This Shabbos comes out on Chol Ha Moed Sukkot. So we read the Torah subject for Sukkot, for this Shabbos is Chol Ha Moed Sukkot . We thus read Kohelleth on this Shabbos , the work of Ecclesiastes , written by Shlomo Hamelech, and even according to Shlomo, who discusses many experiences, comes to the end of the matter that , we are to keep HaShem's Torah , just as Moshe instructs us throughout His leadership and even in the last Parsha of the Torah , when he Blesses the Tribes according to each one's inner spiritual journey through Creation .
Just after Sukkot, we have a Festival called 'Shemini Atzeret' - ' The 'Eighth Day Feast.' This is actually a separate Yom Tov though linked to Sukkot . For those in The Diaspora, we celebrate ' Simchas Torah ' - ' Rejoicing of the Law ,' the day after ( while those in Eretz Yisroel, celebrate it on the Eighth Day ) , where we complete the reading of the Torah with the last Sedra of Devarim called ' Parashas Vezos HaBeracha and then straight away, begin the Torah Reading anew, with Bereishis.
So the Parsha of Vezos Haberachah ends the Torah .
This Parsha, written by Moshe from HaShem , is the last Parsha written by Moshe before HaShem Called him home, with a Divine Kiss on Har Nevo.
The Midrash Gives a touching account of the passing of Moshe Rabbeinu, our beloved leader . Even the Angel of Death Satan , was not able to take Moshe's Soul, nor any other angel . Moshe had reached such a high state , that only HaShem Himself , was able to take Moshe's Neshoma, which had now reached the Fiftieth Spiritual Gate of Wisdom . Moshe passed away at exactly 120 years young , on the 7th of Adar, the day of his birth. There was never a Prophet like Moshe and there never will be . Moshe conversed with HaShem as a friend , and even HaShem cried at having to call this most holy Tzaddik from his place here . Yehoshuah , his successor, also cried bitterly at the loss of his holy teacher and HaShem had to tell him to not just mourn for his own pain , but at the loss of such a great and holy Tzaddik , whose loss would be so felt by K'lal Yisroel, who would not lose their defender for the mistakes they make , for Moshe would always fight for our cause and try ensure HaShem stopped punishing us for our wrong. Noww that Moshe was gone, we would feel completely exposed , for everything we do wrong , that Moshe could no longer defend us physically . Moshe was buried in Beis Peor , yet no one is able to find his grave . A story is told of Romans who went looking, and thought they saw it on the mountain above, but when they got there, they saw it below. When they went below, they thought they saw it above, so they split into two groups and one group went above, while the other one went below, and each saw it in the place of the other one, for it is hidden . HaShem hid Moshe's grave, in case the nations may worship it Chas Ve Shalom , and also so that people would not go there to seek Moshe's help to speak for their aveirahs for his powerful prayer may assuage the need for punishment , the result on us would thus be much more .
There was a special reason why Moshe was buried in Bais Peor . When some of the Children of Israel earlier on, worshiped thee false deity Peor in Shittim when they committed harlotry with the daughters of Moav, B'nei Yisrael, by their actions, brought about spiritually , an Accusing Angel, for doing an Aveirah, makes a spiritual entity, bent on accusing the perpetrator. Holy Moshe, was able to stop this angel hurting us and so he spiritually imprisoned it in the Earth at this exact place called Bais Peor . Every year after the sin of Shittim , this angel can come out and accuse the Children of Israel, and so HaShem ensured Moshe's grave would be made in this place , ready for the angel to rise. The very name ' Bais Pe'or,' translates as " House of the one whose mouth awakens, ' as this Accusing Angel wakes once a year to open its mouth and accuse Bnei Yisroel,
In this Parsha, Moshe gives his final Blessing to the Tribes.
We see that Moshe starts his blessings with the word " VeZos," - " And This ." According to Ramban and Rabbi Bachya, this word " Vezos ," also appears when Yaakov concludes his blessings of the tribes , his sons , in Bereishis Genesis 49 : 28 , which shows a link between Moshe's Blessings and our Forefather Yaakov's Blessings.It is as if to say that Moshe was continuing on from Yaakov, just as the people were about to enter the Holy Land of Eretz Yisrael . Moshe , in Devarim Deuteronomy 4: 44 , also used the same word " Vezos ," for ' " Vezos Ha Torah ," ( this verse being sung in Shul when we have done the Torah Reading on Shabbos ) showing , how the entering and keeping of Eretz Yisrael , depends on us keeping the Torah , which is the way to receive the Blessings of Yaakov and Moshe .
The last eight verses , Maharsha tells us , that Moshe wrote these ,not with ink , but with his tears , and Yehoshuah filled them in later .
The first word of the Torah , " Bereishis," is linked with the last word of the Torah ," Yisrael ." If we put the first few words of Bereishis " Bereishis Barah Elokim," , with the last few words of Devarim ," L'Einei Kol Yisrael ," , we get " In the Beginning of HaShem's Creating, for the eyes of all Israel ," which shows that Creation, is based on Israel and the Torah, and the way all Israel's Eyes follow HaShem . Thus Creation took place with a World where those who keep the Torah - Israel - are the reason for Creation .
Moshe Rabbeinu was a man that saw HaShem when he was still young, was born circumcised with rays of holiness on his face , and these rays were there , visible , in the Wilderness when he led K'lal Yisrael . HaShem performed many miracles through Moshe and Moshe constantly spoke up for his people . Moshe was the humblest of Prophets , and selflessly cared for every single Jew , his people , even before he was about to pass away , though they had angered him to a point that ended up causing him to be denied physical entry at that time into the Holy Land he so desired to go into . He fought many battles against giant men like Og and Sichon , even after he was told he would soon pass away . This was a holy man that cared nothing for himself, and everything for his beloved HaShem and his people . This was a holy man who would not let a single Jew go astray . This he proved at a young age, when a single lamb left the herd and he ran many miles to collect it and bring it home to the others . This was a holy man that knew at a young age subconsciously, that he would overcome Par'o , when Moshe put on Par'o's crown and sat on the throne of Egypt .This was a man , in whose honor HaShem fed us with the Mann , throughout our travels in the Wilderness . This was a man who prayed constantly for our forgiveness and even on his last day, still saw to it that every Tribe of Israel got a copy of the Torah personally written by him and a thirteenth copy he gave to the Kohanim for safe-keeping. The last few words of the Torah that ' Never again has there arisen in Israel a Prophet like Moshe whom HaShem had Known Face to Face , says all about this very holy man . We owe Moshe so very much , and can never repay him for his selfless acts on our behalf . The least we can do is all follow the holy Torah of HaShem , that he wrote and taught us . The holy Torah of HaShem . Moshe , brought HaShem to our people . Now it is for is to bring ourselves to HaShem . Every action of Torah we do that Moshe taught us from HaShem , brings honor to Moshe by HaShem . So as we start a new this year , may we all from now on , hold fast to and keep HaShem's Very Holy Torah as Moshe Avigdor ( as his birth name was , among the ten names he possessed through his life , but Avigdor was from his Ima Yocheved and Aba Amram ) taught us . May we every day give honor to our beloved Moshe Rabbeinu and make this world a Torah World and bring HaShem to be among us in love .
May Moshe's Neshomah remain always in the Loving Arms of HaShem .
I wish HaShem with Love , a Blessed Sweet Shabbos Kodesh and Chag Sameach Good Yom Tov with love and to all my fellow Yidden , a blessed sweet Shabbos Kodesh and Chag Sameach Good Yom Tov with love .
