special person is beloved Moshe .
HaShem could also thus have made the letter 'Alef' smaller for this reason , to show His Acknowledgement of Moshe's Humility.
Another possible reason for the Alef here to be written smaller, could also be to make out that the Alef should appear as a separate word to the "Vayikar", for the word 'Yakar' means 'Dear,' and the Alef refers to HaShem and His Name which sometimes starts with an Alef ( Elokim ) and this shows that HaShem Must be Dear to us and we are Dear to HaShem and all we do and follow must be toward the path of Holiness to come closer to HaShem. This could also show how Dear HaShem is to Moshe ( so humble ) and also how Dear Moshe is to HaShem.
One of the ideas of Korbanos is to come closer to HaShem . Within the word ' Korbanos ,' is the word ,' Karov ,' which means 'To Come Close ,'and by giving ourselves to HaShem in love and doing all He Asks of us, we are coming closer to Him . The Korbanos also show that HaShem is merciful and accepts our Teshuvah. ( Repentance ) because He Loves us and Wants the best for us. HaShem is always " Vayikra " - " Calling " us 'Karov' - ' Closer ' to Him ,with each Mitzva, with each Law and ordinance, with each moral lesson we learn , with each breath of wind in the air that He Gives us, with each test we are put through , all is designed to raise our levels of Holiness and Correct ourselves so we can come ' Karov ' - ' Closer to ' HaShem's "Vayikra " - " Calling ."
How close we come is a choice given to us , though HaShem Longs for our closeness, yet Loves us enough to let us make our way to Him with every choice that comes our way. How we travel that road and how easy it is, is left up to us . If we love HaShem with everything we do and follow Him with every breath we have, we will be at one with His Love. The Torah directions are there to also guide us, but we have to take that step toward HaShem all the time to reach for HaShem's Closeness.It is up to us. The Torah Laws are our Lighthouse to guide us safely to the shore of HaShem's Love. All we need to do is follow His Light through the Torah , and Creation can reach its intended goal, to bring all Creation back to the Spirituality and Holiness to be close to HaShem in love .All things lead back to the beginning before the Aveirah was originally made . This whole process of the Olam Hazeh in this Present World , is to lead us back in lessons and growing and love, to Gan Eiden . But we all need to first heed HaShem's "Vayikra ," - " Call ." We see this in the Gematria of the Word " Vayaker," which comes to 316 , where 3+1+6 = 10 ( 1+0= 1 ) which is 1 , thus all leads back to the One True HaShem and HaShem's Ten Commandments and the Ten Pronouncements that started Creation where the 'Alef' representing HaShem , Is our Beloved Creator before Creation , Who Created Creation , but when we put the Alef together with 'Vayaker,' we get " Vayikra," where we come close to and be at one with HaShem , for then HaShem will Call us Home.
I wish HaShem With Love , a Most Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov Nissan with Love and to all , a most beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Chodesh Tov Nissan with love .
Friday, 9 March 2018
Parashas Vayakhel - Pekudei - Shabbos Parah
Our Parsha this Shabbos is a Double Portion of Vayakhel-Pekudei ,that brings us to the end of the Book of Shemos - Exodus ,on this Shabbos Parah,the Shabbos coming after Purim, where in addition to reading the Double Portions of " Vayakhel - Pekudei " ,the Maftir is read from Numbers 19:1-22 ,which concerns the Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer,read now in reminder of the fact that people need to purify themselves just before the Pilgrim Festival leading up to Pesach.Thus the Haftorah of Shabbos Parah deals with Purification and is found in Yechezkel - Ezekiel 36:16-38.
The Parsha starts with "Vayakhel," which in English means "Assembled," where Moshe "Vayakhel." -"Assembles" the entire Assembly of the Children of Israel to give HaShem's Commands, starting with the Shabbos Command and then going onto the Construction of the Tabernacle .Betzalel son of Uri son of Hur is chosen, with Oholiav son of Ahisamach , to make all that HaShem has Commanded.This Parsha continues with all that was made,including the Ark,the Cover, the Shulchan ( Table ) and the Menorah as well as the Incense Altar,the Elevation- Offering Altar, the Kiyor - Laver , the Courtyard and the Screen.All that was Commanded to be made, had special significance in their own right and the Tabernacle was like a representation of a Physical Shamaim - Heaven and a place where HaShem Could be among us .HaShem Asked us to make a place for Him. Here, HaShem could Make A Place for Himself , among us. Just as HaShem Asked us to make a place for HaShem to Dwell among us, that also includes, a place within us all , for HaShem to dwell among us , within our heart and soul.
