Parashas Nasso

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Nasso.
This Parsha continues with the duties of the different families of the Kohanim,in this Parsha,starting with the sons of Gershon.It then goes on to Merari and their duties.A total Census is made of the Levites.
HaShem then Commands that the Camp be purified and to expel those with Tzaraas, a Zav-Emission and everyone contaminated by a human corpse.
The Laws of Theft and its consequences are then taught.
Following this, are the Laws of the Sotah,a wayward wife suspected of unfaithfulness to her husband and the procedure followed in testing for her innocence o guilt . HaShem Holds so dear,the Laws of Faithfulness between a Husband and Wife that in the test, HaShem Will even have His Name written on parchment , to be erased in bitter waters, as the test of the Wife's fidelity or infidelity .So sacred is HaShem's Wish for faithfulness in the bounds of Marriage that He would even have His Own Name erased Chas Ve Shalom .
HaShem then discusses the Laws of the Nazarite, where a person has the the opportunity to become more Holy and abstain from wine beverage,vinegar of wine and dried grapes,for a period and also not cut the hair and not become contaminated by a human corpse.The Haftorah in Judges 13:2-25 for Parashas Nasso also refers to a famous Nazarite called Shimshon - Samson , who as we know, was never to cut his hair. 
The Parsha continues with 'Birkas Kohanim,' the. 'Priestly Blessing' which we Jews say every morning in the Shacharis Service and also on Yom Tovim,of how Aharon and his sons were to Bless Israel,saying,"May HaShem Bless you and Safeguard you,May HaShem Illuminate His Countenance for you and Be Gracious to you,May HaShem Lift His Countenance to you and Establish Peace for you."
The Sedra then tells us that Moshe completed erecting the Tabernacle and anointed and sanctified it and the Altar and all utensils and it was sanctified according to Rabbi Bachya on the 1st of Nissan,where Aharon said the Birkas Kohanim for the first time and then the Offerings were brought by the Tribal Leaders and each leader brought miraculously the same offerings which HaShem wrote of in the Torah ,Repeating the report of each tribe's offering in Torah even though it was the same as the other tribes,as HaShem Wanted to pay respect to each Tribe's Gift , with Love. Each amount mentioned for the different things, even for each Tribe and also the total of each thing brought by the Tribes as a total whole, has significance for that Tribe and for Israel as a whole. After this, Moshe , coming to the Tent of Meeting to speak to HaShem , heard HaShem's Voice Speaking from the top of the Cover on the Ark of the Testimony , between the two Cherubim and here HaShem Spoke with Moshe. It is here that this Parsha ends.
In the previous Sedra, HaShem Gave the most sacred portions of the Tabernacle as the work charge to the sons of Kohath so now, so that the sons of Gershon should not think any less of themselves, HaShem , in Giving their charge, Tells Moshe to "Nasso Et Rosh B'nei Gershon," - "Take a Census of the sons of Gershon ," where the word 'Nasso,' means 'To raise up , so they would realize that all Work for HaShem is of equal value no matter what it is. How true this is. Some people feel they have lesser value tasks in life than others.How untrue this is , for each and every soul, no matter who they are, or what status they are, are an equal part of Creation , and are needed as part of Creation . For if it were not for one part of Creation existing, Creation would not be. Thus HaShem Creates all things as part of Creation , all to be a part of the 'Big Picture.' We are all needed in Creation , whether being a King or a Pauper . In the Scheme of things , one couldn't be , without the other .If we stop thinking so materialistically, which is of no proper real value,we are all of equal value and equal need , for Creation, for the true value , that is everlasting, is the Spiritual Moral Value in Creation .No one should ever arrogantly think they are better than anyone else, for each task, no matter how small it may appear to be, is of Universal Importance in the Scheme of Creation. If we go right down to the basis of the reaction of the atom, it is not even something we can see with the naked eye, but without those small tiny atoms that HaShem Creates, nothing would be. Each part of Creation has its role to play in Creation.The word 'Nasso,' which means 'Lift Up,' also means ' To Carry and to Take.' So when we do HaShem's Work, no matter how big or small a task it appear to our smallness to be, we are helping to carry Creation, and taking HaShem Within us. And by so doing , we are 'Nasso' - 'Raising' ourselves and our spiritual level and Neshomas and Bodies, up to HaShem and His Love which can bring beautiful 'Miracles,' - 'Neisim,' where 'Neisim' is a word of similar sound to the word 'Nasso,' except 'Neisim ' is spelled with a Samech . Similar too in Hebrew is the word 'Ner,' - which means 'Candle,' whose flame points upward to Spiritual heights and wants to reach HaShem. The word 'Nisa,' that appears in Bereishis Chaf Vet - Genesis 22 , also has a similar sound as 'Nasso,' except it is spelled with a Samech, and it means 'Tested,' and appears in and relates to the Akeidah where HaShem Tested Avraham.Here again, it shows, that the tests and trials that HaShem Blesses us with, is to 'Nasso,' - 'Raise and lift us up, ' to higher levels of Spiritual Heights and to bring us closer to Him.