Friday, 28 September 2018
Friday, 21 September 2018
Parashas Haazinu
Our Parsha this Shabbos just before Succos, is Parashas Haazinu.
In the last Parsha, we discussed how HaShem prophetically would give Moshe this Song that comes in this Parsha, to stand as a testimony with the Witnesses being Heaven and Earth,that outlive humans, that could stand as a witness that HaShem Warned us we will go against His Wishes and so , will face punishment to bring us back to the right path . In this Parsha, Moshe presents this Song on his last day before returning to HaShem. HaShem uses Heaven and Earth as witnesses to His Word , and as Jewish Law states, when a witness observes a perpetrator commit an aveirah, it is the witness first , whose hand responds in punishment. So Heaven and Earth , in punishment would both withhold what HaShem Created them to give man, Heaven would withhold its rain and Earth its produce as Rashi and Ibn Ezra states.
The Parsha, as I mentioned is called " Haazinu." The word "Ozen" within the word "Haazinu," means ' Ear ,' and a single 'ear' is referred to for the Heavens, yet the word "Haazinu" ends with a "Nu," sound which suggests the word " Our," as a plural,thus , The Heavens which are "Seven" levels , as a plural , are to act with the Earth as a ' singular - unity ' together , working together to ensure a common togetherness in intention in following HaShem . So is this a lesson to us . If we all work together as one, to fulfill the Unity wish of our One and Only Creator HaShem , so will we "Haazinu" - "Hear" our final destiny , in coming close to HaShem . This common unity of the Heaven and Earth working together , is reiterated , in the 'Ozen ' - ' Ear ,' of the Heavens , hearing what the " Peh " - " Mouth " of the Earth Speaks . Thus when we speak at one with what HaShem in Heaven Wants to Hear , we will accomplish our Holy Goals in Coming to HaShem .
Just like Heaven and Earth remain, so will Moshe's words remain , and ' drop like rain, ' that waters our soul and ' flow like dew ' that nourishes our Neshoma . Moshe's words will always be there , as Moshe watches over us from Shamaim Heaven . So beautiful is Haazinu, the Song of Moshe Rabbeinu from Hashem .
Our Midrash in the Midrash Says by Rabbi Moshe Weissman , tells us that there are to be Ten Holy Shiros - Songs , and this Song of Moses, is the fourth. Our Midrash tells us that the first Song, was by Adam HaRishon , who made his first Shira in the Garden of Eden Gan Eiden , which was the Psalm we now say on the Holy Shabbos " Mizmor Shir Leyom Ha Shabbos ," - " A Song , a Poem for the Shabbos Day ." In this Psalm , Adam praises the Holy Sabbath of Beloved HaShem . Adam was chased out of the Garden with Chava, two hours before the Shabbos , and realized the Holiness that Shabbos would have been had he stayed in Gan Eiden, once he was out of the Garden . The Light of this Shabbos , sweetened and lightened his feelings of upset for where he found himself now , out of the Garden , and he feared that as Shabbos would end ( where he was out of the Garden ) , he feared the Light would go , seeing that he was no longer in Gan Eiden, where he wrote this Shira . So after Shabbos came to a close outside the Garden , where it would have been Eternal , inside Gan Eiden , he feared the Light going and to comfort him , HaShem taught him to make fire and so , Adam did the first Havdalah , that we do at the end of every Shabbos .
The Second Shira was by Moshe and the Children of Israel , at the Yam Suf , after HaShem Had Miraculously caused the Waters to Split and we walked through on dry land and were saved by HaShem from Par'o and his army and charioteers .
The Third Shira was done by Bnei Yisrael for the Well of Miriam in the Book of Bamidbar in Parashas Chukas .
The Fourth Shira is this Parsha and Moshe Rabbeinu's Shira of Haazinu .
The Fifth Shira was sang by Yehoshua, when he fought the Emorites at Giv'on , when HaShem performed a Miracle and the Sun , by HaShem's Love , halted its course in the Sky so we and our army could win .
The Sixth Shira was written by Devorah and Barak when HaShem Gave their enemies into their hands with Sisera , who was the general of the K'na'anim ( the Canaanites ) . This is found in Judges Shoftim 5 , which is the Haftorah for Parashas Beshalach ( the Parsha of HaShem's Miracle of the Splitting of the Sea ) .
The Seventh Shira , was the praise of Chana , who bore Shmuel , after she was childless for so long , and so she thanked and praised HaShem in this song in the Book of Shmuel 2 . The Eighth Shira is our Haftorah for this Parsha of Haazinu , in II Shmuel 22: 1-41 , where Dovid Ha Melech composed this Shira Song near the end of his life to thank HaShem for Saving him from all his enemies .
The Ninth Shira , was the beautiful beloved Shir Ha Shirim the Song of Songs written by Shlomo Ha Melech , who showed with such beauty in this song, the love for HaShem .
The Tenth Shir is still yet to come , for this Shir will be sung by the Jewish People , when HaShem Saves us and Redeems us from this present Galus Exile . This is told to us in the Book of Yeshayahu 26:1 that it will be sung then , for it says ," On that day shall this Shir be sung in the land of Yehudah ." After this Shir , the Tenth one , Israel will live forever in safety in the New Age . May this come soon in our days .
HaShem Called the Song of Moshe "Haazinu ," - "Give Ear." HaShem Speaks all the time to us . Sadly , we take no notice . We need to " Haazinu ," - " Give Ear " with all we have , to truly listen out to What HaShem is Saying. HaShem Speaks To us with such Abundant Holiness from " Shamaim " - " Heaven " thus it is to Heaven we need to " Haazinu ," - " Give Ear ," for when we truly ' Haazinu" - " Give Ear ," the Earth will hear the Words of HaShem's ' Mouth ," and listen , and then , the true sweetness of Heaven will drop like rain and HaShem's Utterance , revive us like the dew . "
How beautiful is HaShem's Words , if we truly ' Haazinu ," - " Give Ear ."
HaShem's Words as Moshe tells us at the end of this Parsha , are truly ' our life ' and through ' this matter ,' shall prolong our days on the land that HaShem Is Taking us over the Jordan to possess.
After HaShem Had Moshe teach B'nei Yisrael the Song of Haazinu , HaShem had Moshe ascend this Mount of Avarim Mount Nevo , to see the land that Israel would inherit.
Our Midrash and Rokeach tells us that in the time of Mashiach , Moshe would rise and bring the Generation of the Wilderness into Eretz Yisroel . In the time of Mashiach , we are told of Techias Ha Meisim , the Resurrection of the Dead , and our Rabbis tell us of the very power of HaShem's Dew, that will rise and help bring life again . So at the mention of Rain and Dew, at the beginning of this Parsha of Haazinu , the deep sweet meaning shows , how HaShem's Words of Torah and Words of Love , are Rain and Dew , that revive the Soul to life . HaShem is the only Eternity . HaShem is The Only G-D and Creator . It is only to HaShem , we must " Haazinu " - " Give Ear ." For HaShem's Shir - Song , Brings reviving Life to Creation and when HaShem's Words of Shira Emanate to Creation, then Creation Lives anew . May we all be worthy to " Haazinu ," - " Give Ear ," to HaShem's Shir of Love , His Holy Torah , for all Creation , is in His Holy Torah , His Holy Torah , is HaShem's Path of Love for us , to come home to Him .