Parashas Pekudei continues with the making of the Holy Articles for the Priests and High Priest, where the word "Pekudei," means "Reckonings," in reference to the only thing in life that is worth Reckoning or Counting , and that be those things that are to do with HaShem and His Holiness as well as that HaShem 'Reckons' and 'Counts,' all the Good we give and do .Here, the materials for the work are mentioned, and the making of Aharon's Vestment, the Ephod,the Breatsplate, the Robe of the Ephod, the Linen Tunics, and the Ttzitz- which was the Holy Head-plate, with the words " Holy To HaShem," on it . Each part that the Priest and High Priest wore, had special significance in atoning for different things and for other deep reasons.When all the parts were built, they were brought to Moshe, whom HaShem Commanded to put it all together.
After Moshe had done that, the Cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and HaShem's Glory filled the Tabernacle.When the Cloud was raised from upon the Tabernacle , the Children of Israel would know to travel and when the Cloud remained on the Tabernacle, the Children of Israel would know , not to travel but to wait.The Cloud of HaShem would be on the Tabernacle by day and Fire at night. And here ends the Book of Shemos - Exodus.
If we put the two words together that these two Parshas are named, we get "Vayakhel Pekudei," which means 'Assembled Reckonings."
Thus our nation really comes together when we let ourselves be counted as one nation, when we all remember as Jews that we are one nation. The word 'Vayakhel,' has within it the word 'Kehillah,' which refers to a single people in mind and intention, in following HaShem Only , and the word 'Pekudei,' has within it the word "Pakod," which means "Remember," and is often said in reference to HaShem Remembering us and then Saving us and Redeeming us.And here lies the clue to the Final Salvation. That HaShem Will Reckon us as worthy of being saved, when we can all stand together,assembled together as One, under HaShem , all doing His Wishes. If we take both these words "Vayakhel," and "Pekudei," and add up there Gematriah, it comes to 351 , where 3+5+1 = 9 and if we all join with HaShem , Who is One - "1" we come to the Number 9+1=10, the Number of Completion and the Number of the Pronouncements that HaShem Spoke to Create Creation as well as the number of the Ten Commandments , thus we return to HaShem's original intention of following HaShem and His Commandments and we all become one with HaShem , for 10 is 1+0 = 1 , thus we all become one with HaShem in love , by joining together to keep HaShem's Commandments.
We note that in the Parsha of "Vayakhel," HaShem assembles us to tell us of the Laws of the Shabbos and then the Laws of Constructing the Tabernacle are given. Our Rabbis say that there were 39 Labors - "Av Melachos " connected with the construction of the Tabernacle and all that it included, and so, seeing that HaShem put the instruction of the Tabernacle, straight next to and after the Command here of the Shabbos, we learn that these same 39 Melachos are also the Av Melachos forbidden to be done on the Shabbos and that these Labors , were directly and deeply Connected to HaShem Creating Creation.
But how do we best serve HaShem . The answer to this is also in these two Parshas that are put here as a Double Parsha. The answer is within the name of the main person who constructed what HaShem Wanted Constructed .His name was Betzalel.But what is it about this holy person's name that teaches us how to serve HaShem. It is what is within his name, for the name Betzalel , has within it , 'Betzal El,' which means , "In the Shadow of HaShem ," for Betzalel, in humility, did all for the Glory of HaShem , without a single personal feeling of gain for himself, in the 'Shadow of the Almighty,' to do only HaShem's Bidding and Wish , following HaShem. Only as a Shadow follows the Main . Thus, the answer to serving HaShem , is to be as a Shadow that does all that HaShem Wants us to do, without question, emulating HaShem's Ways always and Walking always in HaShem's Laws and Light, for a shadow is a reflection only from its source, as we must reflect HaShem's Holy Light from HaShem , outwards to the World.
What is the best way to thus accomplish HaShem's Wish and destination for Creation? The answer to that is to "Vayakhel Pekudei," to Reckon and Remember all HaShem Wants of us and to Assemble and stand together as one , in the Holy Shadow of HaShem .
With love, I wish HaShem with Love , a Special Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with Love, and to all, a special sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.