The word 'Nasso,' in Gematriah is 50+300+1 =351 which is 3+5+1 = 9 . This is the number before 10 , where 10 is the Number of Completion and thus 9,is the number just before completion , showing that when we 'Nasso,' - 'Raise ' ourselves to HaShem by keeping all His Torah Laws, it is like the step next to and before Completion, and thus the step to keep doing to bring the End of Days.Also,the Ninth letter of the Hebrew Alphabet is the letter 'Tet' , which curls from the bottom to the top, so even the 9th letter of the Hebrew alphabet, shows the pathway toward raising and rising up to HaShem .
We are here to 'Nasso,' - 'Raise ' ourselves up Spiritually in holiness to HaShem all the time . Wherever we are and whatever task or work we do, we are to make that task or work an opportunity to raise ourselves and others around us Spiritually in Holiness. To bring ourselves and those around us, ever closer to HaShem . 
HaShem Desires our closeness. The path to bring that about is up to us to work on. This is our show of Love to HaShem for the Creation He Gives us and also mainly because we are to Love HaShem for Him .
We are to make every step we take, a step upwards on the Ladder toward HaShem, like Yaakov's dream of a Ladder, where Yaakov kept climbing upwards toward HaShem . So must we . We just celebrated Shavuot and the counting of the Omer where we were to climb higher and improve ourselves spiritually every day.That climb must continue, even after the Omer Count and Shavuot. Even when we walk from Har Sinai into the World, into the 'Bamidbar' - ' Wilderness.' HaShem Assists us , but we are to do what we can ourselves to continue growing and improving every day, never to be satisfied with our level, but to want , every day, to improve, not according to our standards, but according to HaShem . Love HaShem enough, to go to Him . And if you do, you will be surrounded with the beautiful Light and Love of The Warmth and Sweetness of HaShem. 
HaShem Awaits us always , with Love. Let us always Go to HaShem in Love.
With Love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love , a Sweet Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all, a sweet beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love.

Parashas Bamidbar just before Shavuot

Our Parsha this Shabbos just before the Holy Festival of Shavuot , when we received the Torah on the 6th of Sivan , is Parashas Bamidbar. This is the start of the next Book of the Torah called 'The Book of Numbers' in English. It is easy to understand why it might have been called that , as it begins with HaShem Asking for a Census Count to be taken. This Census took place on the 1st of Iyar , in other words Rosh Chodesh Iyar. In Hebrew, the word "Bamidbar " does not mean 'Numbers,' but means 'Wilderness,' for it was in this Wilderness that the Census was to be taken. It was in this Wilderness, that we spent 40 years , on the way to the holy land. It was in this humble Wilderness that no one could possibly claim ownership to, that HaShem Spoke to the people - the Children of Israel. It was in this Wilderness, that we heard the Sound of HaShem Speaking to us. It was in this Wilderness that we lived almost within HaShem's Word. We see this in the very word 'Bamidbar,' for this word can be looked upon in another way with the same letters.This other way to look at the Word 'Bamidbar,' is ' that it is the same letters of the word 'B'Midaber,' which means 'In Speech ." HaShem Is Telling us by this very word 'Bamidbar,' that HaShem Spoke to us throughout the time we were in the Wilderness in this Ownerless Humble ' Bamidbar and Continues Speaking to us today and Will Continue Speaking to us into the future and we can hear Him if only we listen humbly and make ourselves like a humble "Bamidbar,' - "Wilderness ." Thus to learn Torah, we need to forget our own ego and live within the Speech of HaShem.To forget our own wants and humbly live only for G-D . To literally live within HaShem's Words and Speech .