We are about to celebrate HaShem's Holy Yom Tov of Succos , the Festival of the Ingathering. HaShem in the Wilderness,Surrounded us with his Holy Clouds of Glory , where we completely relied on HaShem Watching over us , in total faith . Such is the Festival of Succos, where we dwell in the Sukkah , putting ourselves totally in the trust of HaShem , in our temporary dwelling that we make , as we use the Arba Minim, the Four Species , representing different parts of Israel , coming together as one . The Festival of Succos, is the Festival of the Ingathering , where we gather in our produce of the field . It is a time to put ourselves in total trust of our Creator , Who Sees to all our needs and it is a time to gather in all our faculties in the service of HaShem . It is put just after the New Year , in order for HaShem To Give us another oppportunity , to make right , our wrongs that we may not have fully corrected and to make a sweet new change to the New Year . Thus it is also an ingathering of the opportunity to completely fix that which we have not yet done and so , bask in the Sweet and Full Light of HaShem . It is like a return to Gan Eiden , the place of the first Shir of Adam Ha Rishon . So , at the beginning of this year , may our Festival of Succos , take us back in perfect repentance to HaShem in Gan Eiden , where we can finally sing the Tenth and Final Shir to HaShem , The Shir of Olam Ha Ba , The World to Come , in Mashiach's Time .
May the time come in our Days , where we can sit in the Basking Love and Light of The Beautiful Warmth and Love of HaShem .
I wish HaShem With Love , a Beautiful Sweet Shabbos Kodesh and Chag Succot Sameach Good Yom Tov with Love and to all my fellow Yidden , a Blessed Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and Chag Succot Sameach Good Yom Tov with love .
In the last Parsha, we discussed how HaShem prophetically would give Moshe this Song that comes in this Parsha, to stand as a testimony with the Witnesses being Heaven and Earth,that outlive humans, that could stand as a witness that HaShem Warned us we will go against His Wishes and so , will face punishment to bring us back to the right path . In this Parsha, Moshe presents this Song on his last day before returning to HaShem. HaShem uses Heaven and Earth as witnesses to His Word , and as Jewish Law states, when a witness observes a perpetrator commit an aveirah, it is the witness first , whose hand responds in punishment. So Heaven and Earth , in punishment would both withhold what HaShem Created them to give man, Heaven would withhold its rain and Earth its produce as Rashi and Ibn Ezra states.
The Parsha, as I mentioned is called " Haazinu." The word "Ozen" within the word "Haazinu," means ' Ear ,' and a single 'ear' is referred to for the Heavens, yet the word "Haazinu" ends with a "Nu," sound which suggests the word " Our," as a plural,thus , The Heavens which are "Seven" levels , as a plural , are to act with the Earth as a ' singular - unity ' together , working together to ensure a common togetherness in intention in following HaShem . So is this a lesson to us . If we all work together as one, to fulfill the Unity wish of our One and Only Creator HaShem , so will we "Haazinu" - "Hear" our final destiny , in coming close to HaShem . This common unity of the Heaven and Earth working together , is reiterated , in the 'Ozen ' - ' Ear ,' of the Heavens , hearing what the " Peh " - " Mouth " of the Earth Speaks . Thus when we speak at one with what HaShem in Heaven Wants to Hear , we will accomplish our Holy Goals in Coming to HaShem .
Just like Heaven and Earth remain, so will Moshe's words remain , and ' drop like rain, ' that waters our soul and ' flow like dew ' that nourishes our Neshoma . Moshe's words will always be there , as Moshe watches over us from Shamaim Heaven . So beautiful is Haazinu, the Song of Moshe Rabbeinu from Hashem .
Our Midrash in the Midrash Says by Rabbi Moshe Weissman , tells us that there are to be Ten Holy Shiros - Songs , and this Song of Moses, is the fourth. Our Midrash tells us that the first Song, was by Adam HaRishon , who made his first Shira in the Garden of Eden Gan Eiden , which was the Psalm we now say on the Holy Shabbos " Mizmor Shir Leyom Ha Shabbos ," - " A Song , a Poem for the Shabbos Day ." In this Psalm , Adam praises the Holy Sabbath of Beloved HaShem . Adam was chased out of the Garden with Chava, two hours before the Shabbos , and realized the Holiness that Shabbos would have been had he stayed in Gan Eiden, once he was out of the Garden . The Light of this Shabbos , sweetened and lightened his feelings of upset for where he found himself now , out of the Garden , and he feared that as Shabbos would end ( where he was out of the Garden ) , he feared the Light would go , seeing that he was no longer in Gan Eiden, where he wrote this Shira . So after Shabbos came to a close outside the Garden , where it would have been Eternal , inside Gan Eiden , he feared the Light going and to comfort him , HaShem taught him to make fire and so , Adam did the first Havdalah , that we do at the end of every Shabbos .
The Second Shira was by Moshe and the Children of Israel , at the Yam Suf , after HaShem Had Miraculously caused the Waters to Split and we walked through on dry land and were saved by HaShem from Par'o and his army and charioteers .
The Third Shira was done by Bnei Yisrael for the Well of Miriam in the Book of Bamidbar in Parashas Chukas .
The Fourth Shira is this Parsha and Moshe Rabbeinu's Shira of Haazinu .
The Fifth Shira was sang by Yehoshua, when he fought the Emorites at Giv'on , when HaShem performed a Miracle and the Sun , by HaShem's Love , halted its course in the Sky so we and our army could win .
The Sixth Shira was written by Devorah and Barak when HaShem Gave their enemies into their hands with Sisera , who was the general of the K'na'anim ( the Canaanites ) . This is found in Judges Shoftim 5 , which is the Haftorah for Parashas Beshalach ( the Parsha of HaShem's Miracle of the Splitting of the Sea ) .
The Seventh Shira , was the praise of Chana , who bore Shmuel , after she was childless for so long , and so she thanked and praised HaShem in this song in the Book of Shmuel 2 . The Eighth Shira is our Haftorah for this Parsha of Haazinu , in II Shmuel 22: 1-41 , where Dovid Ha Melech composed this Shira Song near the end of his life to thank HaShem for Saving him from all his enemies .
The Ninth Shira , was the beautiful beloved Shir Ha Shirim the Song of Songs written by Shlomo Ha Melech , who showed with such beauty in this song, the love for HaShem .
The Tenth Shir is still yet to come , for this Shir will be sung by the Jewish People , when HaShem Saves us and Redeems us from this present Galus Exile . This is told to us in the Book of Yeshayahu 26:1 that it will be sung then , for it says ," On that day shall this Shir be sung in the land of Yehudah ." After this Shir , the Tenth one , Israel will live forever in safety in the New Age . May this come soon in our days .
HaShem Called the Song of Moshe "Haazinu ," - "Give Ear." HaShem Speaks all the time to us . Sadly , we take no notice . We need to " Haazinu ," - " Give Ear " with all we have , to truly listen out to What HaShem is Saying. HaShem Speaks To us with such Abundant Holiness from " Shamaim " - " Heaven " thus it is to Heaven we need to " Haazinu ," - " Give Ear ," for when we truly ' Haazinu" - " Give Ear ," the Earth will hear the Words of HaShem's ' Mouth ," and listen , and then , the true sweetness of Heaven will drop like rain and HaShem's Utterance , revive us like the dew . "
How beautiful is HaShem's Words , if we truly ' Haazinu ," - " Give Ear ."
HaShem's Words as Moshe tells us at the end of this Parsha , are truly ' our life ' and through ' this matter ,' shall prolong our days on the land that HaShem Is Taking us over the Jordan to possess.