The Parsha starts with "Vayakhel," which in English means "Assembled," where Moshe "Vayakhel." -"Assembles" the entire Assembly of the Children of Israel to give HaShem's Commands, starting with the Shabbos Command and then going onto the Construction of the Tabernacle .Betzalel son of Uri son of Hur is chosen, with Oholiav son of Ahisamach , to make all that HaShem has Commanded.This Parsha continues with all that was made,including the Ark,the Cover, the Shulchan ( Table ) and the Menorah as well as the Incense Altar,the Elevation- Offering Altar, the Kiyor - Laver , the Courtyard and the Screen.All that was Commanded to be made, had special significance in their own right and the Tabernacle was like a representation of a Physical Shamaim - Heaven and a place where HaShem Could be among us .HaShem Asked us to make a place for Him. Here, HaShem could Make A Place for Himself , among us. Just as HaShem Asked us to make a place for HaShem to Dwell among us, that also includes, a place within us all , for HaShem to dwell among us , within our heart and soul.
Parashas Pekudei continues with the making of the Holy Articles for the Priests and High Priest, where the word "Pekudei," means "Reckonings," in reference to the only thing in life that is worth Reckoning or Counting , and that be those things that are to do with HaShem and His Holiness as well as that HaShem 'Reckons' and 'Counts,' all the Good we give and do .Here, the materials for the work are mentioned, and the making of Aharon's Vestment, the Ephod,the Breatsplate, the Robe of the Ephod, the Linen Tunics, and the Ttzitz- which was the Holy Head-plate, with the words " Holy To HaShem," on it . Each part that the Priest and High Priest wore, had special significance in atoning for different things and for other deep reasons.When all the parts were built, they were brought to Moshe, whom HaShem Commanded to put it all together.
After Moshe had done that, the Cloud covered the Tent of Meeting and HaShem's Glory filled the Tabernacle.When the Cloud was raised from upon the Tabernacle , the Children of Israel would know to travel and when the Cloud remained on the Tabernacle, the Children of Israel would know , not to travel but to wait.The Cloud of HaShem would be on the Tabernacle by day and Fire at night. And here ends the Book of Shemos - Exodus.
If we put the two words together that these two Parshas are named, we get "Vayakhel Pekudei," which means 'Assembled Reckonings."
Thus our nation really comes together when we let ourselves be counted as one nation, when we all remember as Jews that we are one nation. The word 'Vayakhel,' has within it the word 'Kehillah,' which refers to a single people in mind and intention, in following HaShem Only , and the word 'Pekudei,' has within it the word "Pakod," which means "Remember," and is often said in reference to HaShem Remembering us and then Saving us and Redeeming us.And here lies the clue to the Final Salvation. That HaShem Will Reckon us as worthy of being saved, when we can all stand together,assembled together as One, under HaShem , all doing His Wishes. If we take both these words "Vayakhel," and "Pekudei," and add up there Gematriah, it comes to 351 , where 3+5+1 = 9 and if we all join with HaShem , Who is One - "1" we come to the Number 9+1=10, the Number of Completion and the Number of the Pronouncements that HaShem Spoke to Create Creation as well as the number of the Ten Commandments , thus we return to HaShem's original intention of following HaShem and His Commandments and we all become one with HaShem , for 10 is 1+0 = 1 , thus we all become one with HaShem in love , by joining together to keep HaShem's Commandments.
We note that in the Parsha of "Vayakhel," HaShem assembles us to tell us of the Laws of the Shabbos and then the Laws of Constructing the Tabernacle are given. Our Rabbis say that there were 39 Labors - "Av Melachos " connected with the construction of the Tabernacle and all that it included, and so, seeing that HaShem put the instruction of the Tabernacle, straight next to and after the Command here of the Shabbos, we learn that these same 39 Melachos are also the Av Melachos forbidden to be done on the Shabbos and that these Labors , were directly and deeply Connected to HaShem Creating Creation.
But how do we best serve HaShem . The answer to this is also in these two Parshas that are put here as a Double Parsha. The answer is within the name of the main person who constructed what HaShem Wanted Constructed .His name was Betzalel.But what is it about this holy person's name that teaches us how to serve HaShem. It is what is within his name, for the name Betzalel , has within it , 'Betzal El,' which means , "In the Shadow of HaShem ," for Betzalel, in humility, did all for the Glory of HaShem , without a single personal feeling of gain for himself, in the 'Shadow of the Almighty,' to do only HaShem's Bidding and Wish , following HaShem. Only as a Shadow follows the Main . Thus, the answer to serving HaShem , is to be as a Shadow that does all that HaShem Wants us to do, without question, emulating HaShem's Ways always and Walking always in HaShem's Laws and Light, for a shadow is a reflection only from its source, as we must reflect HaShem's Holy Light from HaShem , outwards to the World.
What is the best way to thus accomplish HaShem's Wish and destination for Creation? The answer to that is to "Vayakhel Pekudei," to Reckon and Remember all HaShem Wants of us and to Assemble and stand together as one , in the Holy Shadow of HaShem .