HaShem Asks for a Census to be taken , just after the Tabernacle was built and the Levites given their duty in this Tabernacle , and just before HaShem Sets out the positions like ordered 'Legions' in which the Tribes of Israel are to travel in their positions , surrounding the Tabernacle.It is here that HaShem asks for a Census to be taken, but not to literally count each person directly , but rather to count each person via a half shekel coin, so that the Ayin Rah would not put an evil eye upon our people.Satan is the Malach of Prosecution against Aveirahs in the Heavenly Court and HaShem Protects us and often tries to be merciful for people's mistakes, yet Satan whose task it is to bring forward, our wrongs in the Heavenly Court , and looks for reasons to have us judged , in honor of keeping this World faithful to HaShem so that we keep HaShem's Laws . HaShem Asks us to count via a coin, so that Satan ( Whose name means 'An Obstacle or Adversary' ) won't be able to scrutinize us, and so that HaShem might not look toward each person individually standing alone, but we , this way, will stand together with the merits of others and thus be judged more leniently. The same is like Davening with others in a Minyan where we are judged together with others and the other's merits stand and help us, when we all stand as one and not alone . 
In this Parsha, first the whole Tribe of Israel are counted, so that each person would come before Moshe and Aharon for counting and thus meet these two holy men and be Blessed as one of Israel by HaShem and the brothers Moshe and Aharon.HaShem counted the people before , when we left Egypt, after the Chait Ha Aigel (The Golden Calf) and at this time, after the Tabernacle was built, when HaShem Rested His Shechinah in our midst . HaShem's Closeness now ,with His Shechinah resting on the Ark, and asking us to be counted at such a time , shows how precious we are to HaShem, for if something one collects is very precious, we count each part of it , for it is valuable and beautiful to us and special and so each part of it would give pleasure to keep a tally of how many precious parts of that precious thing one has to oneself. So does HaShem Feel this way about us, that each one of us is so precious, like precious jewels in a collection one is eager to keep a tally of , as each one is part of and a builder of the entire collection of what is precious. So in this Sedra, the Census is taken and the Tribal Leaders are mentioned and the amounts in each tribe from twenty years of age and up are counted and also the Levites too are counted separately in their different families and each Levite family's task is given which continues into the next Parsha.Also the firstborn are counted and a redemption tally takes place. Once the numbers are tallied of the Tribes of Israel, then HaShem Sets out the travelling positions around the Ark and Tabernacle, and thus each Tribe's, exact formation, exactly as the sons of Yaakov travelled previously when they were taking their Father home to lay him to rest in his own land of Canaan.
The Tribes surrounded the Ark and the Levites were closer to It and this is how they travelled.
When the Torah in this Sedra talks of a Census, it uses the words ," S'u Et Rosh," which actually translates as "Lift up the Head," which shows that this counting and call to come closer to HaShem is actually a count to grow closer all the time and become holier all the time to HaShem . This is so apt now, as we complete the reading of the Omer before Shavuot, having counted 49 days of growing spiritually closer and more holy with every count of the Omer we make , after every Maariv between the second night of Pesach and the night before Shavuot when we count for 7 weeks and then the fiftieth day, is Shavuot when we received the Torah on Mount Sinai and HaShem Revealed Himself . This is so, even today that we must every day grow in Holiness toward HaShem . That is true living. Thus it is so important for us to keep a Census and an Accounting of ourselves and what we need to improve and where spiritually, we need to grow. The growing process never stops and the path we can climb is Endless Beauty. Every day and night we should take an accounting of ourselves and search every day what we need to work on to improve ourselves and the World around us. We do this. , by 'Lifting our Head,' toward Holiness in humility for all is owned by HaShem and HaShem Wants us to fill His World, with Him, for all the World is a "Bamidbar," a "Wilderness" that is owned only by HaShem , and it is for us to bring Him into every space on this Earth by following HaShem and doing all His Mitzvos ,so that we can make this "Bamidbar," Gan Eiden with HaShem .