After HaShem Had Moshe teach B'nei Yisrael the Song of Haazinu , HaShem had Moshe ascend this Mount of Avarim Mount Nevo , to see the land that Israel would inherit.
Our Midrash and Rokeach tells us that in the time of Mashiach , Moshe would rise and bring the Generation of the Wilderness into Eretz Yisroel . In the time of Mashiach , we are told of Techias Ha Meisim , the Resurrection of the Dead , and our Rabbis tell us of the very power of HaShem's Dew, that will rise and help bring life again . So at the mention of Rain and Dew, at the beginning of this Parsha of Haazinu , the deep sweet meaning shows , how HaShem's Words of Torah and Words of Love , are Rain and Dew , that revive the Soul to life . HaShem is the only Eternity . HaShem is The Only G-D and Creator . It is only to HaShem , we must " Haazinu " - " Give Ear ." For HaShem's Shir - Song , Brings reviving Life to Creation and when HaShem's Words of Shira Emanate to Creation, then Creation Lives anew . May we all be worthy to " Haazinu ," - " Give Ear ," to HaShem's Shir of Love , His Holy Torah , for all Creation , is in His Holy Torah , His Holy Torah , is HaShem's Path of Love for us , to come home to Him .
We are about to celebrate HaShem's Holy Yom Tov of Succos , the Festival of the Ingathering. HaShem in the Wilderness,Surrounded us with his Holy Clouds of Glory , where we completely relied on HaShem Watching over us , in total faith . Such is the Festival of Succos, where we dwell in the Sukkah , putting ourselves totally in the trust of HaShem , in our temporary dwelling that we make , as we use the Arba Minim, the Four Species , representing different parts of Israel , coming together as one . The Festival of Succos, is the Festival of the Ingathering , where we gather in our produce of the field . It is a time to put ourselves in total trust of our Creator , Who Sees to all our needs and it is a time to gather in all our faculties in the service of HaShem . It is put just after the New Year , in order for HaShem To Give us another oppportunity , to make right , our wrongs that we may not have fully corrected and to make a sweet new change to the New Year . Thus it is also an ingathering of the opportunity to completely fix that which we have not yet done and so , bask in the Sweet and Full Light of HaShem . It is like a return to Gan Eiden , the place of the first Shir of Adam Ha Rishon . So , at the beginning of this year , may our Festival of Succos , take us back in perfect repentance to HaShem in Gan Eiden , where we can finally sing the Tenth and Final Shir to HaShem , The Shir of Olam Ha Ba , The World to Come , in Mashiach's Time .
May the time come in our Days , where we can sit in the Basking Love and Light of The Beautiful Warmth and Love of HaShem .
I wish HaShem With Love , a Beautiful Sweet Shabbos Kodesh and Chag Succot Sameach Good Yom Tov with Love and to all my fellow Yidden , a Blessed Sweet Shabbos Kodesh with love and Chag Succot Sameach Good Yom Tov with love .
Friday, 14 September 2018
Parashas Vayeilech
Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Vayeilech and this Shabbos between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur during the Ten Days of Repentance, is called Shabbat Shuvah or Shabbat T'Shuvah , the Sabbath of Return , which is exactly what Teshuvah Repentance is, a returning to HaShem and His Mitzvos. During this period , HaShem Comes Down Closer to His Creation and Judges the World, it being the period around when, Creation took place and Rosh HaShanah,the day Adam Ha Rishon and Chavah were Created and given life from HaShem .So this is a time of Repentance , a time to look closer at our deeds and correct that which we have done wrong, making sure to do Teshuvah, returning to HaShem and begging His Forgiveness as well as the forgiveness of all those we have wronged .
Our Parsha Vayeilech takes place on the last day of Moshe Rabbeinu's life. Moshe had lived 120 years, born on the 7th of Adar and it approached that again.When Haman drew lots on which date to annihilate our people,when the lot fell in Adar, Haman thought this would be a sign in his favor , seeing Moshe died in this month, but he was wrong as Moshe was also born in the month of Adar ( Talmud Megillah 13b ) .
Usually people go out to their leader, especially before their leader would leave them,but Moshe was so humble that he 'Vayeilech' - " Went " out to all Israel. Moshe told them that he was now 120 years old today and could not any longer 'go out and come in,' not because he wasn't physically able, for Torah Tells us that even at 120 , " his eye had not dimmed and his vigor had not diminished," ( Devarim 34:7 ) The reason was that HaShem Had Forbidden him to go over the Jordan. It was now Yehoshuah's turn to lead . Moshe had accomplished enough and His time had come to rest in peace with HaShem .
Moshe summoned Yehoshuah and said to him before the eyes of all Israel, that he must be "strong and courageous ," in leading the people and not allowing any dissension ,making it clear , he was now the Leader and must be listened to, keeping strong in Torah Mitzvos and apportioning the land , that HaShem Will Help conquer for us . Yehoshuah had come a long way from being the younger lad who looked up to his teacher and accomppanied his teacher to Har Sinai, waiting the full period of 40 days at the foot of Har Sinai, while his teacher Moshe , went up the Mountain to fetch the Ten Commandments from HaShem .
On that last day of Moshe's life, he miraculously , with the help of HaShem , wrote 13 Complete Torah Scrolls in that one day, giving a Torah Scroll to each Tribe and the 13th Torah Scroll he gave over to the Kohanim , the sons of Levi, the bearers of the Ark,for safe keeping and authentification .
Moshe then Commanded that at the end of seven years in the Sabbatical Year , all Israel , men , women and children and Geirim , were to attend a public Torah Reading by Israel's King , in future times .
HaShem Showed Moshe how in later years the people would disobey , and instructed Moshe to write the Song of Ha'azinu,( the following Parsha ) to stand as a testimony of why HaShem has punished us , for disobedience .This is where this Parsha ends . The Haftorah for this week is Hoseah 14:2-10;Joel 2:11-27;Micah 7:8-20 , and deals with the subject of Teshuvah and returning to HaShem and His Mitzvos, chosen, for this time of year just between Rosh HaShanah and before Yom Kippur during these Ten Days of Teshuvah Repentance and Return to HaShem.
As I mentioned , this Parsha is called Vayeilech and refers to how Moshe ' Went ' and spoke these words to all Israel.
How amazing is Moshe , that he knows he is about to pass on , and he is still caring of HaShem and his people , to the exclusion of his own feelings , as any other person would be thinking of themselves at such a time , but not Moshe . His faithfulness to HaShem and his fellow Jews, is beyond what anyone else would and could do . Such a great leader is he and so very humnble is he , enough to go out to his people . Moshe had reached such a high state of holiness, that he was literally touching the spirituality of the Malachim and he had reached the final gate of Wisdom , to be under the Wings of the Shechinah of HaShem . There will never be another Moshe , a man who spoke so closely with His and our Creator . A man , so close to HaShem's Own ' Heart .'