With love, I wish HaShem with Love , a Special Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with Love, and to all, a special sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.
Friday, 2 March 2018
Parashas Ki Sissa
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Ki Sissa.The words 'Ki Sissa,' means "When you take a Census," and refers to the Half Shekel that was to be given by each person for the construction and upkeep of the Tabernacle.We should never count people or souls directly but rather use a coin or other object to count people so there will not be an 'Ain Horah ,' - ' An Evil Eye,' on the amount of people counted for Evil always tries to lessen Good and Good People. Our Rabbis tell us many reasons why it was half a shekel.Two Halves make a whole and this reminds us that no Jew must be an Island alone, but must stand together with their fellow Jew.It was also a relatively small amount and this allowed all to be able to contribute, rich and poor alike, and thus taught that what is important, is not how much one has , but with what love in heart one gives to the cause, and that each and every Jew has equal value in this World and that one must be humble and know that we are all the same in HaShem's Eyes, depending on how we behave and how we keep His Commandments.
We note that this was to be given to atone for our souls, yet up till now, no major Aveirah had yet been mentioned . Sadly one was about to come and is talked of in this Parsha, the 'Chait Ha Eigel,'the 'Sin of the golden calf.' Some of our Sages like Rashi say that this Command to give the half-shekel was given after the sin of the calf, but other sages say this was given before.
Suffice it to say., HaShem Sees the future and Knew what we would do, yet Hoped we would not do that,for Free Choice is always given us and we can always change our destiny at any moment.HaShem Could have given us this Law of the Half-Shekel , so we would be able to atone for this terrible sin of the Chait Ha Eigel .How merciful and loving is HaShem , even when we wrong Him so deeply, for He Prepares a way before our wrong to help us fix it. The same was His Kindness in Making the solution to Adam and Chava leaving the Garden of Eden and us all thus ending up here, for HaShem there too Prepared the solution to this original Aveirah , before their Sin and this solution from HaShem is Mashiach. So Merciful is HaShem, if we could only make ourselves worthy.
Our Rabbis bring up another interesting thought,which so fits this time of Purim, for in the Megillah of Esther, we note that haman paid a certain amount into the royal treasuries for annihilating us Jews, and the amount of the Half Shekel that HaShem asked of us so many years before the Purim happening, matched it, even though HaShem had Asked us for this Half Shekel so many years before it even happened.How HaShem watches over us.
After the Commandment of the Half Shekel, which we Jews still keep today and give at this time of the Jewish Year,HaShem Commanded about the making of the Copper Laver - Kiyor for Sanctity (made from the Copper Mirrors that the Jewish Women used in mitzrayim,to beautify themselves for their husbands so that their husbands would come in tired from slavery and be with their wives so children could be conceived and the nation would continue to grow,in contrary to Pharaoh's attempts to try stop the growth of our Jewish people) , and then the making of the Holy Anointment Oil, where the one that Moshe organized, is still in the World today, hidden till Moshiach Comes, and this Holy Oil is not allowed to be replicated for any other purpose than HaShem Commands.
Then HaShem Commands Moshe about Miriam's relative, Betzalel son of Uri, son of Chur,from the Tribe of Yehudah, who will, at thirteen years old, do all the building of the Tabernacle and other things HaShem Commanded , for he would be able to see how the Heavenly Parts look, on which it will be modeled.He was to be helped by Oholiav , son of Ahisamach of the Tribe of Dan. Here again, HaShem Looks into the future , and Rewards the family of Chur, for his sacrifice of being killed when he tried to stop the airev rav building the golden calf.
HaShem then Teaches of the Shabbos and its Holiness to our people.
The Parsha then goes on with the tragic event of the Chait Ha Eigel.But what really happened here.
Moshe had said he would be gone for forty days and return. The date he was to return was on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, on which he came down with the Tablets, and saw the revelry around the golden calf and it was on this day, the 17th of Tammuz, that the Tablets were broken.This day is a Fast Day for us Jews.
Moshe , as I just mentioned , said he would be forty days.
