Parashas Terumah

I dedicate this to my beloved Abba. May my Father's neshoma be forever in Shamaim in peace close to HaShem .
Our Parsha this week is Parashas Terumah . The Haftorah for this Sedra is I Kings 5:26 - 6:13 and deals with the building of the Temple in Shlomo Hemalech's time as our Parsha deals with the Construction of the Mishkan . This Parsha starts with a "Va" to show that HaShem Gave these Instructions when HaShem Was With Moshe when Moshe had gone up to the Mountain for forty days and forty nights , as the last Parsha Mishpatim ended with .
The Children of Israel felt sad to leave Har Sinai where they had spent close on a year as it was there that they had experienced the Closeness of Revelation with HaShem and did not want to leave . HaShem Instructed on the building of the Mishkan so that we would make a special place , within our camp , where HaShem's Shechinah Would Dwell Among us , wherever we would go . The Construction of the Mishkan , with the Ark and the Table and the Menorah and the Altar and all That HaShem Asked to be built , would be like our part of Heaven Travelling with us . HaShem Would Rest With us in the Holy of Holies , between the Cherubim on the Holy Ark Cover , and so Would HaShem Be Among His People . The people would then know that HaShem Is With us Always . We are told that HaShem Even Had the Ark travel forward , when we were to move away from Har Sinai , so that we would know that HaShem Was Moving Forward and for us to remain close to Him , we would need to move forward too . And so we did .
HaShem Told Moshe to speak to the Children of Israel that each should take a " Terumah , " - " Portion . " From every man " whose heart motivates him , you shall take My Portion . " So this request was voluntary and thus more special , for we could give out of love and not because we might have to . Such a Giving , is always more Giving and from truly from the Heart , in which , HaShem , Within each one of us , Wants To Dwell . Though we gave in abundance , if one really looks closely at how much gold and other articles were actually needed , one realizes , that though we gave in abundance , HaShem Had to Have Miraculously Given To this project too ( Yalkut MeAm Loez ) , and so does Torah say " you shall take My Portion , " for a lot of the amount that went into the building construction here , was actually From HaShem Himself , For HaShem Miraculously Added To It .
HaShem Instructs on the portions of materials that are to be taken for this and to make a Sanctuary for HaShem To Dwell Among us , just as Moshe was Shown .
HaShem Instructed that The Ark be made of Acacia wood which was Shittim Wood , part of the wood that Yaakov carried with to Egypt when we went into Egypt . This wood was from an area that was called Shittim Waters , and at the time it was known that these waters , would , if drunk , bring people to physically debase themselves and it was near these waters that the Moabites later on , managed to entice some of the people to idolatry , through physical enticements ( Yalkut Me Am Loez ) . So using this particular wood , would be a direct block and control against the Yetzer Horah , especially it being used for such a Holy purpose .
The Ark was to be made 2.5 cubits in length and 1.5 cubits in width and 1-5 cubits in height . If we take both sides of the length and width and the height and add them , it comes to 8 , the holy number after 7 , that takes us into the realm of spiritual holiness ( like the 50th day of the Omer being Shavuos , after counting seven weeks of seven ) and if we add the height , we get 9.5 and with the cover and the Cherubim on top , it goes into the ranges of 10 , like the Holy Ten Commandments and the Ten Pronouncements by HaShem in Creating Creation . The Ark was to be made with a form including three boxes basically within each other , with the two outer ones being of pure gold and the inner one being of wood , showing us , how we must be the same deep within us as we are outside , being honest and trustworthy and truthful .The Ark represented the Crown of Torah and on it was to be put a Crown all around . Four rings were to be cast on it on each corner and the staves of acacia wood , covered with gold were to always be in the rings and never removed from it even when not carrying it , just as we are always to be close to Torah and never remove ourselves from It . Into the Ark , was to be placed the Testimonial Tablets .
The Ark Cover was to be made of pure gold and on top was to be hammered out , two K'ruvim - Cherubim , hammered out from both ends of the " Kaporet " - " Cover . "
The Cherubim were to have their wings spread upward sheltering the cover with their faces toward one another . The faces on these Cherubim , were to be of a boy and a girl , and when we kept HaShem's Commandments , their faces would smile and when we didn't , they would turn away from each other . Their wings would embrace , when we were especially obedient to HaShem . It was in the one cubit space between the two Cherubim ( just as HaShem Is Surrounded by Angels above , that HaShem Would Place His Shechinah To Rest and where HaShem Would Hold His Meetings with Moshe . The Ark would sometimes travel 2000 cubits ahead of the Camp of Israel , so as to clear the way for our path to be safe in the Wilderness , where a giant snake and other things of danger , dwelt . The Ark was carried with the poles along It's widths and those who carried it always faced it , thus those in front , actually walked backwards , so as not to disrespect the Shechinah and Aron , just as we , in Shul , should walk backwards from the Aron Keidesh , till It is out of direct sight . Such a sight to the nations , of HaShem's Mishkan and " Aron "- " Ark " in our midst , showed how we are HaShem's People , that Keep His Holy Torah and so would HaShem Dwell Among us even now , if only we would all keep HaShem's Torah Laws . HaShem Instructed , showing Moshe a picture of it , that a " Shulchan " - " Table " be built of Acacia Wood , 2 cubits its length , a cubit its width and 1.5 cubits its height . These numbers added up , had a special prophetic meaning in relation to the kings that came in Israel . It was to be covered with pure gold and a gold crown to be made all around it . This signified the Crown of Kingship . Also it was to have four rings and four carrying staves . Also its utensils were to be made . Always on the Shulchan was the show-bread to be put before HaShem Always . This Shulchan brought blessings of Abundance of food to the World ( for just as we leave the Hamotzi on the Table on Shabbos when we Bensch so as to allow us to be Blessed for more sustenance , so was the Lechem Panim left from week to week , for HaShem to Bring Forth from what is already there that He Created , for since Creation , HaShem , Who Made all things at the beginning of Creation till the end , at the time of Creation's Creation , HaShem Does not need to ever Create out of nothing , for HaShem Made all things that Creation would need , back then ) and every Erev Shabbos , was the Lechem Panim to be replaced and the bread for the previous week remained ever fresh .
The Menorah was to be of pure gold all of a single piece . Moshe had to request of HaShem to Show him how it was to be done with all its cups , knobs and blossoms all of a single hammered piece of gold and HaShem Showed Him one of fire , on the Mountain . Every part of the Menorah had its deeper reason and the Menorah stood as the contribution of the light we give to the World , when we keep HaShem's Commandments . All parts of the Menorah were to be from a single hammered out piece of gold , just as we as Jews , must come together as one nation , under HaShem and His Mitzvos , in peace and thus bring Moshiach . The seven lamps were like the seven days in Creation , the seven days of the week and Kabbalistically , the seven worlds of Planets mentioned for special reasons , the sevens in the Sabbatical year , the sevens on the counting of the Omer and the sevens , in the Holy Number where the Seventh Day is Holy Shabbos Kodesh .
Torah then describes in detail. The construction of the. " Mishkan " - " Tabernacle , " with each measurement size , having a special meaning of great and holy depth . Each plank fitted with its adjacent plank in a partnership of peace , just like a husband and wife become one in peace and love . Each plank was ten cubits in length , like the Ten Pronouncements of HaShem's Creation and the Ten Commandments .
A " Paroches " - "Partition " was to be made to separate the part that was to be " Kodesh Ha Kodashim " - " Holy of Holies , " within which , would the Aron Ark of the Testimonial Tablets be put and a " Masach " - " Screen " was to be made as an entrance of the Tent .