Every word of Torah , that Moshe wrote down for HaShem , has the essence of Moshe within each word and letter. When we study the Torah , we can know that Moshe is speaking to us with each word and syllable, each verse and Perek , each Book of the Holy Torah . Moshe is stepping out and putting these beautiful Words of HaShem , into us . We see this by the word ' Vayeilech ,' which can also refer to a future tense ' he,' where it comes out as ,' And he ( Moshe ) will go out to all Israel ,' even into the future , today and beyond, coming to those studying HaShem's Holy Torah and giving sparks of Wisdom and explanation , to those today and beyond , who study HaShem's Holy Torah , for the first verse of this Sedra ," Vayeilech Moshe Vayedaber et Hadevarim Ha'Eileh el-kol Yisrael," - which means ," Moses went and spoke these words to all of Israel," can also be deeply rendered as , " And Moshe will go and speak these words of the Torah to all Israel , at all times and at all generations to come , ' for a true Tzaddik's essence never leaves us but continues to guide us through the ages , leading us toward the Light of HaShem . It is Moshe alone , who received the Torah from HaShem , and it is Moshe , whose words call out to every Jew to repent and return to HaShem our G-D .
HaShem Comes to us all Wanting our closeness. . This is the time of year to renew our closeness with HaShem and His Mitzvos . For those who feel they are too far away from HaShem , let them look within themselves and realize , HaShem's Love is within them , with the very Soul Neshamah we all have . For those who are questioning , look no further than the most original True Truth of all. HaShem and His Beautiful Mitzvos.For those who study and are religious, can become more so, coming closer to HaShem and studying more .
HaShem Is There , and Has Always Been and Always Will Be . Carrying us through good times and tests for our betterment . And if you have no idea where to start, start at the Beginning and slowly work your way up . That is what we all do , one day at a time , one moment at a time . Just never forsake HaShem and who He Made us to be .
Secretly within the Word, ' Vayeilech ," are the words , Va HaShem Lach ( the letter Yud can represent HaShem's Name ) , which translates as , ' HaShem Is For You .' For all those who think HaShem Created everything for Himself, they are so wrong . HaShem is the most Selfless ever .No matter how far one has strayed , A person can say sorry . Remember that HaShem is here for us. One of the reasons that HaShem Created Creation , according to our Sages , was so that He Could Show and Give Kindness . If only we would all cleave to HaShem and His Mitzvos .Let us emulate HaShem and make sure that everything we do , is for the sake of Kindness and for the sake of HaShem .
And the first kind act one can do , is to open oneself up to HaShem and His Mitzvos . It is for each one of us to "Vayeilech,' go to HaShem . To head for HaShem ,one must follow all His Laws , Given by HaShem .
It is for us to 'Go' to HaShem and not just wait for HaShem to come to us .
So at this time of the year , as we approach Yom Kippur,let us all take a proper look at ourselves from an objective point of view , "and Go to " - " Vayeilech " HaShem , correcting all we need to correct and following all we need to follow by HaShem .
So as we stand before HaShem on Yom Kippur, let us all beg for forgiveness and for kindness to others and to follow HaShem and His Beautiful Torah Gift that HaShem Gave us .
Thank you HaShem for the opportunity You Give to us all , to make things right and change ourselves for the better .
Thank you HaShem with love . May we all serve You with love . I love you HaShem .
I wish HaShem with Love , a Sweet Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and a Good and Sweet Year with Love Shanah Tovah , and to all my fellow Yidden , a sweet beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and well over the Fast and a Good and Sweet Year Shanah Tovah .
Our Parsha Vayeilech takes place on the last day of Moshe Rabbeinu's life. Moshe had lived 120 years, born on the 7th of Adar and it approached that again.When Haman drew lots on which date to annihilate our people,when the lot fell in Adar, Haman thought this would be a sign in his favor , seeing Moshe died in this month, but he was wrong as Moshe was also born in the month of Adar ( Talmud Megillah 13b ) .
Usually people go out to their leader, especially before their leader would leave them,but Moshe was so humble that he 'Vayeilech' - " Went " out to all Israel. Moshe told them that he was now 120 years old today and could not any longer 'go out and come in,' not because he wasn't physically able, for Torah Tells us that even at 120 , " his eye had not dimmed and his vigor had not diminished," ( Devarim 34:7 ) The reason was that HaShem Had Forbidden him to go over the Jordan. It was now Yehoshuah's turn to lead . Moshe had accomplished enough and His time had come to rest in peace with HaShem .
Moshe summoned Yehoshuah and said to him before the eyes of all Israel, that he must be "strong and courageous ," in leading the people and not allowing any dissension ,making it clear , he was now the Leader and must be listened to, keeping strong in Torah Mitzvos and apportioning the land , that HaShem Will Help conquer for us . Yehoshuah had come a long way from being the younger lad who looked up to his teacher and accomppanied his teacher to Har Sinai, waiting the full period of 40 days at the foot of Har Sinai, while his teacher Moshe , went up the Mountain to fetch the Ten Commandments from HaShem .
On that last day of Moshe's life, he miraculously , with the help of HaShem , wrote 13 Complete Torah Scrolls in that one day, giving a Torah Scroll to each Tribe and the 13th Torah Scroll he gave over to the Kohanim , the sons of Levi, the bearers of the Ark,for safe keeping and authentification .
Moshe then Commanded that at the end of seven years in the Sabbatical Year , all Israel , men , women and children and Geirim , were to attend a public Torah Reading by Israel's King , in future times .
HaShem Showed Moshe how in later years the people would disobey , and instructed Moshe to write the Song of Ha'azinu,( the following Parsha ) to stand as a testimony of why HaShem has punished us , for disobedience .This is where this Parsha ends . The Haftorah for this week is Hoseah 14:2-10;Joel 2:11-27;Micah 7:8-20 , and deals with the subject of Teshuvah and returning to HaShem and His Mitzvos, chosen, for this time of year just between Rosh HaShanah and before Yom Kippur during these Ten Days of Teshuvah Repentance and Return to HaShem.
As I mentioned , this Parsha is called Vayeilech and refers to how Moshe ' Went ' and spoke these words to all Israel.
How amazing is Moshe , that he knows he is about to pass on , and he is still caring of HaShem and his people , to the exclusion of his own feelings , as any other person would be thinking of themselves at such a time , but not Moshe . His faithfulness to HaShem and his fellow Jews, is beyond what anyone else would and could do . Such a great leader is he and so very humnble is he , enough to go out to his people . Moshe had reached such a high state of holiness, that he was literally touching the spirituality of the Malachim and he had reached the final gate of Wisdom , to be under the Wings of the Shechinah of HaShem . There will never be another Moshe , a man who spoke so closely with His and our Creator . A man , so close to HaShem's Own ' Heart .'
Every word of Torah , that Moshe wrote down for HaShem , has the essence of Moshe within each word and letter. When we study the Torah , we can know that Moshe is speaking to us with each word and syllable, each verse and Perek , each Book of the Holy Torah . Moshe is stepping out and putting these beautiful Words of HaShem , into us . We see this by the word ' Vayeilech ,' which can also refer to a future tense ' he,' where it comes out as ,' And he ( Moshe ) will go out to all Israel ,' even into the future , today and beyond, coming to those studying HaShem's Holy Torah and giving sparks of Wisdom and explanation , to those today and beyond , who study HaShem's Holy Torah , for the first verse of this Sedra ," Vayeilech Moshe Vayedaber et Hadevarim Ha'Eileh el-kol Yisrael," - which means ," Moses went and spoke these words to all of Israel," can also be deeply rendered as , " And Moshe will go and speak these words of the Torah to all Israel , at all times and at all generations to come , ' for a true Tzaddik's essence never leaves us but continues to guide us through the ages , leading us toward the Light of HaShem . It is Moshe alone , who received the Torah from HaShem , and it is Moshe , whose words call out to every Jew to repent and return to HaShem our G-D .