Down in the Camp, the Eirev Rav, the egyptian and other people that Moshe had brought with the Jews, started to agitate, that the fortieth day had arrived and Moshe was still not back.They had actually miscalculated, for Moshe had gone off at noon and that day was not counted , as the start of the day would be a full day from the coming evening, so they were incorrect.Satan had let the people see a physical manifestation of Moshe above the Mount, so some believed Moshe had passed.This was in reality, Moshe's Physicality, for Moshe had extended himself past the physical while being up there so long with HaShem. Chur,tried to calm them but they would not be calmed , and in their violence, they killed Chur. They then went to Aharon, complaining how they have to travel outside the Clouds of Glory and can't walk within the Camp of the Children of Israel.Aharon tried to calm their fervor, but they wouldn't listen and these 3000 airev rav got more violent and aggressive and persuasive in making doubt among the people. They demanded Aharon to make a Calf to lead them.Aharon asked for the Jewelry , hoping against hope that the people would not part with it and he might delay, for as he said,'A Festival for HaShem Tomorrow,' for he knew that Moshe would return and that he might delay them long enough. But to no avail, they demanded that the women hand over their earrings. The women refused, to give them for such an unholy cause and the women were rewarded in the end by reaching Eretz Yisroel and also having Rosh Chodesh in their honor , not to have to work on it. The Eirev Rav and now those who they had persuaded, tore the rings from the women's ears ,and brought it to Aharon and insisted he fashion it into a calf. He threw it into the fire without forming it, hoping it would melt, but the two sons of Bilaam (from the family of Lavan), Yanus and Yambrus , using the negative powers of Tum'a and with the help of a young man called Micha, whom Moshe had saved from being put in the wall in Egypt, threw into the furnace a scroll, that Moshe had used to raise Yosef from the Nile to take him out of Egypt, with the words on the scroll 'Alay Shor,' which meant ' Arise Ox,' (the word 'Ox' was a description that Yosef's Father Yaakov had used for Yosef in Yaakov's final Blessing to his sons as if to say that Yosef was steadfast in keeping Yiddishkeit even in a foreign land) and out of the furnace, a living Golden Calf emerged, bleating and walking. The Eirev Rav didn't stop there,for they made twelve other calves for each Tribe, and thus said to the Jews ' these are your gods (plural) oh Israel .' Some worshiped it,while others wanted to bring offerings to it and others just saw it as an intermediary Chas Ve Shalom .The Leviyim did not get involved as didn't the majority of the people.
While the Eirev Rav were sacrificing to the calf, HaShem was in the process of Writing the Ten Commandments on the Tablets. HaShem Became very angry and Said to Moshe to go down for his people had become corrupt. The reason HaShem Referred to them as Moshe's people, was in reference to the Eirev Rav - The Mixed Multitude, for HaShem Had Advised Moshe that they should not be brought along.Moshe ,being filled with compassion,felt sorry for them.HaShem said to Moshe that Moshe should leave HaShem's Presence so that HaShem Could Destroy the people in an instant and Make Moshe a great nation. This was a hint to Moshe not to leave so HaShem Would not Destroy us. True to form, Moshe humbly pleaded for the people and did not accept just for himself that HaShem Would only Bless him . Moshe pleaded and pleaded and only when mentioning the Patriarchs, did HaShem relent to a small extent.
Moshe descended with the Miraculous Tablets , within which the letters floated within and that read the same on both sides.On the way down, Moshe passed Joshua, who had faithfully waited for Moshe the whole forty days.When they reached the bottom and saw the people's revelry, Moshe was very angry and held up the Tablets, whose letters had now left the Tablets and risen back to HaShem , ready to smash them.The Elders tried to stop him, but Moshe was stronger .The Tablets were shattered at the foot of the Mountain.The calf was burned and ground into fine powder and sprinkled over the water and like an unfaithful spouse, became a drink like of the Sotah.The people were made to drink.
HaShem Agreed with the action of breaking the Tablets, for HaShem Knew that Moshe reasoned that the Tablets being received by the people, would be like a Marriage Contract , and if the people had not yet received it, they would not be judged so harshly.
Moshe questioned Aharon, who said that the gold was thrown into the fire and a calf just emerged.Aharon was punished by losing his two sons later on.He was to lose four of them, but Moshe's prayers saved the other two sons.Moshe again went to plead with HaShem for the people, even being prepared to sacrifice himself for them, but HaShen would not allow that.
HaShem said He would Send now his Angel to guide them and Moshe again pleaded that he would not want the people to leave till HaShem relented and led them Himself.
Moshe followed HaShem's example and pitched his tent 2000 amos from the Camp (The Shabbos limit ) and the people would rise when he spoke.Moshe then pleaded for HaShem's nearness and asked to understand HaShem Way of running the World.HaShem Showed Moshe a part of His Back, that was so powerful, it even shone through solid rock in the depths of a cave.For HaShem's Face may not be seen.