HaShem Instructed that a " Mizbeach " - " Altar " be made of Acacia Wood , five cubits its length , five cubits its width square and three cubits its height . This would total all round 23 , and when taking into account that the physical height is 3 cubits in the physical world and thus the spiritual verion above of this Mizbeach also has a 3 cubit height , we get a total , when the time will come for the Physical and Spiritual to become one , of 26 , which is the exact Gematrical value of HaShem's Tetragrammaton Name ' Yud Hei Vav Hei . " The width size and length size in cubits of a side , add up to ten , which again , represents the Ten Commanments and the Ten Pronouncements That HaShem Made , in Creating Creation . There were to be four horns on the Mizbeach , just like the Four directions on Earth , and so was each part made for the Mishkan , to be put in a specific place and direction , depending on what that direction signified and what comes from that direction , Spiritually . It was all to be covered with copper and all its utensils were to be of copper . A Netting Meshwork was to be made , which Miraculously never burnt or melted . Staves too were to be made for it . The word " Copper " in Hebrew , is. " Nechoshes , " which interestingly has within it the Hebrew word " Nachash " - " Snake " just like Samael that used the Snake to bring Sin into the World , and as we know , the Mizbayach , was also there for Korbanos of Sins , thus it directly contradicted the actions of Sin and Samael , who works the Yetzer Horah that pulls us to Sin . The " Mizbeach " - " Altar " represented the Crown of Kehunah Pristhood , and so , as we have in Pirkei Avos , the Aron , Shulchan and Mizbeach , represented the three Crowns in Judaism , being The Crown of Torah , the Crown of Priesthood and The Crown of Kingship . The " Mizbeach " had deeper meanings for if we take each letter of the word " Mizbeach " , being a Mem , Zayin , Beis and Ches , these letters can spell " Mechilah " - " Forgiveness ; " Zechus " - " Purity " ( Shimon Zilberman Dictionary ) ; " Brochas " - " Blessings " and " Chaim " - " Life , " all of which the " Mizbeach " could help us attain . HaShem Then Instructed on the " Chatzar " - " Courtyard " of the Mishkan , with all its lace hangings , and being within it , was like being in Heaven with its Blue Sky Curtains . The Lace Hangings were to be 100 Cubits , just like the One Hundred Brochas we are supposed to say every day , instituted by Dovid Hamelech , which he learnt , in order to stay of the plague that was ravishing in those days , which knowledge we get also by the Gematriah of these words referring to Blessing HaShem every day , as written in The Torah . The Parsha ends with the Instructions of the makings of the " Chatzer " - " Courtyard . "
HaShem Wants us each , to contribute a " Terumah " - " Portion " to HaShem , for the good of us , ourselves . HaShem Gives us so much and we give Him so little in return . That which we give Him , all belongs to HaShem . But what we can Give HaShem , is our Free Choice of Love and service to Him , to do His Will . It should be our own hearts and thus free choice that should motivate this . Then it is truly from us . So Says HaShem , " Ve ' Asu Li Mikdash Ve Shachanti B' Tocham " - " They shall make a Sanctuary for Me so that I May Dwell Among them . "
HaShem Asks us to Make A Sanctuary For Him , that He May Dwell Among us .So HaShem Asks us to make this for Him , which shows that HaShem So Desires To Dwell With us In Closeness and Love .
HaShem Wants our closeness . It is not as the nations think , that an intermediary is needed to come close to HaShem . HaShem Wants So Deeply , to come directly To us , close to us all , for we are all His Children , all of Creation . To put an intermediary between HaShem and us , is exactly the opposite of what HaShem Tells us or Wants . HaShem Wants us each to approach Him directly and for each of us to have a close relationship with Him directly .
When HaShem Asks us to make a Sanctuary for Him so He Can Dwell Among us , that is exactly what HaShem Wants . Looking deeper , when HaShem Asks us to make Him a Sanctuary , HaShem Is Also Asking us literally to make HaShem , our Sanctuary , to be with Him all the time , letting ourselves from deep within the heart , follow Him , and so that HaShem Can Surround us and Keep us Forever Close To Him . Deep within these words , is the true secret to what HaShem Deeply Desires for if we look closer at these words , it says also , " Ve' Asu Li Mikdash Ve Shachanti B' Tocham , " - " Make within me ( within you and within me and within us all ) a Sanctuary , so that I HaShem Can Dwell Among us ( His Creation ) , and within us all . " So HaShem Wants us to make our very selves into a Sanctuary place , so that HaShem Can Dwell Within each and every one of us , within , within our very loving hearts . This is a Sanctuary , that would always be with us , for it is within us , and so , HaShem Dwelling in our own personal Sanctuary within ourselves , is exactly what HaShem Deeply Wants , which is To Always Be With us All The Time , wherever we are and wherever we go , Within our hearts In Love .
By doing this , we will be making , from within our very hearts , ourselves being and as a " Terumah " - the " Portion " we can contribute to HaShem , for there is no better " Terumah " - " Portion " That HaShem Lovingly Would Want More , than that , that we can give Him , with our full heart and soul , as to give HaShem our very selves as that " Terumah " - " Portion , " every day , every moment and every loving instant of life That HaShem Gives us . For every instant of our Life , Given By HaShem , should be given to HaShem Ha Kadosh Baruch Hu The Holy One Blessed Be He .
I wish HaShem With So Much Deep Love , A Very Loving Beautiful And Special Shabbos Kodesh With Ever Deepest Love and HaShem's Closeness With His Creation , and to all my fellow Jews and all of Creation , a most Special and Close With HaShem , Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Love .

Parashas Mishpatim

Daniel Sternberg

Just now · 

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Mishpatim and seeing as it comes on the Shabbos before the Month of Adar , it is one of the Special Shabboses before Pesach comes in a few weeks called Shekalim , where we are reminded to give the half shekels . We give these half shekels just before Purim to counteract the money that the evil Amalekite Haman , gave to the king Achashverosh , to try exterminate the Jews . The Torah reading is Mishpatim and the Maftir is Parashas Shekalim Shemos Exodus 30:11-16 and the Haftorah is in II Kings 11:17 - 12:17 .
In the previous Parsha , we read of The Ten Commandments and here , we continue with HaShem's Laws between a person and their fellow . The Parsha starts out with a " Ve " - " And , " to teach us that these Laws and Ordinances in Mishpatim , were also given at Har Sinai .
The first Law Ordinance is about the Jewish bondsman . This Ordinance is mentioned first as we were just taken out of Egypt and were slaves there and so , we must learn how we are to treat those who work for us . We must always remember , that it is only HaShem that we are to serve and thus when the time comes for the bondman to go free , they are to be freed liberally and the bondsman should go free , for they should remember that it is only to HaShem , that they should serve . Should they not want to go free , then a certain process is performed to them by bringing them to a door and piercing their ear ( the very ear that heard HaShem Free them from Egypt that should want to be free and be only a servant of HaShem ) with an awl and then this person must go free in the Yovel year ( Jubilee Fiftieth year .
Torah here goes into detail about how the Jewish bondsman is to work for six years and go free in the seventh year and what of the wife and children he comes with and also how the Law differs if it is a woman who is a Canaanite that the master gave him.
The Torah goes into the Laws of a man who gives his daughter as a bondswoman and how she should be looked after and even to the point of looking after her as a wife if it comes to that .
Torah then talks of the Laws that Judge murder , whether it be intentional or unintentional and Torah gives the different examples of different kinds of Aveirah's that warrant the death penalty , like one who who kills intentionally with guile ( even to the point of if the one judged to die is holding onto the Altar - they are still to be given death as we saw with Shlomo Ha Melech when he sent Benayahu to slay Yoav , who was holding onto the horns of the Altar ) , also given death is one who strikes his Father or Mother , one who kidnaps a man and sells him and the kidnapped person was found in the kidnappers power , One who curses his Father or Mother , all these are sentenced to death by the Sanhedrin . Unintentional murderers are sent to an " Ir Miklat " - " City of Refuge . "
But one who strikes his fellow and doesn't die within a certain period - our Rabbonim talk of twenty four hours , but happens to die after that , the one who struck is absoved from the death of the one struck . Civil Laws also govern lost work time and medical healing costs to victims of those who were hurt by others . Also the Laws of a slave being struck and damages are mentioned .