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem With Love, a Sweet Precious Shabbos Kodesh and Chag Shavuot Sameach with Love and to all my fellow Yidden a sweet precious Shabbos Kodesh with love and Chag Shavuot Sameach with love.

Parashas Behar Bechukosai

Our Parsha this Shabbos is a Double Parsha that takes us to the end of the Book of Vayikra Leviticus.The first part is Parashas Behar and HaShem's Words to Moshe " BeHar " - "on Har ( Mount ) Sinai " about the Laws of the Sabbatical Year ,the Shemittah Year ,where one sows one's field for six years , but on the Seventh year,the land is given a complete rest just like our Shabbos.After Seven cycles of Sabbatical years, seven times seven coming to 49 years ( just like the Omer Count to 49 days between Pesach second night and Shavuoth ) , we are Commanded in the land HaShem Gives us after this count of the period of 49 years, to sound the Shofar in the Seventh Month , being Tishrei, on the Tenth of the Month , on Yom Kippur and sanctify the Fiftieth Year , as freedom for all .This Fiftieth Year is called the Yovel Jubilee Year, where each man shall return to his ancestral heritage ( including the land ), where similar Laws of the land (not sowing the land like the Shemittah year) should be kept as they are in the Shemittah Year.So often does the number 7 appear in Yiddishkeit, like the Sabbath, Shemittah,Yovel , the Counting of the Omer ,the days of the week, the Six Thousand years of Creation going onto the next 7th stage afterwards of Olam Habah, the days of Creation that culminates in the Seventh Day of the Holy Shabbos, all related to the End of Days and Mashiach, whose Gematrical value comes to seven.
Then the sale of property and a person who is down and out and may need to stand as a person sold to make up a debt if there is a need,is discussed,all to do with the Jubilee Yovel Year. Redemption of sold or given up land is next in this Parsha.The Law of Levite cities and fields are mentioned to do with the return of the ancestral heritage.Laws of Interest and Increase ( Neshech and Tarbit ) are then taught where interest should not be taken from one's brother. These two words - 'Neshech and Tarbit' - are also synonymous, for when taking interest (Neshech) from a fellow Jew, one is increasing (Tarbit) oneself and one's own wealth and thus it becomes like a double aveirah Chas Ve Shalom.
Torah then discusses the Jewish bondsman and how to treat them with respect and not treat them as a slave but as a member of one's own household and not subjugate them with menial tasks and hard labor and also how it is imperative to redeem a Jewish bondsman as soon as one can , failing which, the Jewish bondsman must try as quickly as possible to redeem himself . Redemption pay is calculated according to the remaining years till Yovel or the end of work cycle . This Parsha ends with a Command not to make idols or statues or pillars and not to place flooring stones to prostrate oneself on , Chas Ve Shalom . HaShem Commands us to observe Shabbos and Revere HaShem's Sanctuary , Ending the Parsha with the words ," I Am HaShem. "
The second part of this double Parsha is Bechukosai which contains the Blessings for following HaShem's Commands and the Tochacha - Admonitions and curses for disobeying HaShem's Commands.HaShem Tells us to follow His Bechukosai - Decrees and Commandments and the word used is to "Teileichu," - "To Walk" in HaShem's Commandments. Walking is like the word for 'following' in this context,but stronger, as it suggests a full physical action of the entire body going in the ways of HaShem and His Commandments, making sure that one's entire being 'Follows ' after G-D , not just parts of us, but our entire being must follow after G-D and His Commanded Path , walking in His Commandments , thus making the action of following HaShem , one of total giving of our entire selves to the Almighty and His Wishes.