HaShem asked Moshe to take the Sapphire that miraculously appeared under Moshe's Tent and to carve two Stone Tablets and again, to come up the Mountain.It was on the 1st of Elul that Moshe went up again with the Second Tablets and HaShem Inscribed them again and also Taught Moshe the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, that we can say to HaShem to gain mercy and favor of forgiveness . Moshe again requests that HaShem Lead the people directly and not just an angel of HaShem.
HaShem Reminds us again near the end of this Parsha, against Avodah Zarah - Idol Worship and breaking the nations idols when coming into the land of Israel , the Festival of Matzos, the Laws of the Firstborn,the Holy Shabbos and the other Pilgrim Festivals of Shavuos and Succos and of Offerings and not to cook a kid in it's mothers milk and the Kashrus of Laws of our people.
Moshe came down from Har Sinai after again 40 days of not eating and drinking , with the Two Tablets ,and the date was the 10th of Tishrei, a day to be remembered for all time that HaShem Had Relented and forgiven us , the day that is Yom Kippur.
When Moshe came down, his face had become radiant and he had to cover his face.when not speaking Torah to them.Here, the Parsha of Ki Sissa ends.
HaShem is beyond Patient with us all and Constantly is Merciful with our Aveirahs, Continuing to Give us life and Hoping that we will change. It is so amazing how long HaShem Waits for us to be good.Even before we sin, HaShem in His Foresight and Mercy,prepares ways for us to Atone and fix what we do.The whole tragic event of the Chait Ha Eigel, teaches us the Love of HaShem and how , no matter what we do, we can always choose to return and do Teshuva and make up for the sins we do. It is never too late and we must never think ourselves so bad that we can't return to Him. HaShem Waits on us and Opens His Loving Arms to us every single morning, for us to just come back. If only we would.
The very fact that HaShem gave us such a small amount as Half a Shekel to contribute , to atone for our souls and that HaShem forgave the most grievous of Sins to Him, as the Chet ha Eigel, and instituted Yom Kippur, shows His Mercy and True Love for His Creation. No one is so Perfect that they never make a human mistake. It is what we do with it when we do,turning away from it and fixing it , never to repeat that Aveirah again, being truly sorry to HaShem. HaShem can always be reached. Without the need for intermediaries. HaShem awaits us to have a direct relationship with Him. He is our G-D and we are His Creation.
And if we live a life like Moshe did, not thinking of ourselves, but of our fellow people and work to lead them to the way of HaShem and love HaShem beyond ourselves, we then let our very souls radiate outwards toward the rest of Creation , and fulfill our very destinies for HaShem and count our lives as true living.
None of us are meant to be an Island. We are to work together with our fellow Jews (like the Half Shekel coming together with another Half Shekel to form a Whole ) and all of Creation , to make Creation into what HaShem Wants it to be , for our Good. We are all in Creation together and HaShem Created all.Let us all work together for HaShem .
With Love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love , a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all, a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.
We note that this was to be given to atone for our souls, yet up till now, no major Aveirah had yet been mentioned . Sadly one was about to come and is talked of in this Parsha, the 'Chait Ha Eigel,'the 'Sin of the golden calf.' Some of our Sages like Rashi say that this Command to give the half-shekel was given after the sin of the calf, but other sages say this was given before.
Suffice it to say., HaShem Sees the future and Knew what we would do, yet Hoped we would not do that,for Free Choice is always given us and we can always change our destiny at any moment.HaShem Could have given us this Law of the Half-Shekel , so we would be able to atone for this terrible sin of the Chait Ha Eigel .How merciful and loving is HaShem , even when we wrong Him so deeply, for He Prepares a way before our wrong to help us fix it. The same was His Kindness in Making the solution to Adam and Chava leaving the Garden of Eden and us all thus ending up here, for HaShem there too Prepared the solution to this original Aveirah , before their Sin and this solution from HaShem is Mashiach. So Merciful is HaShem, if we could only make ourselves worthy.
Our Rabbis bring up another interesting thought,which so fits this time of Purim, for in the Megillah of Esther, we note that haman paid a certain amount into the royal treasuries for annihilating us Jews, and the amount of the Half Shekel that HaShem asked of us so many years before the Purim happening, matched it, even though HaShem had Asked us for this Half Shekel so many years before it even happened.How HaShem watches over us.
After the Commandment of the Half Shekel, which we Jews still keep today and give at this time of the Jewish Year,HaShem Commanded about the making of the Copper Laver - Kiyor for Sanctity (made from the Copper Mirrors that the Jewish Women used in mitzrayim,to beautify themselves for their husbands so that their husbands would come in tired from slavery and be with their wives so children could be conceived and the nation would continue to grow,in contrary to Pharaoh's attempts to try stop the growth of our Jewish people) , and then the making of the Holy Anointment Oil, where the one that Moshe organized, is still in the World today, hidden till Moshiach Comes, and this Holy Oil is not allowed to be replicated for any other purpose than HaShem Commands.