Torah Talks also of men who fight and collide with a pregnant woman and damages to be paid .
This Parsha then mentions the famous Law of " An Eye for an Eye , where money restitution is the Law . Eye for an Eye , " Ayin Tachas Ayin " literally means " Eye under an Eye " which means that the Eye of the perpetartor is not taken but monetary compensation and not the actual eye is taken . The very fact that the Eye wasn't mentioned as an ' instead of ' but that which is " under " or in replacement of , shows it wasn't an actual eye taken for an eye . Also , the Hebrew word " Tachas " comes to 808 in Gematriah , where 8+8 = 16 and 1+6=7 and the word " Kesef " - " Money , " in Gematriah also comes to 20+60+80 =80+80 = 160 and 1+6+0 = 7 , shows that both being 7 , the compensation for an eye for an eye or any other of the body parts mentioned , each with the word " Tachas , " means that it refers to money compensation . The Parsha then discusses injuries and damages via an animal and also if a man steals an ox , or a sheep or goat , and slaughters it to sell it , he must pay five cattle for the ox or four sheep if he stole a sheep . The reason it is more oxen to pay back then sheep , is due to HaShem's Compassion , even for one who sadly does wrong , for HaShem Takes into consideration , the embarrassment of the man who perpetrates the deed , for oxen are led away and it doesn't look as embarrassing as sheep , that are usually carried on the shoulder when stolen and so are more embarrassing and thus , Does HaShem Take into account this embarrassment and only requests four sheep restitution as oppose to five oxen restitution .
Torah then teaches about the Laws of Shomrim , safeguarding the article of another .
Then is the Law of one who seduces a virgin and respect for her honour .
Torah comes down very strictly on those who are involved in sorcery , for one who is a sorceress , is not to be permitted to live . Also one who lies with an animal shall be put to death and one who brings offerings to idols also must be put to death . We are not to serve anything or anyone as a deity . Only HaShem Are we to serve . Only HaShem Is G-D .
We are not to taunt or oppress a stranger a Ger a convert . We are not to cause pain to a widow or orphan for HaShem Holds them dear to Him if they cry out to HaShem .
Then are the Laws of lending to a poor person , no interest is to be taken and if you take their garment as security , till sunset shall you return it to him .
HaShem , we shall not revile and a leader of our people , we shall not curse .
Fullness Offerings and Priestly Heave-Offerings shall not be delayed in giving . Holy are we Jews to be , a people of Holiness shall we be to HaShem . We shall not break the Law by eating the flesh of an animal torn in the field .
Torah then cautions us as HaShem Teaches us about the Judicial process , not to bring false reports or be a false witness , not as a Judge , to follow the majority for evil , not to yield to the majority to pervert the Law , not to glorify a destitute person in his grievance , but to be a fair and noble upstanding and moral Judge - a Torah Judge .
Within the word " Mishpatim " is the word " Shofet " which means Judge , so we are to be for ourselves , our own Judges , to ensure we keep strictly to HaShem's Mishpatim Ordinances and Laws .
Also to return an animal of a person that we hate , should we see this animal wandering , and not to let a donkey crouch under its burden .
We are to distance ourselves from a false word , not execute the righteous , or exonerate the wicked ,and we are not , if as Judges , to accept a bribe , " For the bribe will blind those who see and corrupt words that are just . "
HaShem Then teaches about the Sabbatical year and how we are to leave our fields fallow in the Sabbatical year and relates this to the Shabbos .
HaShem Again Reiterates not to serve idols and not even to mention their names , be they of stone , wood , or of human birth .
HaShem Tells of the Three Pilgrim Festivals of Pesach , Shavuos and Succos . HaShem Tells us of Sending His Angel before us and How HaShem Will Destroy our enemies and of the Wonders That HaShem Will Perform For us in our Homeland Israel . HaShem Also Warns us that when we are in our Land of Israel , that we are not to seal a covenant with those who inhabited the land or their false deities or beliefs and that they are not to dwell in the Land , unless they accept a Torah Way of Life and no idols or deities , for if we leave them or allow them to follow other ways that are not HaShem's Torah , they will lead us astray , Chas Ve Shalom , cause us to sin against HaShem Chas Ve Shalom and trap us . We are thus to remove them from Eretz Yisrael .
HaShem Instructed Moshe for him also Aharon and the seventy elders of Israel to prostrate themselves and Moshe alone to come and approach HaShem and so to tell all the people of these words of HaShem and all HaShem's Ordinances and all the people responded with one voice ( and that is what HaShem also wants - our oneness and togetherness which will bring on the End of Days ) and they all responded that " All The Words That HaShem Has Spoken , we will do . " Moshe wrote all the Words of HaShem and , early in the morning , built an Altar at the Foot of Har Sinai and twelve pillars for the twelve Tribes of Israel and offerings were made , showing that we all , in every generation , entered into this Covenant with HaShem , that we are to keep forever .
HaShem Came Down on the Mountain and Israel saw under His Feet , the likeness of sapphire brickwork and it was here that Aharon's sons , Nadav and Avihu , were not humble enough , and gazed to look at a part of this Holy Site of the Essence of HaShem's Shechinah and so , at this moment , they were ordained to die , but they were not killed at this instance , but later , so as not to mar the Specialness of this Very Holy Event .
HaShem Informed Moshe that he is to ascend Har Sinai and he would be given the Stone Tablets and the teachings and the Commandments , and Joshuah remained faithfully waiting for him at the bottom and HaShem Saw to it that an Omer of Mannah fell for Joshuah every day while he waited for his beloved teacher Moshe .
Moshe had Aharon and Chur , remain to oversee the people .
Moshe ascended the Mountain and The Cloud Covered it , and the Glory Of HaShem Rested on Har Sinai . The Parsha ends by telling us that Moshe was on the Mountain for forty days and forty nights . Some of the Angels complained that Moshe was coming to take the Torah down to us and some wanted to burn him . HaShem Told Moshe to hold on to HaShem's Kisey HaKavod and to answer them . Moshe asked them do they have bodies that must rest , houses that they must put Mezuzahs on , deal in civil matters that are between people and people that they are not , have children that can keep the Mitzvos , Marry and go by the laws of the Torah . The Angels had to answer no , and so Moshe proved the Torah is for us Jews as human beings who can and are to keep these Laws within the Torah . So was Moshe up there for forty days and forty nights . So ends the Parsha .
These Mishpatim deal a lot with Civil Laws regulating the behaviour between people , which are very important , for a society that has no civil honour and order , will break down , as did the generation of the Mabul - the Flood . Civil Laws regulating human behaviour is vital to the continuation of our World , for a society that cares little for how it acts towards other people , is sadly a society that works contrary to the Laws of Continuance of HaShem's Beautiful Creation .