HaShem Comes to us all Wanting our closeness. . This is the time of year to renew our closeness with HaShem and His Mitzvos . For those who feel they are too far away from HaShem , let them look within themselves and realize , HaShem's Love is within them , with the very Soul Neshamah we all have . For those who are questioning , look no further than the most original True Truth of all. HaShem and His Beautiful Mitzvos.For those who study and are religious, can become more so, coming closer to HaShem and studying more .
HaShem Is There , and Has Always Been and Always Will Be . Carrying us through good times and tests for our betterment . And if you have no idea where to start, start at the Beginning and slowly work your way up . That is what we all do , one day at a time , one moment at a time . Just never forsake HaShem and who He Made us to be .
Secretly within the Word, ' Vayeilech ," are the words , Va HaShem Lach ( the letter Yud can represent HaShem's Name ) , which translates as , ' HaShem Is For You .' For all those who think HaShem Created everything for Himself, they are so wrong . HaShem is the most Selfless ever .No matter how far one has strayed , A person can say sorry . Remember that HaShem is here for us. One of the reasons that HaShem Created Creation , according to our Sages , was so that He Could Show and Give Kindness . If only we would all cleave to HaShem and His Mitzvos .Let us emulate HaShem and make sure that everything we do , is for the sake of Kindness and for the sake of HaShem .
And the first kind act one can do , is to open oneself up to HaShem and His Mitzvos . It is for each one of us to "Vayeilech,' go to HaShem . To head for HaShem ,one must follow all His Laws , Given by HaShem .
It is for us to 'Go' to HaShem and not just wait for HaShem to come to us .
So at this time of the year , as we approach Yom Kippur,let us all take a proper look at ourselves from an objective point of view , "and Go to " - " Vayeilech " HaShem , correcting all we need to correct and following all we need to follow by HaShem .
So as we stand before HaShem on Yom Kippur, let us all beg for forgiveness and for kindness to others and to follow HaShem and His Beautiful Torah Gift that HaShem Gave us .
Thank you HaShem for the opportunity You Give to us all , to make things right and change ourselves for the better .
Thank you HaShem with love . May we all serve You with love . I love you HaShem .
I wish HaShem with Love , a Sweet Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and a Good and Sweet Year with Love Shanah Tovah , and to all my fellow Yidden , a sweet beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love and well over the Fast and a Good and Sweet Year Shanah Tovah .
Friday, 7 September 2018
Parashas Nitzavim just before Rosh HaShanah
Our Parsha this Shabbos , which this time falls just before Rosh HaShanah , which was the day that HaShem Created man .
The words Moshe said in this Parsha at the time , were also said on Moshe's last day . Thus Moshe , knew this was to be his last day to be with the people and he renewed the Covenant with HaShem and the people.
Moshe knew he would no longer be able to pray for the people, so Moshe called all the people , young and elderly. heads of the Tribes,officers and elders ,the children and the Women and the proselyte , to " Nitzavim " - " Stand " before HaShem .Moshe also addressed the " Hewers of Wood , " and 'Water Drawers ," to come and Stand before HaShem . " The " Hewers of Wood," and " Water Drawers, " were the Canaanites, that had come to Moshe ,' pretending to be members of a distant nation , wanting to convert , but they were not totally sincere to accept Judaism and so Moshe did not convert them but allowed them to be " Hewers of Wood " and " Water Drawers. ". So HaShem , through Moshe , called all , to renew the Covenant with HaShem and to keep His Statutes and His Commandments.
In this verse ,HaShem Refers to even those who were not there then at that particular time , in that generation . In other words , every Jewish Neshoma , past , present and future .Thus HaShem had Moshe call all the souls to come who would be Jewish , in later generations to go and Stand before HaShem . Even our souls today are ( like what happened at the Giving of the Ten Commandments,) called upon to " Nitzavim " - " Stand " before HaShem to renew the Covenant.
HaShem then warns against Avodah Zorah - Idol -Worship . Moshe also mentions that there could possibly be some there , who in their hearts or minds are thinking of idol worship Chas Ve Shalom and are not serious about coming to HaShem or keeping His Commandments . Those trangessors, will be dealt with by HaShem . HaShem will bring them to account . HaShem Puts the statement of idol-worship in the same Sedra of " Nitzavim, " - " Standing " before G-D , so as to show how idol-worship is like not standing before HaShem , where both are a turning away from HaShem or His Commandments , Chas ve Shalom .In the Sedra , HaShem Continues Saying what will happen to the transgressors , and follows up with how HaShem Will Redeem us at the End Of Days , Giving us Light to look forward to and Beautiful Blessings . Moshe continues , by HaShem's Word , to warn us not to forsake HaShem when we enter the land of Canaan , where Physical Blessings abound . Thus HaShem Warns the people very seriously , to obey Him as the One And Only True G-D and Creator and all He Commandments.
Moshe reminds us of HaShem's Goodness to us tells us never to forsake HaShem or His Covenant . The Children of Israel were about to enter the land , and so , Moshe wanted to ensure that once we leave the Wilderness , and we get Blessed with abundance , we are to remember that all things including our abundance , comes from HaShem and that we are never to forsake HaShem .
So many make out that to keep Torah is so difficult, or that we have to go to impossible lengths to keep it . This is so not true. HaShem Reminds us in Devarim 30:11-14 , that Torah is able to be kept and that within these few verses, there are deeper hidden meanings . As for those that say Torah is hidden and unreachable to human beings , how untrue that is , for Torah says that it isn't hidden or distant , but very near us , within our heart and thus our mind and body are open to learning It with love . The deeper meaning here is that even if so much of Torah is hidden and appears distant to our inferior minds, we are to exert ourselves to the utmost to delve into the Torah's Secrets and hidden treasures and bring Torah closer to us and become one with Torah and so become one with HaShem . For those who say Torah is in Heaven and too high and hard to reach , Torah tells us that It is not in Heaven Shamaim , that we need to go up to Heaven to bring it down to us. No, Torah is very near us , given to us on Earth , so as to Keep It and all It's Statutes and Laws . The deeper meaning here is also that even if it seemed high up , and out of reach , HaShem Is Telling us here that even if It was above us , we are to exert ourselves fully to acquire It , going out of our way to learn The Torah and follow The Torah . A beautiful story is told of how, when Moshe Rabbeinu went up to Har Sinai to fetch the Torah , some of the Angels disputed , the right of humans to have the Torah and that it should remain in Shamaim . HaShem Could easily have put down their arguments , but Turned to Moshe and Said ," Answer them . " You see, even though HaShem Was Going to give Moshe the Torah to bring down to us , even Moshe had to prove us worthy to receive it , by exerting himself . Moshe turned to the Angels and , protected by HaShem, was able to answer , by giving a number of examples in Torah that show , it referred to us as a Jewish people and that also , the Mitzvahs in the Torah , can only be done by a human and not an angel , so , Moshe exerted himself to earn the Torah and bring It down to us . Thus It is very near us and so we can learn It. The Torah continues ,in these few verses to say how Torah is not across the sea to go over the Sea to to have to fetch It , for it is very near us . The deeper meaning in this is that we are to exert ourselves physically to go over great lengths to learn Torah , even in sending our kinderlach - our precious children overseas to Yeshivos in the Holy land . Another deeper meaning here is , that in going over great Sea distances, we come across other people with incorrect ways of belief. So the deeper analogy here is that we should never look outside our faith Chas ve Shalom , for answers, in foreign ways , for those ways are false and there is only one True Path and that is Torah . So for those who look for excuses about keeping the Torah , HaShem Tells us near the end of Parashas Nitzavim , that Torah is very near us - in our mouth ( and all we say , which is also a reference to teach others Torah ) and in our heart , where all our feelings are directed to HaShem .