Then HaShem Commands Moshe about Miriam's relative, Betzalel son of Uri, son of Chur,from the Tribe of Yehudah, who will, at thirteen years old, do all the building of the Tabernacle and other things HaShem Commanded , for he would be able to see how the Heavenly Parts look, on which it will be modeled.He was to be helped by Oholiav , son of Ahisamach of the Tribe of Dan. Here again, HaShem Looks into the future , and Rewards the family of Chur, for his sacrifice of being killed when he tried to stop the airev rav building the golden calf.
HaShem then Teaches of the Shabbos and its Holiness to our people.
The Parsha then goes on with the tragic event of the Chait Ha Eigel.But what really happened here.
Moshe had said he would be gone for forty days and return. The date he was to return was on the Seventeenth of Tammuz, on which he came down with the Tablets, and saw the revelry around the golden calf and it was on this day, the 17th of Tammuz, that the Tablets were broken.This day is a Fast Day for us Jews.
Moshe , as I just mentioned , said he would be forty days.
Down in the Camp, the Eirev Rav, the egyptian and other people that Moshe had brought with the Jews, started to agitate, that the fortieth day had arrived and Moshe was still not back.They had actually miscalculated, for Moshe had gone off at noon and that day was not counted , as the start of the day would be a full day from the coming evening, so they were incorrect.Satan had let the people see a physical manifestation of Moshe above the Mount, so some believed Moshe had passed.This was in reality, Moshe's Physicality, for Moshe had extended himself past the physical while being up there so long with HaShem. Chur,tried to calm them but they would not be calmed , and in their violence, they killed Chur. They then went to Aharon, complaining how they have to travel outside the Clouds of Glory and can't walk within the Camp of the Children of Israel.Aharon tried to calm their fervor, but they wouldn't listen and these 3000 airev rav got more violent and aggressive and persuasive in making doubt among the people. They demanded Aharon to make a Calf to lead them.Aharon asked for the Jewelry , hoping against hope that the people would not part with it and he might delay, for as he said,'A Festival for HaShem Tomorrow,' for he knew that Moshe would return and that he might delay them long enough. But to no avail, they demanded that the women hand over their earrings. The women refused, to give them for such an unholy cause and the women were rewarded in the end by reaching Eretz Yisroel and also having Rosh Chodesh in their honor , not to have to work on it. The Eirev Rav and now those who they had persuaded, tore the rings from the women's ears ,and brought it to Aharon and insisted he fashion it into a calf. He threw it into the fire without forming it, hoping it would melt, but the two sons of Bilaam (from the family of Lavan), Yanus and Yambrus , using the negative powers of Tum'a and with the help of a young man called Micha, whom Moshe had saved from being put in the wall in Egypt, threw into the furnace a scroll, that Moshe had used to raise Yosef from the Nile to take him out of Egypt, with the words on the scroll 'Alay Shor,' which meant ' Arise Ox,' (the word 'Ox' was a description that Yosef's Father Yaakov had used for Yosef in Yaakov's final Blessing to his sons as if to say that Yosef was steadfast in keeping Yiddishkeit even in a foreign land) and out of the furnace, a living Golden Calf emerged, bleating and walking. The Eirev Rav didn't stop there,for they made twelve other calves for each Tribe, and thus said to the Jews ' these are your gods (plural) oh Israel .' Some worshiped it,while others wanted to bring offerings to it and others just saw it as an intermediary Chas Ve Shalom .The Leviyim did not get involved as didn't the majority of the people.
While the Eirev Rav were sacrificing to the calf, HaShem was in the process of Writing the Ten Commandments on the Tablets. HaShem Became very angry and Said to Moshe to go down for his people had become corrupt. The reason HaShem Referred to them as Moshe's people, was in reference to the Eirev Rav - The Mixed Multitude, for HaShem Had Advised Moshe that they should not be brought along.Moshe ,being filled with compassion,felt sorry for them.HaShem said to Moshe that Moshe should leave HaShem's Presence so that HaShem Could Destroy the people in an instant and Make Moshe a great nation. This was a hint to Moshe not to leave so HaShem Would not Destroy us. True to form, Moshe humbly pleaded for the people and did not accept just for himself that HaShem Would only Bless him . Moshe pleaded and pleaded and only when mentioning the Patriarchs, did HaShem relent to a small extent.