The Parsha starts by saying , " Ve ' Eileh HaMishpatim Asher Tasim Lifneihem , " - " And These Are The Ordinances that you shall place before them . " This is a Commandment for all time . The Laws and Ordinances Of HaShem must be always " before us " - " for all time . " It must be these very Ordinances That HaShem Gave . Not reformed ones or changed ones . The word " We " referred to Moshe then , but it also refers to our Rabbonim and leaders and also ourselves , for we must also be Torah Leaders of ourselves too . In every generation , our leaders and Rabbis have a great responsibility , to ensure that our Torah , as Given To Moshe , is to be kept , as HaShem Gave It . It is to be kept , just as HaShem Gave it on Har Sinai . There is to be no reforming of this Law , and not changes made to this Law . HaShem Foresees Forever and thus , Knows what new times and modernization will come in this World . HaShem Is Ever Wise And Ever Almighty , and HaShem Knows That The Laws and Ordinances that He Gave , will last forever , through every circumstance and through every generation . We are not in anyway to make any changes to Torah or its Laws or Ordinances . Our Torah Is From HaShem , and so are we and thus , we are to be at one with HaShem's Torah , As He Wrote it , and so will we then be at one with HaShem . For HaShem Says Clearly ( Knowing what we might do or what people might do ) , that it is " These Mishpatim Ordinances " and not changes ones , That HaShem Put Before us Forever , and so , we are to Keep Them , Just As HaShem Told Us and Tells us every day , that HaShem Gives us Life , to breathe and Keep His Beautiful Torah Laws . HaShem " Tasim " - " Put " these Mishpatim before us and HaShem Will , every day " Tasim " - " Put " these Laws before us , so that we Must Keep Them . The Word " Tasim , " in Gematriah , comes to 400+300+10+40=750 and the 0 has no letter in Gematriah , but the 70 and 5 does , for the 70 is an " Ayin " and the 5 is a " Hei "and both of these letters are basically silent , yet powerful and within the Breath of HaShem's Quiet and so , in keeping HaShem's Ordinances ,and in HaShem " Tasim " - " Putting " His Ordinances before us , HaShem Is Coming To Us in Quietude and Almighty Holiness , Standing " Lifneihem " - " Before us " Always . So , as we live each day , we are and may we , ensure that we always live by and follow the Very Commandments That HaShem Gave us , Just as They were Given and just as they Are Given " Lifneihem " - " Before " us everyday . HaShem Is at all times Before us and so are HaShem's Laws . Let us never detract from them or move away from them , Chas Ve Shalom , but let us always keep fast to them and always make them a full part of our existence and life , for thay are our life and the length of our days , as we stand always before HaShem HaKadosh Baruch Hu , HaShem The Holy One Blessed Be He .
I wish HaShem With Deepest Love , a Very Beautiful and Special Shabbos Kodesh With Deepest Love , and to all my fellow Jews and to all of Creation , a Very Special and Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love .

Parashas Yisro

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Yisro and is the Parsha Where HaShem , Having Waited Since Creation , Comes Down To His People And Gives us The Ten Commandments . The Haftorah for this Parsha is Isaiah 6:1-7:6 , 9:5-6 , which also deals with HaShem Revealing Himself to Isaiah , where Isaiah sees HaShem's Merkavah , the Heavenly Court .
In last week's Parsha , the last we read about , was with the war against Amalek .
Straight after that , we hear of Yisro , Moshe's Father-in-Law , who finally makes up his mind to become a Ger , a Convert to Judaism . This means that something about this war finally sealed it for Yisro . 
Yisro had been a priest in Midyan , well known for trying every religion there was , from one idol worship to another . Yisro had been one of the advisors to Pharaoh and after he saw how Pharaoh had acted and how bitter Pharaoh had treated the Jewish people , he left as Pharaoh's advisor . Yisro was very taken with the hope and faith that he saw in the belief of the Jewish people , that no matter how they suffered , we still carried the Hope and Faith for HaShem to save us from Pharaoh and Egypt . Yisro , having tried every religion there was at the time , shunned every one of them as false and useless . When Moshe came to stay with him , and he got to know of the holiness of this man Moshe , Yisro's mind started to work. , faith wise , and one by one , Yisro gave up one belief after another ( including the many he had tried and given up , before Moshe had come along ) , with a spark growing within him for Moshe's Belief , the only true Belief . The fact that he gave up all the other beliefs one by one , made him very unpopular with the Midyanim and so , they shunned him and his daughters and thus did he have unmarried daughters that the Midyanim did not want to marry .
When he heard about the overcoming of Pharaoh and the Plagues , that really affected him , for he knew , that this must have taken place via a very Great Power , that had overcome the might of Egypt . At first he thought that perhaps the punishment was just to Egypt and Pharaoh , because Pharoah had said in the beginning that he would not let our people go , for he " knows not G-D , " so it at first appeared to Yisro , that our G-D was only punishing Pharoah and Egypt for this statement. Then Yisro knew that we had all left Egypt , and that made him think a lot deeper , as that showed that HaShem is more powerful than any force ,even the negativity in Egypt . When Yisro heard that all the Egyptians were drowned in the Reed Sea , that really touched him that HaShem would finally remove our enemy from us , yet the doubt still lingered , that perhaps HaShem is doing that , still to punish Pharaoh and Egypt , for their words , but when Yisro heard that HaShem had now saved Yisrael , from another nation , and that nation was an ally of the Midyanim Midianites , that nation being Amalek , now Yisro fully realized that HaShem all along was doing this , for us Jews and Yisro realized the love that HaShem Must Have for Yisrael , and so , Yisro , at this very time ,after our defeating of Amalek , realized that HaShem Must Hold A Very Close Relationship And Deep Love for our Jewish people and this made Yisro finally make up his mind to become a Ger .
The action of Yisro choosing to become one of us , was an amazing Kiddush HaShem , for here was a man who had tried every false religion there was , and had shown that he had experience in all the other beliefs , and could thus attest to their falsity and our Truth of Judaism . This would be a great Kiddush HaShem , and an action of great holiness that attests to the truth of HaShem As The One And Only True G-D . 
So Yisro , knowing that Moshe and our people were encamped at Har Sinai , took Moshe's wife and children and set out to meet Moshe . 
When he arrived near the camp , he saw that it was entirely covered and protected by the Clouds of Glory , as so the only way he could get Moshe's attention , would be to put a note on an arrow and shoot it in , hoping Moshe would receive it and that HaShem Would Accept him . The arrow with his message was Accepted By HaShem and so , thus showed Moshe that he would be an acceptable Ger Convert . The arrow miraculously fell miles away from where he shot it , right at Moshe's feet . Moshe and Aharon and the elders , went out to welcome him in . Moshe told him all that HaShem Had Done For them and how , each thing that the Egyptians had done to us , was punished in ways with the Plagues that showed a punishment for what was perpetrated and this only added to Yisro's realization , that HaShem Loved Very Deeply , His People Israel . Yisro also learnt How HaShem Had Rescued us from Egypt , which also meant directly , that as the Egyptians had at first tried to drown us , so at the end were they drowned . So everything the Egyptians had planned on us , happened back to them . This showed to Yisro , HaShem's Providence and how HaShem Controls Creation , not just as A Creator from long ago , but that HaShem , at every moment , even in the present , Is Involved With His Creation . Yisro made up his mind to Convert and so Yisro became a Ger to Judaism . Yisro circumcised himself and made an elevation offering and a feast offering for G-D , and so , he became a Jew . 
Torah Tells us that Moshe and Aharon and the elders of Israel ( though Moshe was the one walking up and down and serving ) " came to eat bread with the Father - in - Law of Moshe before G-D . " This has a deeper meaning . Seeing that , that morning , the Mannah had already fallen for the people , HaShem Performed Another Miracle , for while they were at the table , HaShem Sent another piece of Mannah , to fall down directly in front of Yisro , as his portion , as a Jew .
It was the next day , that Yisro noticed how the people kept coming to Moshe for judgment and help , and how Moshe sat , while the people stood , from morning to evening . Yisro advised Moshe how he would become worn out if he doesn't stop doing this alone , and that he must learn to delegate . Moshe checked this with HaShem , Who Agreed with Yisro . Yisro advised Moshe to choose Men of Accomplshment ( in other words men of standing in the community that would be respected ) ,G-D fearing people ( that would Judge fairly , as if the sword of HaShem was above their heads ) , men of truth ( for Emes - Truth and Honestly is One of HaShem's Names - Emes ) Truth being the basis of a fair Judge , people who despise money ( so they won't take bribes ) and that Moshe must appoint leaders of thousands , leaders of hundreds , leaders of fifties and leaders of tens , and they will judge the people at all times ( which also includes night times as well ) and that Moshe will do the major matters . Yisro specifically mentioned that this is if ' G-D Commands Moshe , ' so that they can bear with Moshe and so lighten his burden . Moshe listened and after this , Yisro went back to Midyan , to teach and proclaim about the True G-D HaShem .
