Parashat Hashavua

Portion Tzav – Chametz and Weight Loss

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בשישי, 31 מרס 2023 11:31; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 244

Portion Tzav – Chametz and Weight Loss

Why not

Lose your worries for 8 days - and even lose some weight?

Even Billionaires and Politicians have worries - and sometimes need to lose weight!

Here's news: of the big LOSS of the week – Izzy Englander settled his divorce case with his ex-wife for a Billion Dollars

Here's news: of the big GAIN of the week - the Anarchists and Leftists temporarily halted judicial reforms which would have returned the court system to how it was balanced until 20 years ago

(when the Chief Justice Barak decided judges could decide social issues and not just laws

(taking power away from the Knesset).

And the GREATEST news of TODAY, less than a week before Passover?

My wonderful neighbor Devorah just had a baby a few minutes ago – starting her new family!

A BIG GAIN for the WORLD!

So what do we gain from the Portion, and this Shabbat called "the Great Shabbos"?

All our family used to come to our house in the Bronx for Passover Seder.

It was ALWAYS like a GREAT SHABBOS. A BIG GAIN!

We had a whole closet for special Passover dishes, and I would give up my bed so Grandpa could sleep there (I slept in the hall for the days that he came). Big Mitzva Gain for me!

And we all gain HISTORY and CULTURE from this portion Tzav:

In the hundreds of years when the Great Temple stood in Jerusalem,all-year-round

There was No Chametz allowed with the Temple Flour Offerings (they were mostly like matza-brei )

Erev Pesach (the day before the Seder) – it was

"prepare the Bar-B-Cue" time in Jerusalem – and time to invite family and friends.

So what are we left with? Only a little matza? NO!

The Basic Idea Is:

Get ready to read the REAL STORY OF EXODUS from slavery to Israelite freedom

Isolate the pasta and cookies and get some Matza recipes, etc to EXIT OUT LIMITATIONS–

Close or tape off that cabinet with the Chometz and contract with Rabbi A as agent to sell it

And practice "going out of your confined places to the freedom of the desert (not dessert) –

Exercise (physically) for 8 days:

and exercise restraint for 8 days – and exercise your mind and your imagination for 8 days

From 11 AM erev passover until 730 pm after passover ends

Blessings for a Happy and Healthy and Wonderful Passover

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion VaYikRa - Calling to Moses in an Israeli Taxi ?

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בחמישי, 23 מרס 2023 19:09; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 309

Portion VaYikRa - Calling to Moses in an Israeli Taxi ?

In advice to students, theMishna

(From 1900 years ago) in Pirkei Avot says ...

"sleep on the floor, eat your bread with salt and

"V chayei tzaar tichye"

Translated by most to mean

"Learn to live with suffering" BUT

MY TEACHER Rabbi Carlebach (obm)

Translated it:

Those living with pain

GIVE them LIFE - by JOY HELP AND CARING...

So, 3400 years ago,

Did Moses sleep on the floor?

Did he just eat Matza with salt?

Why does The Almighty in this portion - call out

from the Tabernacle -

Calling out to Moses - about

Sacrificing to achieve Pennace!

But what sacrifices do we make today,

With no Holy Temple or High Priest?

Yesterday I helped deliver some Torah pamphlets

(I covered for a friend who is visiting his sick sister)

The Sephardic taxi driver - who has been prevented at times from working -

Said he is worried that the current demonstrations

are simply ruining normal lives - just

in order to overthrow the government

which 60% of the country elected!

So get this:

The last words one former (American) COA member

said to me were:

I hate Netanyahu.

Why? I know all the dirt too - but it's just politics!

Then he got sick in a couple of months - and then he died.

Still hating Netanyahu?

The taxi driver is a supporter of Netanyahu.

He asked me - why can't everyone just

Live and let live?

So the Almighty in this portion,

tells Moses - Moshe our Teacher -

Teach people self - sacrifice

Teach people to try for pennace - and peaceful co existance

Especially the leaders!

The Zohar in the portion says - Ego of (ALL) Leaders

requires SPECIAL PENNANCE!

But we can ALL try to make this a little better world in every way we can.

And it's so so easy!

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Vayakhel-Pekudei

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בחמישי, 16 מרס 2023 15:39; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 238

This week we do a double Portion and add the reading for the "Month ...haChodesh" - but to keep on with a weekly themed idea:

In the Portion we review building of

The Mishkan - a Temple in the Desert

Are building plans a holy theme?

Remember it's also built

With all the wealth redeemed... when

Israel Left the Slavery of Egypt.

Did the Israelites ignore Amalekite threats or

Pharo's revenge desires and

7 Canaanite confederations - and Others-'

Hoping to destroy the people?

Was the Almighty trying to build something

OR to keep the nation's mind away from rebellion and

Towards a new way of religious spiritual ity?