HaShem Tells us at the end of this Parsha , how HaShem Gives us a choice to be either Good and Keep His Commands which is ' Life ,' or bad , for keeping to HaShem , leads to good and light and life . HaShem Commands us to love Him and His Ways . On loving HaShem , it means , according to our Sages,that we are to do all that HaShem Asks of us without an ulterior motive and to always put HaShem's Wishes before our own . To love HaShem more than ourselves.
This Sedra ends with HaShem Telling us that He Brings Heaven and Earth as witnesses that we keep the Torah . There is again a deeper meaning in this, for if we obey HaShem , then HaShem will Shower us with abundance from Heaven and Earth , but if one does not obey HaShem , Chas Ve Shalom , then HaShem Will See to it that Heaven and Earth will testify against us and Heaven and Earth will be caused by HaShem , to respond to what one who disobeys , did . HaShem Asks us to love Him and listen to Him , for our own sakes , as many times in Torah and here again , HaShem Tells us how following Him , will bring us Life . It is here that the Sedra ends.
This Parsha is called " Nitzavim , " which means " Standing ," for we are to " Nitzavim " - " Stand " before HaShem , in Keeping the Covenant we have with HaShem and to stand and follow His Commandments , with alacrity , for HaShem's Commandments are our very Life and Link to HaShem . The word for " Stand ," is " Omeid ," so why in this Sedra is the word " Nitzavim " used . ' Within the word " Nitzavim , " is the word ' Nitzav ," which means ' Upright and strong, steadfast and firm . " ( Shilo dictionary ) . Thus in this Sedra , HaShem Is Asking us all to "Stand " upright , strong , steadfast and firm in our resolve to keep HaShem's Torah with all our might and stand up always ready to do HaShem's Bidding with alacrity like Avraham , who when asked to take his son Isaac as an offering , Avraham did so first thing in the morning , for he was always ready to serve HaShem with alacrity . We are to Stand always ready to serve HaShem .
Every day and every minute we " Nitzav ," " Stand " before HaShem . HaShem Is always before us . So every moment , we should scrutinize our own actions and behavior and see to it that we can " Nitzavim ," - " Stand ," before HaShem clean and pure .
Every minute , we are actually standing before HaShem . So we should always be Pure and Holy .
The Parsha asks us to " Stand " Koolchem ," - " all of us ," yet the tone of the Sedra , has a singular aspect to it as a collective whole . And this is how we are to be . Even though we are one , we are all one Jewish people and , so should stand together as one , to our One and Only Creator HaShem . This also shows that , as one unit ,' we are responsible one for the other , ' so whatever we do, can affect others .It is like four men in a boat on the Sea and one decides to drill a hole under his own seat . When the others ask what he is doing as his action will affect others, he answers that they should not worry as he is only drawing a hole under his own seat . But in reality , he will let water drown the others . We all live in the same Creation and if one of us affects a part of that Creation in a way that HaShem Tells us not to , we will affect the entire balance of Creation , even by a small action of disobedience . We must thus always trust HaShem in what He Tells us to do , for only HaShem Alone Knows what Creation . We thus also have a collective responsibility to help our fellow Jew , as what we do , affects others . If one Jew doesn't keep HaShem's Commandments and Shabbos, then that affects other Jews and Creation in ways we cant even imagine . So whether we understand all the Laws or not , we must listen to HaShem for He Alone Knows all things and all that Creation needs .The same goes the other way round , for if we do one positive action , we can tip the scale and bring Brochas to our fellow Yidden .
As our Gemorrah says, we all have a collective responsibilty for our fellow Jew and fellow human being . Each one of us stands with the rest of Creation all the time , "Nitzavim " - " Standing " before HaShem .
Rosh HaShanah is approaching , the day HaShem made Adam Ve Chavah . How tall they stood , Standing as a new Creation before HaShem As we pray on Rosh HaShanah , where at this period of the year , HaShem Comes down closer to us , throughout the whole month of Elul , so let us " Nitzavim ," - " Stand Upright ," in Love , and bring purity and Redemption to this World and make this World a place in which our Beloved HaShem can Dwell close to us . This day is beloved to HaShem , as it was on this day HaShem Made humans , so it is a day HaShem Wants Closeness with us . Let us all do our utmost to reciprocate and come closer to HaShem , always obeying HaShem's Commandments and following HaShem only , with deepest love and devotion . .Let us all Stand firm in our Love of HaShem and His Holy Torah and see to it that we choose Life , with HaShem and bring abundant Brochas to Creation , that desperately wants to " Nitzavim ," - " Stand up ," and be at one with HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu . I wish HaShem with Love a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and Shanah Tovah and to all my fellow Yidden , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Shanah Tovah Kesiva Ve Chasima Tovah with love .
The words Moshe said in this Parsha at the time , were also said on Moshe's last day . Thus Moshe , knew this was to be his last day to be with the people and he renewed the Covenant with HaShem and the people.
Moshe knew he would no longer be able to pray for the people, so Moshe called all the people , young and elderly. heads of the Tribes,officers and elders ,the children and the Women and the proselyte , to " Nitzavim " - " Stand " before HaShem .Moshe also addressed the " Hewers of Wood , " and 'Water Drawers ," to come and Stand before HaShem . " The " Hewers of Wood," and " Water Drawers, " were the Canaanites, that had come to Moshe ,' pretending to be members of a distant nation , wanting to convert , but they were not totally sincere to accept Judaism and so Moshe did not convert them but allowed them to be " Hewers of Wood " and " Water Drawers. ". So HaShem , through Moshe , called all , to renew the Covenant with HaShem and to keep His Statutes and His Commandments.
In this verse ,HaShem Refers to even those who were not there then at that particular time , in that generation . In other words , every Jewish Neshoma , past , present and future .Thus HaShem had Moshe call all the souls to come who would be Jewish , in later generations to go and Stand before HaShem . Even our souls today are ( like what happened at the Giving of the Ten Commandments,) called upon to " Nitzavim " - " Stand " before HaShem to renew the Covenant.
HaShem then warns against Avodah Zorah - Idol -Worship . Moshe also mentions that there could possibly be some there , who in their hearts or minds are thinking of idol worship Chas Ve Shalom and are not serious about coming to HaShem or keeping His Commandments . Those trangessors, will be dealt with by HaShem . HaShem will bring them to account . HaShem Puts the statement of idol-worship in the same Sedra of " Nitzavim, " - " Standing " before G-D , so as to show how idol-worship is like not standing before HaShem , where both are a turning away from HaShem or His Commandments , Chas ve Shalom .In the Sedra , HaShem Continues Saying what will happen to the transgressors , and follows up with how HaShem Will Redeem us at the End Of Days , Giving us Light to look forward to and Beautiful Blessings . Moshe continues , by HaShem's Word , to warn us not to forsake HaShem when we enter the land of Canaan , where Physical Blessings abound . Thus HaShem Warns the people very seriously , to obey Him as the One And Only True G-D and Creator and all He Commandments.
Moshe reminds us of HaShem's Goodness to us tells us never to forsake HaShem or His Covenant . The Children of Israel were about to enter the land , and so , Moshe wanted to ensure that once we leave the Wilderness , and we get Blessed with abundance , we are to remember that all things including our abundance , comes from HaShem and that we are never to forsake HaShem .