It was on the third month after the Children of Israel left Egypt , that we arrived in the Wilderness of Sinai and we encamped opposite the mountain . We thus received the Torah in the month of Sivan on the 6th of Sivan , which became our Shavuot . HaShem Chose this mountain , not because it was the biggest , because it actually wasn't , but because it was smaller and more humble . Also , on this mountain , it was the only one , on which no idol worship was done on it . HaShem Called Moshe up to the Mountain and related what had been the past months and How HaShem Had Freed us from Egypt , and how we Jews are the most beloved treasure of all peoples and how HaShem Had Borne us on ' the wings of eagles ' ( eagle is used as an analogy by HaShem , as an eagle is unlike any other bird , for as it flies and carries its young, it carries its young above its back , thus putting itself between man , on the ground that can hurt the young , and the young itself , so as to take the arrows shot at it - just as HaShem Will Take the blows for us and protect us ) and that we are to accept HaShem's Covenant . That we are to be a kingdom of Priests and a holy nation . Moshe came down and called the elders and told them all these words HaShem Commanded and so , the entire people responded that all that HaShem Asks of us , we will all do and so did Moshe bring word back to HaShem . HaShem Asked Moshe to have the people sanctify themselves for two days and that on the third day HaShem Would Descend for the people on Har Sinai . That a boundary is to be set around the Mountain , that no one is to touch the edge of the mountain or ascend the mountain, and the people did so . The people requested to hear HaShem Speak to them directly and that is why HaShem Spoke to us at the beginning of this Revelation . HaShem Said He Would Come to us in the thickness of the cloud . 
It was on the third day , in the morning , that there was thunder and lighting and the heavy cloud on Har Sinai . Many of the people were still sleeping , when we should have rather waited in anticipation for HaShem . This is one of the reasons why we study Torah the whole night on Shavuot , to make up for not being up this early morning at the Giving of the Torah . HaShem First Sounded the Shofar . Our Rabbis tell us this was from the horn of that first Ram when Avraham was performing the Akeidah with Yitzchak . Our Rabbis tell us that HaShem recreated this very horn and that it was the left horn , for in Moshiach's time , HaShem Will come , with the Blowing of the right horn of this recreated Ram as a Shofar . All the people shuddered and so , Moshe brought the people out to meet HaShem . The Torah Tells us that the people stood " at the bottom of the mountain , " and this deeply means that HaShem Actually Lifted the entire Mountain above our heads , while we were at the literal bottom of it underneath and so we were told that we are to accept the Torah or this Mountain would be put down on us . The Mountain was like the Chuppah in a Jewish Wedding , above our heads , while HaShem and us and the Torah were like the bride and groom , for this was a covenant eternal , between HaShem and us . All of Har Sinai was full of smoke when HaShem Descended upon it in Fire , very hot while the mountain shuddered . The Shofar sound grew louder and louder , louder than any human could possibly blow it and also , if a human would blow it , they would run out of breath and it would get softer , but this Shofar , From HaShem , got louder and louder . Moshe Spoke to G-D and G-D Answered Him . HaShem Was Actually Still In Heaven , so in order for the top of the Mountain to reach Heaven , HaShem Actually bent Heaven and Earth , so that Heaven was touching Earth and so , Did HaShem Come Down to us on Har Sinai . 
It was then that HaShem Gave us the Ten Pronouncements , The Ten Commandments . Before HaShem Spoke , the entire World went completely silent as if no life was around . All went quiet . HaShem Didn't appear with noise when He Started To Speak , but all of Creation , stood still in total Awe at the Creator Of The Universe , at the Creator of Creation . Animals didn't move or make a sound . Trees stopped rustling and the wind ceased to blow . The waves were silent and the birds were quiet . Even the fish in the sea stopped swimming and stood at attention ready for the Creator of All , to Introduce Himself To His People . The other nation's people at the time asked Bilaam what was with nature that all had gone silent , and Bilaam told them that HaShem Is Coming Down on Har Sinai , To meet with His People Israel . The World went completely silent when HaShem Came Down and Said , " Anochi A--nai Elokeicha Asher Hotzeiticha Mei Eretz Mitzrayim Mi Bait Avadim , " - " I Am HaShem your G-D , Who Has Taken you out of the land of Egypt , from the house of slavery . " The First Commandment is that G-D Is G-D and Almighrty and the Second Commandment is that we were to have no other gods , for only HaShem Is G-D . That we are not to make an image or likeness or carved image of anything above or below , nor prostrate ourselves to them or worship them , to not have any other deity , but to only follow and worship G-D Alone . For HaShem Only Is Our G-D . After HaShem Said To us directly these first two Commandments , the people expired and their souls left their bodies , for they actually died - Shemos Exodus 20: 16 - " lest we die " should HaShem Continue to Speak to us directly , due to the Greatness and Awesomeness of HaShem's Power and so , HaShem Had To Revive us , in the same way , HaShem , at the End of Days , Will Resurrect the dead at Techias Ha Meisim . So the next Eight Commandments , they requested to hear from HaShem , through Moshe . HaShem Spoke the First Two Commandments Directly to us , for we asked to hear HaShem Directly , and also that we would always within our Neshomas , have the Fear of HaShem Within us . The Third Commandment , was not to take HaShem's Name in vain , making a false Oath . The Fourth Commandment was to keep the Shabbos and all its thirty nine Melachos . The Fifth Commandment was to Honour Parents . The Sixth Command was Not to Commit Murder . The Seventh Commandment was not to commit adultery . The Eighth Commandment that talks of theft , actually refers to kidnapping for the Commandment against theft is in Vayikra Leviticus 19:11 . The Ninth Commandment is against bearing False Witness and the Tenth Commandment prohibits coveting . The first Five Commandments are between HaShem and us and the second five Commandments are between woman or man and her or his fellow . When HaShem Gave all the Ten Commandments , HaShem at first , Spoke them all at once , so that all Ten Commandments , were said within a single moment in time at the exact same moment all at once . Such a feat , is impossible for a human to do , and only HaShem Can Accomplish this . Also , the people were all at different ages and levels of intelligence and HaShem Said the Ten Commandments to each person directly at the same time , so that each person was given the Commandment and an individual understanding of it equal to their fellow , so that their fellow could understand it to exactly the same level as their fellow , but given at a different level of intelligence , so all could have the same exact understanding at the end . Again , only something HaShem Can Do . Also , the intricacies of each Commandment were given to each individual to their level of understanding , in the way only they could each understand it , but at the end , each one had the same understanding . All Jews past present and future and even those not yet born and those set to become Gairim Converts , even thousands of years later , their souls were brought to this Revelation . 
The Parsha ends with HaShem Commanding that an Altar Mizbayach of earth be made for korbanos and that when we make an Alrtar Mizbayach of stone , that we are to not build them hewn , where a sword was raised over it , which would desecrate it , for metal things are objects of war , and the purpose of the Mizbayach Altar is the exact opposite , for it is for the purpose of Peace between HaShem and us . Also , we are not to ascend HaShem's Mizbayach on steps , so as to ensure modesty when walking toward the Altar . So ends the Parsha . 