We notice in this Parsha, how the Tochacha Admonitons are much longer and more detailed than the Blessings. So do our Yetzer Horah's need to be controlled with clear Admonition. The Admonitions get progressively worse and so do the punishments progress in severity , for sin starts small and grows bigger as it goes along and thus needs to be taken a firm hand in to change and wake up to its pull.Yet there is always hope of change and so, no matter how far one strays Chas Ve Shalom, one can always return to HaShem with love. The Curses mentioned here, can also be hidden Blessings if we do HaShem Commands, for each curse given has its opposite Blessing too. What one gets, depends on one's choice to follow HaShem wholeheartedly.
Valuation and gifts to the Temple are then discussed and Sanctifying Offerings and Redeeming them are taught as well as redeeming of houses and fields and property segregated as well as tithes and this is where this Parsha and the Book of Vayikra ends,with the reminder that started out the Parsha we read with this one' Parashas Behar, ' where HaShem says at the end of Vayikra," These are the Commandments that HaShem Commanded Moshe to the Children of Israel on Har Sinai " BeHar Sinai."
Putting the two words of these two Parshas together,we get 'Behar Bechukosai,' which means on the Mount ( Sinai ) are My (HaShem's ) Decrees . HaShem here is Telling us all , that all His Laws and Decrees were given at Mount Sinai to Moshe and us Jews , no matter when the Laws are mentioned in Torah. All the Laws were given to Moshe on Har Sinai and HaShem , Who is beyond Eternal and Whose Voice is Everlasting , is still today , Speaking to us from Har Sinai , for His Voice carries through the ages, through all our sages and holy Jewish Rabbonim through time . HaShem Never Stops Teaching us. If only we would listen always.The start to listening , is to humble ourselves, and this was taught at Har Sinai, for the Mountain of Sinai on which HaShem Came Down,was not the tallest of Mountains but the most humble, just as Moshe himself was the most humble. The start to holiness and listening to HaShem and His " Bechukosai " - " Decrees, " is to humble ourselves like "BeHar" Sinai "On Mount Sinai." Then we can be a vessel for Holiness from HaShem.
We need to put our own feelings and wants aside for HaShem and His Decrees and humble ourselves like " BeHar " Sinai . The result of doing this , is that all will be turned into Blessings and we can all live in the Eternal Shabbos and the time of Mashiach , for the two words "Behar" and "Bechukosai" together come to a Gemtraical value of 727 which is 7+2+7= 16 and 1+6=7 which is the Gematrical value of Mashiach and thus being humble like "BeHar" Mount Sinai and following HaShem's "Bechukosai" - " Decrees, " will lead us into Mashiach's time, so we with our lands and all that is in Creation can reach its destination and live within the loving Arms of HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu The Holy One Blessed Be He. 
With love to HaShem , I wish HaShem with Love, a Beautiful Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with Love and to all , a beautiful sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love .

Parashas Emor

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Emor.
In this Parsha, HaShem Teaches Laws about the Kohanim and their sanctity. The Haftorah in Yechezkel 44:15-31 also talks of the Kohanim and the Laws of the Third Temple , yet to come in Mashiach's time.
This Parsha explains the Laws of the Kohanim and their need of sanctity The Parsha starts with HaShem Telling Moshe to tell the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon,about contamination where it regards someone who has just passed away.
Laws for Kohanim are very strict so as to keep their Holy Neshoma pure.The Kohanim must pure, remembering that they are responsible to attain atonement for others, from HaShem, thus they must be totally holy themselves,so as to be able to represent others.
Torah goes on to say how they should not make a bald spot on their heads , nor shave off the edge of their beard nor make gashes in their skin.They are not to marry a harlot or one desecrated , nor a divorcee.Then the Laws of the Kohein Gadol are given, and the Laws are stricter than for an ordinary Kohein.HaShem tthen instructs that the Kohein must not have a blemish or other things that are mentioned in Torah.
The Parsha then explains the watching over ,in holiness , of offerings and Terumah.