So many make out that to keep Torah is so difficult, or that we have to go to impossible lengths to keep it . This is so not true. HaShem Reminds us in Devarim 30:11-14 , that Torah is able to be kept and that within these few verses, there are deeper hidden meanings . As for those that say Torah is hidden and unreachable to human beings , how untrue that is , for Torah says that it isn't hidden or distant , but very near us , within our heart and thus our mind and body are open to learning It with love . The deeper meaning here is that even if so much of Torah is hidden and appears distant to our inferior minds, we are to exert ourselves to the utmost to delve into the Torah's Secrets and hidden treasures and bring Torah closer to us and become one with Torah and so become one with HaShem . For those who say Torah is in Heaven and too high and hard to reach , Torah tells us that It is not in Heaven Shamaim , that we need to go up to Heaven to bring it down to us. No, Torah is very near us , given to us on Earth , so as to Keep It and all It's Statutes and Laws . The deeper meaning here is also that even if it seemed high up , and out of reach , HaShem Is Telling us here that even if It was above us , we are to exert ourselves fully to acquire It , going out of our way to learn The Torah and follow The Torah . A beautiful story is told of how, when Moshe Rabbeinu went up to Har Sinai to fetch the Torah , some of the Angels disputed , the right of humans to have the Torah and that it should remain in Shamaim . HaShem Could easily have put down their arguments , but Turned to Moshe and Said ," Answer them . " You see, even though HaShem Was Going to give Moshe the Torah to bring down to us , even Moshe had to prove us worthy to receive it , by exerting himself . Moshe turned to the Angels and , protected by HaShem, was able to answer , by giving a number of examples in Torah that show , it referred to us as a Jewish people and that also , the Mitzvahs in the Torah , can only be done by a human and not an angel , so , Moshe exerted himself to earn the Torah and bring It down to us . Thus It is very near us and so we can learn It. The Torah continues ,in these few verses to say how Torah is not across the sea to go over the Sea to to have to fetch It , for it is very near us . The deeper meaning in this is that we are to exert ourselves physically to go over great lengths to learn Torah , even in sending our kinderlach - our precious children overseas to Yeshivos in the Holy land . Another deeper meaning here is , that in going over great Sea distances, we come across other people with incorrect ways of belief. So the deeper analogy here is that we should never look outside our faith Chas ve Shalom , for answers, in foreign ways , for those ways are false and there is only one True Path and that is Torah . So for those who look for excuses about keeping the Torah , HaShem Tells us near the end of Parashas Nitzavim , that Torah is very near us - in our mouth ( and all we say , which is also a reference to teach others Torah ) and in our heart , where all our feelings are directed to HaShem .
HaShem Tells us at the end of this Parsha , how HaShem Gives us a choice to be either Good and Keep His Commands which is ' Life ,' or bad , for keeping to HaShem , leads to good and light and life . HaShem Commands us to love Him and His Ways . On loving HaShem , it means , according to our Sages,that we are to do all that HaShem Asks of us without an ulterior motive and to always put HaShem's Wishes before our own . To love HaShem more than ourselves.
This Sedra ends with HaShem Telling us that He Brings Heaven and Earth as witnesses that we keep the Torah . There is again a deeper meaning in this, for if we obey HaShem , then HaShem will Shower us with abundance from Heaven and Earth , but if one does not obey HaShem , Chas Ve Shalom , then HaShem Will See to it that Heaven and Earth will testify against us and Heaven and Earth will be caused by HaShem , to respond to what one who disobeys , did . HaShem Asks us to love Him and listen to Him , for our own sakes , as many times in Torah and here again , HaShem Tells us how following Him , will bring us Life . It is here that the Sedra ends.
This Parsha is called " Nitzavim , " which means " Standing ," for we are to " Nitzavim " - " Stand " before HaShem , in Keeping the Covenant we have with HaShem and to stand and follow His Commandments , with alacrity , for HaShem's Commandments are our very Life and Link to HaShem . The word for " Stand ," is " Omeid ," so why in this Sedra is the word " Nitzavim " used . ' Within the word " Nitzavim , " is the word ' Nitzav ," which means ' Upright and strong, steadfast and firm . " ( Shilo dictionary ) . Thus in this Sedra , HaShem Is Asking us all to "Stand " upright , strong , steadfast and firm in our resolve to keep HaShem's Torah with all our might and stand up always ready to do HaShem's Bidding with alacrity like Avraham , who when asked to take his son Isaac as an offering , Avraham did so first thing in the morning , for he was always ready to serve HaShem with alacrity . We are to Stand always ready to serve HaShem .
Every day and every minute we " Nitzav ," " Stand " before HaShem . HaShem Is always before us . So every moment , we should scrutinize our own actions and behavior and see to it that we can " Nitzavim ," - " Stand ," before HaShem clean and pure .
Every minute , we are actually standing before HaShem . So we should always be Pure and Holy .
The Parsha asks us to " Stand " Koolchem ," - " all of us ," yet the tone of the Sedra , has a singular aspect to it as a collective whole . And this is how we are to be . Even though we are one , we are all one Jewish people and , so should stand together as one , to our One and Only Creator HaShem . This also shows that , as one unit ,' we are responsible one for the other , ' so whatever we do, can affect others .It is like four men in a boat on the Sea and one decides to drill a hole under his own seat . When the others ask what he is doing as his action will affect others, he answers that they should not worry as he is only drawing a hole under his own seat . But in reality , he will let water drown the others . We all live in the same Creation and if one of us affects a part of that Creation in a way that HaShem Tells us not to , we will affect the entire balance of Creation , even by a small action of disobedience . We must thus always trust HaShem in what He Tells us to do , for only HaShem Alone Knows what Creation . We thus also have a collective responsibility to help our fellow Jew , as what we do , affects others . If one Jew doesn't keep HaShem's Commandments and Shabbos, then that affects other Jews and Creation in ways we cant even imagine . So whether we understand all the Laws or not , we must listen to HaShem for He Alone Knows all things and all that Creation needs .The same goes the other way round , for if we do one positive action , we can tip the scale and bring Brochas to our fellow Yidden .
As our Gemorrah says, we all have a collective responsibilty for our fellow Jew and fellow human being . Each one of us stands with the rest of Creation all the time , "Nitzavim " - " Standing " before HaShem .
Rosh HaShanah is approaching , the day HaShem made Adam Ve Chavah . How tall they stood , Standing as a new Creation before HaShem As we pray on Rosh HaShanah , where at this period of the year , HaShem Comes down closer to us , throughout the whole month of Elul , so let us " Nitzavim ," - " Stand Upright ," in Love , and bring purity and Redemption to this World and make this World a place in which our Beloved HaShem can Dwell close to us . This day is beloved to HaShem , as it was on this day HaShem Made humans , so it is a day HaShem Wants Closeness with us . Let us all do our utmost to reciprocate and come closer to HaShem , always obeying HaShem's Commandments and following HaShem only , with deepest love and devotion . .Let us all Stand firm in our Love of HaShem and His Holy Torah and see to it that we choose Life , with HaShem and bring abundant Brochas to Creation , that desperately wants to " Nitzavim ," - " Stand up ," and be at one with HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu . I wish HaShem with Love a Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love and Shanah Tovah and to all my fellow Yidden , a beautiful Shabbos Kodesh and Shanah Tovah Kesiva Ve Chasima Tovah with love .
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