The word " Torah " has a Gematriah of 611 and if we add to this , the two Commandments that HaShem Spoke directly to us , With His Voice , it comes to a total of 613 , which is the exact number of Mitzvos we as Jews are to follow . When a person becomes a Ger , they are to take on all the Commandments when becoming a Jew . Such a person , has finally heard the Truth and Come to HaShem . Becoming a Gair , is when they leave behind incorrect ways , and follow HaShem Only . They have finally heard and thus left , Avodah Zorah ( idol worship ) behind . This is shown in the beginning of this Parsha , where the Parsha starts as , " Va Yishma Yisro , " - " And Yisro heard . " Though , on the surface , it translates as that Yisro had heard all That HaShem Did To Israel His People , taking it more deeply , it is that the Gair has Heard HaShem and His Emes Truth , within their Soul . After the long road following foreign untrue ways , they , the Gair have now , just as Yisro , finally heard HaShem and His Truth from within . Not easy at all for the Gair , who has to turn away from all they knew before as a belief and take courage in their hand and admit the way they were used to , is the wrong path . Not easy at all . But in " Hearing " HaShem , they take HaShem , within them faithfully following Him , and they become a Jew . We Jews have within us , HaShem's Name , for we " Vayishma " - " Hear " HaShem . Within the word " Vayishma , " - " Hear " is the word " Shem " - which means the word " Name . " Thus , when they convert and become a Gair , as one of us , they also take in HaShem's Name within , and become one of our people . When we look at the Genatriah of the first two words of this Parsha " Vayishma Yisro , " we get the number 1042 , which added up as 1+0+4+2 becomes 7 , the Gematriah of Moshiach's word in Hebrew . So , when we listen to HaShem and throw out all foreign ways and beliefs , and follow HaShem Only , this is one of the ways to help bring Moshiach and usher in The End Of Days . In taking the 10 ( 1+0 )and the 4 and the 2 from this total , the Tenth letter is a Yud , the forth letter is Daled and the second letter , is a Bet/Vet , and these three letters spell , " BaYaD , " - In The Hand " Of HaShem . So when we listen and hearken to HaShem , as Yisro did , we are lifted up by HaShem and Held within the Hand of HaShem . So life , must be a constant yearning with closeness for HaShem , just as the Gair , which has now " Vayishma " - " Heard " HaShem's Calling , and so , yearns for HaShem's Closenss . HaShem So Values the Righteous Gair Tzeddek , that HaShem Chose To Put The Parsha that contains HaShem's Meeting and Revelation with His People , in the Parsha Sedra named after a Gair Tzeddek , Yisro . So much Does HaShem Appreciate the actions of the Gair , to leave what they held familiar and comfortable , and to actually , " Lech Lecha , " as Avraham did , going from all he knew and all that was comfortable for the time , to a new way of living , serving the True Creator HaShem . So much does HaShem Value the Gair Tzeddek , who comes to Holy Yiddishkeit . HaShem Teaches us here in this Sedra how Yisro , the Gair Tzeddek , took on the whole Torah , for that is the only true way of Conversion , to Keep and Follow all the Laws of the Torah , converting through HaShem's Sanhedrin , or today HaShem's Beth Din , for a Gair is to follow all the Torah Laws Given by HaShem to Moshe , so as to follow Judaism , for , as we learned in this Sedra , that means following the 613 Mitzvos , the entire Torah and it's explanations . The Ten Commandments are the basic foundation to the Laws . If we count all the letters that make up the words of the Ten Commandments , one counts 620 letters , which is the 613 Mitzos that every Jew must keep and the 7 Noachide Laws , for the nations of the World to keep . So deep is Torah . HaShem Reminds us in Devarim Deuteronomy , that all the Torah Laws can be kept , for they are ( as Devarim says ) not just in Heaven that we have to climb up and get them , or across the sea that we have to swim to reach them ( though if they were up in Heaven or across the Sea , we should make that effort to attain them ) but HaShem's full Torah Laws are ( as it says in Devarim 30:11-14 ) very near us , in our mouth and in our heart , that we may perform it , that we may keep all the Words of this Torah . Torah Mitzvos are our life and the pathway to G-D . To hear and listen to HaShem , is to obey everything HaShem Commands . Not just what we might like , but what HaShem Likes and Wants and HaShem Wants us to follow His Whole Torah Laws , as a special Gair Tzeddek is to do . For only then , can one say , one truly hears HaShem and His Wishes . 
" Vayishma Yisro , " - " And Yisro Heard , "says so much , just in those two words that start out the Sedra . " Yisro heard , " that no other way but HaShem's Way , and all of HaShem's Laws , that Yisro advised Moshe to have his delegates assist in Judging and Teaching , is The Way . Now all of us need to realize that too . HaShem Is Always Near and Close To all who call upon Him with love . " Vayishma " - " Hearing " HaShem , is the only way , and following HaShem , is the Only True Path . HaShem's Laws are a Tree of Life to us . All we need to do is " Vayishma " - " Hear " and grasp them . Follow them and make them an inner and outer part of our body and soul , and HaShem's Shamaim , will open up to us forever more . 
I wish HaShem With Deepest and Sweetest Love Always , a Most Beautiful and Special Shabbos Kodesh With Deepest Love , and to all my fellow Jews , and to all of Creation , a Most Beautiful and Special Shabbos Kodesh with love .

Parashas Beshalach

Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parashas Beshalach and Tells us of the Almighty's Miracle at the Yam Suf, with the Splitting of the Reed Sea and the Song we sang thereafter , among other Miracles That HaShem Performed for us . So the Haftorah of Judges 4:4-5:31 , also includes another song that was sung in thanks for HaShem's Salvation and , by Devorah and Barak , when HaShem Subjugated Yavin , king of Canaan , on our behalf .
Our people had left Egypt and HaShem Would Have Led us straight to the Holy Land , had it not been for what the Spies later on did . Thirty years before we left Mitzrayim , some of our people from one of our Tribes , the B'nei Ephraim , miscalculated the time of the redemption , and left earlier , and so were attacked and killed and their bodies left strewn on the road and field . So this was one reason why HaShem Led our people , on the Exodus , away from the areas of the Pelishtim , for we would have seen the slain of our fellow Jews , become disheartened and fearful and would have returned to Egypt . Another reason was , that we had an agreement with Avimelech , from our Fore-Father's time that we would not come near each other to war , us Israel and the Pelishtim till our and their son's son's time , and Avimelech's grandson was still alive , and so does HaShem , in the Torah put it as " Ki Karov Hu " - " For it was near , " for this agreement was still ' near ' or in force . Thus , HaShem Led us away from them . HaShem Led us Toward the Wilderness , armed and carrying the bones of Yosef and the leaders of the other Tribes too , from Succoth to Etham , where HaShem Went Before us By day , In a Pillar of Cloud To Lead us , and By night , In a Pillar of Fire , with the Malachim Michael and Gavriel and other Malachim . HaShem Is A Master Strategist , and therefore , HaShem Had Moshe , tell the people to make a strategic move and turn back towards Egypt's direction , and encamp before " Pi-hachirot , between Migdol and the Sea , before Baal-zephon ( the deity of the north ) . The Egyptians had set up this false deity to supposedly prevent anyone leaving Egypt and taking any wealth or valuables .The word ' Mitzrayim ' - ' Egypt , ' meant 'borders , ' for the Egyptians tried to prevent people leaving their borders when they came into them . Thus , HaShem Knew that the Egyptians would think that their foolish false idol had stopped us leaving and taking our pay , and so , Pharaoh did exactly As HaShem Planned , when HaShem had us go back and stop in this exact place . Pharaoh pursued us and that was their downfall . Pharaoh had sent with the Children of Israel , officers to make sure that after the three days , that we would return to Egypt . The three days were now up , and these officers , told us to return to Egypt , but we refused , and some of the officers were slain . Some escaped , and returned to Pharaoh and told him that we were not returning . HaShem Had Told us to remain in the strip of Land by the Sea , so that it would appear , our only way out would be either back in the direction of Egypt ,or toward the Wilderness .But HaShem Had Gotten Wild Animals to stand bordering the Wilderness , so we could not go that way and thus , did Pharaoh get the idea , that we were trapped and