HaShem then explains about blemished animals and offerings and what tto do.
HaShem Warned them then that His Name should never be desecrated Chas Ve Shalom.
The Sedra continues with the Three Pilgrim Festivals of Pesach,Shavuot and Succot.Also is mentioned, is the count of the Omer till Shavuot.
Then HaShem Teaches about Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur as well as Shemini Atzeres.
This Parsha continues with the Menorah and mentions that pure olive oil is to be used to light it.Then was the Law of the Shewbread mentioned that we are told that twelve loaves are to be baked every time for Shabbos.The Parsha ends with the Blasphemer who HaShem Instructed us not to tolerate,for the blasphemer pronounced HaShem's Name for a negative reason, and so he died.This is such an important Law as even today so many break this and use HaShem's name in vain.HaShem's Name is to be most respected and mentioned only in holy conversation.
HaShem Warns at the end of the Parsha about striking a man mortally Chas Ve Shalom. And taking human life Chas Ve Shalom .Here in this Parsha, an eye for an eye is discussed and so ends this Parsha.
We notice how in this Parsha, HaShem expects that the Kohanim be totally pure and remain so. HaShem wants the one who helps others to atone, to be a complete representative of holiness and morality.The best way to teach holiness is by example and one needs to be a holy vessel oneself if one wants to lead others and bring others to holiness. This was expected of the Kohanim of Israel.
This ideal can and should go for anyone in authority who is and has a responsibility to others.
One cannot keep others clean if one's own hands are dirty. Cleanliness of holy purity breeds more clean purity.
What is interesting to note is the Name of this Parsha, which is 'Emor.' This word means 'Say.' Usually the term used as an Instruction from HaShem to Moshe is the word ,'Vayomer,' so what deeper meaning does the shortened form of the word 'Emor,' convey? The fact that it starts with an 'Alef,' can also suggest the future tense , thus HaShem is Saying to Moshe , ' Say and continue to Say in the future,' even beyond your physical stay on Earth at that time. Moshe was so Holy and such a holy influence on our people, that his very holiness continues to instruct us and protect us through the ages.This is the beauty of a Holy man who keeps pure, as Moshe did.His influence stretches generations. Thus when Moshe then at that time said 'Emor,' - 'Say,' he is actually still speaking to us spiritually today through the Torah that he assisted HaShem in bringing us. His very words reverberate today to us and this is the beauty of a Holy man. For HaShem's Words are Eternal and Stretch through Time and Space and nothing can stop HaShem's Words, not even solid things, for HaShem's Word penetrates all things including time and thus HaShem's Words have no echo as nothing is strong enough to stop His words from flowing .They just keep on till Eternity so When HaShem Spoke to us at Sinai, His Words then,are still continuing.Moshe , was a holy pure vessel , just like the Kohanim in this Parsha are instructed to be and thus his words too continue through the generations as a pure vessel for HaShem. Thus if we keep to holiness,and purity like a Kohein, we can touch eternity as HaShem's Words are Eternal as long as we remain pure and holy and Keep HaShem's Commandments and be a holy vessel for HaShem always, never disobeying HaShem and making HaShem's Will, our Will as Pirkei Avos says.
Words are not to be wasted. HaShem Gave us the power of speech. HaShem Created Creation with the Power of His Words and HaShem Wants us to emulate Him. Thus our words have power and must always be used for good and never for Loshon Horah or bad Chas Ve Shalom.We must , every day use our words as holy purity so that we can make this World holy for HaShem, just as HaShem used His Holy Words to make Creation.
Holy words can bring Mashiach and bring us the End of Days and Olam Ha Bah. We see this in the Gematriah of the word 'Emor,' which comes to 241 and 2+4+1= 7 which is the Gematrical value of the word 'Moshiach.'
So let us all use our words and actions to keep ourselves holy to HaShem and bring this World back to HaShem with Moshiach and Gan Eiden. 
Let us Keep our Words Holy and keep ourselves Holy with HaShem's Torah and be as HaShem Created us to be.
With love to HaShem, I wish HaShem with Love, a Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and to all , a sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love.