Moshe descended with the Miraculous Tablets , within which the letters floated within and that read the same on both sides.On the way down, Moshe passed Joshua, who had faithfully waited for Moshe the whole forty days.When they reached the bottom and saw the people's revelry, Moshe was very angry and held up the Tablets, whose letters had now left the Tablets and risen back to HaShem , ready to smash them.The Elders tried to stop him, but Moshe was stronger .The Tablets were shattered at the foot of the Mountain.The calf was burned and ground into fine powder and sprinkled over the water and like an unfaithful spouse, became a drink like of the Sotah.The people were made to drink.
HaShem Agreed with the action of breaking the Tablets, for HaShem Knew that Moshe reasoned that the Tablets being received by the people, would be like a Marriage Contract , and if the people had not yet received it, they would not be judged so harshly.
Moshe questioned Aharon, who said that the gold was thrown into the fire and a calf just emerged.Aharon was punished by losing his two sons later on.He was to lose four of them, but Moshe's prayers saved the other two sons.Moshe again went to plead with HaShem for the people, even being prepared to sacrifice himself for them, but HaShen would not allow that.
HaShem said He would Send now his Angel to guide them and Moshe again pleaded that he would not want the people to leave till HaShem relented and led them Himself.
Moshe followed HaShem's example and pitched his tent 2000 amos from the Camp (The Shabbos limit ) and the people would rise when he spoke.Moshe then pleaded for HaShem's nearness and asked to understand HaShem Way of running the World.HaShem Showed Moshe a part of His Back, that was so powerful, it even shone through solid rock in the depths of a cave.For HaShem's Face may not be seen.
HaShem asked Moshe to take the Sapphire that miraculously appeared under Moshe's Tent and to carve two Stone Tablets and again, to come up the Mountain.It was on the 1st of Elul that Moshe went up again with the Second Tablets and HaShem Inscribed them again and also Taught Moshe the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy, that we can say to HaShem to gain mercy and favor of forgiveness . Moshe again requests that HaShem Lead the people directly and not just an angel of HaShem.
HaShem Reminds us again near the end of this Parsha, against Avodah Zarah - Idol Worship and breaking the nations idols when coming into the land of Israel , the Festival of Matzos, the Laws of the Firstborn,the Holy Shabbos and the other Pilgrim Festivals of Shavuos and Succos and of Offerings and not to cook a kid in it's mothers milk and the Kashrus of Laws of our people.
Moshe came down from Har Sinai after again 40 days of not eating and drinking , with the Two Tablets ,and the date was the 10th of Tishrei, a day to be remembered for all time that HaShem Had Relented and forgiven us , the day that is Yom Kippur.
When Moshe came down, his face had become radiant and he had to cover his face.when not speaking Torah to them.Here, the Parsha of Ki Sissa ends.
HaShem is beyond Patient with us all and Constantly is Merciful with our Aveirahs, Continuing to Give us life and Hoping that we will change. It is so amazing how long HaShem Waits for us to be good.Even before we sin, HaShem in His Foresight and Mercy,prepares ways for us to Atone and fix what we do.The whole tragic event of the Chait Ha Eigel, teaches us the Love of HaShem and how , no matter what we do, we can always choose to return and do Teshuva and make up for the sins we do. It is never too late and we must never think ourselves so bad that we can't return to Him. HaShem Waits on us and Opens His Loving Arms to us every single morning, for us to just come back. If only we would.
The very fact that HaShem gave us such a small amount as Half a Shekel to contribute , to atone for our souls and that HaShem forgave the most grievous of Sins to Him, as the Chet ha Eigel, and instituted Yom Kippur, shows His Mercy and True Love for His Creation. No one is so Perfect that they never make a human mistake. It is what we do with it when we do,turning away from it and fixing it , never to repeat that Aveirah again, being truly sorry to HaShem. HaShem can always be reached. Without the need for intermediaries. HaShem awaits us to have a direct relationship with Him. He is our G-D and we are His Creation.
And if we live a life like Moshe did, not thinking of ourselves, but of our fellow people and work to lead them to the way of HaShem and love HaShem beyond ourselves, we then let our very souls radiate outwards toward the rest of Creation , and fulfill our very destinies for HaShem and count our lives as true living.
None of us are meant to be an Island. We are to work together with our fellow Jews (like the Half Shekel coming together with another Half Shekel to form a Whole ) and all of Creation , to make Creation into what HaShem Wants it to be , for our Good. We are all in Creation together and HaShem Created all.Let us all work together for HaShem .
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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