so , with his heart hardened , and realizing how valuable we were as a work force , harnessed his own chariot and others too harnessed their chariots and he took six hundred elite chariots , with officers in them all , adding an extra horse ( that remained after the plague of pestilence , so that they would be able to ride much faster ) , and so he and they pursued us , and caught up with us at the Sea . Where in Shemos 14:5 , it talks of how Pharaoh was told that we had fled , the word " Fled , " in Hebrew is " Barach , " and its Gematrical value is 2+200+8 =210 , the exact amount of years , we spent in slavery , so they subconsciously knew , we would not return , for the years , HaShem reduced our slavery to , was now up . The reason it is called " Pi- hachirot , is that at this particular point where we were encamped , were Two Large Pillars with carved images on the Pillars , of faces and mouths , thus the word " Pi and hachirot " as mouth and Pillars , and also , " Baal-zephon " was an idol statue carved in the shape of a large aggressive dog , the only idol , HaShem Had Left , to give the Egyptians the opportunity , to either admit it is idol worship , or to foolishly think it had power that prevented us leaving . The Egyptians made the wrong choice , and hounded after us , incorrectly , for idols are worthless pieces of clay , and this was why HaShem , The Master Strategist , had us stop at this exact spot . The Egyptians , were caught by their own foolish idol worship . The Children of Israel , and the Eirev Rav , the mixed multitude of Egyptians and other nation's people that had joined us when we left Egypt , that HaShem Had Warned Moshe not to take with us , saw the Egyptians advancing and so , feared for their lives . Different factions showed their fear in different ways , and so , some wanted to return to Egypt , others wanted to give back what the Egyptians had given them , when leaving and still others , wanted to fight the Egyptians , while a small faction , wanted to let out war cries and go to full out war with the Egyptians , and so , Moshe , the perfect leader , calmed them all , each faction , with words suited to all their wishes , by saying , " Do not fear ( to those who did ) , stand fast ( to those who wanted to go to war ) , and see The Salvation of HaShem That He Will Perform For you today ; for as you have seen Egypt today , you shall not see them ever again ( to those who wanted to return to Egypt , or that feared them ) . " HaShem Shall Do battle for you ( for those who wanted to fight back and for those who set up for all out war ) , and you shall remain silent ( for all those who spoke of war cries ) . " Moshe cried out to HaShem , Who Told him to lift up his staff and split the Sea . But the Sea did not want to open for us . HaShem Reminded the Sea , of its agreement in the Beginning , that HaShem Would Set a boundary for the Waters , and so it had to obey . But it did not want to obey Moshe , and Samael , the Angel , who fights us Jews from generation to generation and who tempted Chava in the Garden , tried to get the Angel of the Sea , to not open and to not obey HaShem , for he wanted us Jews killed . HaShem Is G-D . The Sea had no choice , but to finally open . The Angel Michael , that was standing in front of the Children of Israel , now went to stand behind us , with HaShem's Help , helping to shield us with the Pillar of Cloud that also went behind us , putting the Egyptians in Darkness , and absorbing their arrows , they were shooting at us . The Pillar of Fire also did the same , stopping in front of the Pillar of Cloud , thus giving us light , while the Egyptians were put in darkness . It was an extra time of Darkness added to the six days of The Plague of Darkness that hit Egypt , as each Plague was seven days long except the last Plague . HaShem Moved the Sea with a strong east wind all the night and Split the Sea , Leaving Miraculously , dry land as a base to walk on . The Sea , split in twelve pathways , so that each Tribe could walk in its own pathway . The waters between each pathway , were see-through , so each Tribe could get comfort by seeing the Tribe next to them walking too . Should any of our people , want to drink , all they had to do was just stretch out their hand to the walls of water and water would come into their hand in a spring form and when they had their fill , the spring would close again . The walls of water , were of brilliant shapes and patterns , so as to calm us , full of wonderful colours . The waters shielded us from the sides , and also from the top . This was the seventh day during Passover , the seventh day after leaving Egypt . Miraculously , the Sea bed was completely dry , so we could walk safely upon it . Moshe went last through the Sea , so that we would not become disheartened , for if he would have gone first , we might fear the Sea closing afterwards . How beautiful and kind and caring and thoughtful was our beloved Moshe . HaShem Confounded the Egyptians and Had the Pillar of Fire , burn off a single wheel ( The word " Wheel " - " Ofan " is written in the singular in the Hebrew - Shemos 14: 25 ) from each chariot , so that they couldn't manoeuvre them ( not all the wheels , as then the horses could still have pulled them ) , thus causing them to drive with difficulty , and the Egyptians cried out that " HaShem Is Waging War For " us against them . HaShem Had Moshe Stretch out his hand ( not staff - so those who thought it was only through a staff That HaShem had Moshe perform Miracles , would realize HaShem Doesn't need a staff and nor does Moshe , if HaShem Wills it ) and the Water came back on the Egyptians and their chariots and horse-men . Torah also says that " HaShem Churned ' Egypt ' in the midst of the sea , " which refers to the whole of Egypt , for HaShem Put the whole of Egypt in spiritual turmoil as if they too ( those who were not at the sea ) , into that churning in the sea , and they also suffered , wherever they stood . Every description of what happened to the Egyptians , is given , so that it shows the different suffering , each individual Egyptian suffered , depending on how they had treated us . The Locust Swarm , that had Been taken By HaShem , after the Plague of Locusts , and that were Put into the Yam Suf , now continued to attack the Egyptians , from inside the water . In the Passover Haggadah , the Rabbis discuss how many more Plagues hit the Egyptians in the Sea , than actually hit them in Egypt . The people doubted that the Egyptians were actually dead , so HaShem Had the Sea spit them out onto the banks so that we could see That HaShem Had Saved us and that we would no longer need to worry about them . Also in that spot , Shamaim and Gan Eiden , feeds tributaries into the Yam Suf and it was there , that Yosef , in the previous generation , had hidden certain valuables , that we found that came up in the Sea , after this event , for Yosef had been shown and thus fore-saw that we would leave Egypt through this route . The Egyptians now felt how it feels when they threw our babies into the River . The people believed in HaShem and in His Servant Moshe .
But what happened to Pharaoh . HaShem had Sent fires to burn the Egyptians' home in Egypt ,which confounded the Egyptians more before they entered the Sea , for they could see from afar , the burning smoke in Egypt . Pharaoh , being the only one to survive , never returned to Egypt . He ended up traveling to Nineveh , where he eventually became king there , and he was the ruler who was told by the Prophet Yonah - Jonah , that he and his city must repent ( in the Book of Yonah - Jonah ) . This time he listened .
Then Moshe and our people sang a song at the Sea and after that Miriam too took her drum in her hand and the other women too went forth and all exalted and thanked HaShem . We Daven this song in our Shacharis Davening every morning .
From there , Moshe " caused " Israel to journey from there ( " caused " because we didn't want to leave this spot of such a miracle ) and we went to the Wilderness of Shur , a three day journey in the Wilderness and came to Marah , but there the water was " Bitter " - " Marah " ( not just the water , but our Faith in HaShem , which makes all the difference to what happens to us , for if we are positive and have faith in HaShem , so is our outlook and so will be our life ) , and there , we complained about what we would drink . HaShem Showed Moshe a tree , which when thrown in the water , would make it sweet . It wasn't just the tree , but as I mentioned , it was also our faith in HaShem and outlook and trust in HaShem . HaShem took this complaint of ours as well as our complaints at the Sea as some of the rebellion in the Wilderness . We then arrived at Elim , where there were twelve springs , for the Twelve Tribes of Israel and seventy date palms - for the seventy members of the future Sanhedrin and also the seventy nations on Earth .
From there we arrived in the Wilderness of Sin, between Elim and Sinai and again complained against Moshe and Aharon . HaShem Took this as another of the Ten Times that we tested HaShem , in the Wilderness . The people cried out for meat . HaShem Sent down here a special food from Shamaim , a Spiritual form of food that even the Malachim partake of , for gaining Wisdom . HaShem First wet the ground to clean it for us and then on top of that , laid down a layer of dew , like a tray , with such love and care , all prepared for this special food that we had never seen before . We asked " Mann Hu " - " What is this , " and so it became known to us as " Mann " - " or Mannah . " HaShem RTsted us with it , to see our spirituality for the less preparation we personally wanted to do with it , the more holy and spiritual we are and could taste its sweetness . The less holy , had to bake it to get their physical wants of taste . It could taste like anything one thought of at the time that one ate it . " Also , HaShem Tested us that we would be given a double portion before the Shabbos on friday , with instructions not to gather it on Shabbos for it would not fall then . We were only to collect an Omer size per person . Whoever took more or less , it would Miraculously From HaShem , still be an Omer size . Sadly , Dathan and Aviram disobeyed , for we were to trust that every day , HaShem Would Look After us and send again and thus we were not to leave over from it until the morning , but these two tried to keep it till morning and it became wormy and stank , for in the morning the people saw huge worms coming out of Dathan and Aviram's tents . They also tried to trick the people , by on Shabbos , putting our purposefully some Mannah on the ground to try and show up HaShem , but HaShem Sent birds to devour them . We ate the Mannah in the morning and the quail in the evening . The Mannah continued till the fortieth year in the Wilderness , till we reached the borders of Canaan . HaShem had Moshe have Aharon , put an Omer of Mann , away for safekeeping for the generations . This piece of Mannah , will show itself in Moshiach's time .
We journeyed further and encamped in Rephidim where again we were tested with no water . The people complained and contended again with Moshe , and it was here , that HaShem Gave us the Rock of Water , that became known as the Well of Miriam , which Moshe was told at that time , to strike with his staff and so water gushed out . This Rock followed the Children of Israel , all the years and would give off small streams that ran alongside each Tribe , so they could drink . The place this took place was called " Massah U' Merivah " - " Test and Contention . " The people so wrongly had asked , " Is HaShem among us or not ? " How sad , considering that HaShem Had Shown us so much how much He Is With us , but having suffered so much in Egypt , we kept fearing , worrying and losing faith . It was then that HaShem Sent Amalek against us - descendants of Eisav's grandson Amalek .
They battled us in Rephidim .
Amalek was unlike all the other nations , that were in awe of HaShem's Miracles for us , his people , but Amalek , was not in Awe and mocked HaShem . They had no reason to attack us as we were not coming to occupy their land . They attacked us out of pure hatred for us . They constantly bring the thoughts of greatness for HaShem , down . HaShem Ordered us from generation to generation , to wipe them out . This is a permanent Mitzvah that where ever they are , we are to remove them and their Un- G-Dly ways from existence . Moshe sent Joshua Yehoshuah to lead our army to battle them , knowing that Yehoshuah comes from the line of Yosef Ephraim , and so has the spiritual power to defeat Amalek ( " Am Lek / Lak " - " A People that Licks the blood of People " ) and when our people kept faith in HaShem , we were victorious , but when we lost faith , Amalek started to win . It got to a stage that we were loosing faith and where Moshe had gone up on top of the hill to pray spiritually for us , that his hands became heavy due to our doubt and so , Moshe was given a stone to sit upon and Aharon and Chur held up his hands in faithful prayer until sunset and so , with HaShem's Help , Joshua Yehoshuah weakened Amalek with the sword's blade . So Did HaShem Command Moshe to write this as a remembrance in the Book and recite it in the ears of Yehoshuah , that he ( and us ) " shall erase the memory of Amalek from under the Heavens . " We couldn't at that time completely destroy Amalek , for that time had not yet arrived . It will only be at the End of Days , when Amalek's "Sar " - " Protective Angel " who is Samael ( the angel who constantly wants our demise , Chas Ve Shalom , and who tempted Chavah in the Garden of Eden Gan Eiden ) , is destroyed . The same was with " Utz " the guardian Angel of Egypt , who we saw coming to battle us at the Yam Suf , when The Leaders of the Tribe of Binyamin and Yehudah ( Nachshon Ben Amminadav ) , faithfully stepped into the Waters of the Reed Sea , before it split , with faith in HaShem .
Moshe built there an altar and called it , " HaShem Nisi " - " HaShem Is my Miracle " and he said , " For the hand is on the throne of G-D : HaShem Maintains a war Against Amalek , from generation to generation . " This part of Torah we read on Purim . So ends the Parsha .
The Parsha is called " Beshalach , " Sent . " The Gematriah of this word , is 340 which totals 7 . This is the Gematrical value of the word Mashiach . The very sending of an emissary for HaShem , can bring Moshiach , depending on how we act to HaShem , in what ever time he or she comes , and so can bring on the final days and Mashiach . Whether that emissary is an enemy like Pharaoh , that " Beshalach " Sends , " or whether that emissary is a most holy man like Moshe , or like Moshiach will be . Either way , all roads lead to HaShem's Will . Even if we try to deviate from the correct path , all roads will still end up leading to where HaShem Knows it must go , For HaShem Has many Emissaries in His Creation . In fact , the entire Creation , can end up being His Emissary . No matter how the Reshaim Evil people in this World , try and mess up His Plan , HaShem Has Many Ways of counteracting them .
This World is not ours . It Belongs To HaShem . HaShem Gives it all to us as a gift . When we stop appreciating that and go our own way , away from His Oneness , to foreign ways , HaShem Has many Emissaries to bring things back on track . The Amazing Miracle of the Yam Suf , that split waters , all over the World , at that time , even in a glass an Egyptian might have been drinking with at the time , was a World wide Miracle that all at the time knew of . Only Amalek , who knew of it , derided it and tried to lessen its Beauty . Only Amalek , tries to go out of its way to make mundane , all that is wonderful and Miraculous from HaShem . This is Amalek's way . But it to , is an Emissary , serving a purpose , that when our faith in HaShem gets lost and we stop appreciating HaShem , and think we can and try do it all ourselves , Chas Ve Shalom , that we are sent a reminder , that we are nothing without HaShem . At the End of Days , when the whole of Creation , will have total faith in HaShem , His Laws , His Torah and His Oneness and His Truth , then there will be no need for Amalek and his Sar Samael , and they will cease to exist .
But until then , we are to make war with Amalek and their very sentiments , of a lack of Awe in the Almighty HaShem , when their spiritual feelings try creep in and put down HaShem , His Oneness and His Awesomeness , and we are to destroy them from generation to generation , them and their sentiments , where ever we find them . All things in Creation , as Shlomo Ha Melech so wisely put it , are not new , for he said that there is nothing new under the sun . That is true , for even at the beginning of Creation , HaShem Had Already Created the Miracles to take Place against Egypt and at the Yam Suf . HaShem Creates Creation with preparation for every choice anyone can ever make . How Great and Awesome is His Awesomeness . So HaShem Has Also Created the Time of the End of Days , which if we would all and only choose correctly to follow Him and His Torah and His Laws Only , they , The End of Days , would then come about, for as I mentioned , we and all Creation are His Emissaries and so every time , we are " Beshalach " - " Sent " to be that , we can , as is the Gematriah in this word " Beshalach , " bring on the Time of Mashiach , in that " Beshalach " - " Sending " and so enter forever and eternally into the End of Days Olam Habah . The choice in each and every moment is ours . HaShem Has Already Created That Choice of Olam Habah . So let us all be faithful and appreciative to Him , following Him Only , and so , let us choose HaShem and His Way Only , and then can we all walk into The End Of Days Olam Habah with HaShem HaKadosh Baruch Hu , HaShem The Holy One Blessed Be He .
I wish HaShem With Sweetest and Most Beautiful Love , A Very Special and Very Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with Deepest Love , and to all my fellow Jews and all of Creation , a Very Special and Very Beautiful Shabbos Kodesh with love .