Maybe the G-dly and Moses way- to protect the nation is

The Israelite Answer to a threatening world - that

IS TO BUILD HOLY PLACES OF REFUGE

Especially for the SOUL

and the portion teaches us also that

we ALL need to

Contribute and Participate in that!

Maybe such building plans ARE holy.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Teruma- Building the Temple and G-d's Chariot - Before Purim

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בחמישי, 23 פברואר 2023 10:32; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 212

Portion Teruma- Building the Temple and G-d's Chariot - Before Purim

Does the Almighty have a Throne?

On Yom Kipur we call it Kisei HaKavod

The Seat of Honor.

Does the Almighty have a Chariot?

Something used to carry on

The Fight for the Good of All?

Portion Naso - means to Raise Up, and the

Commentators wrote that it means

G-d wants to

RAISE UP SPIRITUALLY all peoples! So

Here's a Story told by a Toldos Aharon Hassid- Explained by Rabbi Ginsburg עמו"ש - a Lubavitcher Hassid.

A Gerrer Hassid told him that

"The Imrei Emes (A Gerrer Hassid)

said to me-when I asked him-

"Buy that car - but every day you must

Use it to perform a Mitzva.

And now it's 12 years later,

and this car is sold as of tomorrow,

And every day I did at least one mitzva with

It and it never broke down!"

Quoted from Rabbi Ginsburg .. with my slight variation.

And so we are all the Chariots of the Almighty! And also our VEHICLES.

And

we TRY to treat all with KAVOD HONOR

Blessings for

A New Month and a New Beginning to All!

SO when 2 terrorists were asked to surrender on murder charges Wednesday,

Nearly 100 started shooting at Israeli troops. Is it a wonder that 11 terrorists were killed?

There never was a Palestine. And why?

Because the Hamas who rule Gaza

Steal construction materials meant for homes, and buildrockets to shoot at Jews.

While we all try to do Mitzvas

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Mishpatim : Why I Yelled at those Kids last night

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 15 פברואר 2023 23:42; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 254

Portion Mishpatim : Why I Yelled at those Kids last night

In this , the portion of Laws after sinai , we have

The only revelation of a new religious life

in history where a whole people saw the revelation!

Sinai.

Undisputed for 3000 years.

So how does the portion start off? Proclaiming Greatness?

No. The First law is

to protect poor wrongdoers by having a family adoption

Most societies banish wrongdoers - especially poor ones.

Jewish law teaches rehabilitation.

So how is there hatred in Jewish society? Too too many groups and individuals hate!

Particularly because of Israeli political divides?

Or in general?

So last night while waiting for a bus,

About 20 kids aged 10 or 11 or so -

Ultra Orthodox Kids - were attacking two policemen!

I told them to stop - actually yelled at them!

The policemen picked up one kid for harassing and threatening to throw stuff at them.

20 others started cursing.

I said they are protecting you!

Stop being idiots ... You started this now leave!

After a minute or two they all left

And the police let the kid go.

The Torah Teaches Us that

We Must Re Learn to make peace - not just look for

Someone to pick on.

At all levels.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Beshalach : Between Chanuka (Goats) and Passover (Lambs)

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בחמישי, 02 פברואר 2023 14:31; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 275

Portion Beshalach : Between Chanuka (Goats) and Passover (Lambs)

So what is there "between" the two? PURIM (which is creeping up on us)

From the teachings on the Talmud by Yosef Chaim (the famous Iraqi chief rabbi) ... ...
In his book: Ben Yehoyada discussinge Talmud Pesachim ( page 57) :

the Royals argued ... Years after the Maccabees took over
(Chashmonai means "descended from the Maccabees")

The Maccabee King and Queen involved the Kohen Gadol - High Priest -
into their debate - On what is the best mèat - Goat or lamb!!!

(See in a minute why this is relevant to the portion this week)

Answers:

The King felt - we need to be tough like goats
The Queen said- we need to be mercifully soft like Sheep

The High Priest just said: "Of course sheep are tastier-
Why?
Because The Almighty wants us to be merciful-
If Possible - like passive Passover sheep.

The King said its a good idea ...
But not possible if we fight against the OUTSIDE trying to subdue us.

But what happened?

That king punished the High Priest! Who should have known better to
Make the Kingdom Work Better.

Portion Beshalach - Reminding us of Passover - where the Almighty

Freed us to be a light unto the world.

The Maccabees - 60 or 70 years after throwing out the Greeks

Started Internal Fights over EVERYTHING
Just like the Greeks did.. and so
then the Romans came in - And Destroyed the Holy Temple

In our portion, We Left Egypt -To start A New World.

But many world rulers since then have missed the points -

That G-d and Freedom are not mutually exclusive!

And so today ....? What can WE all do? To return to "Exodus Judaism" ???

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Bo

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בשישי, 27 ינואר 2023 11:08; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 239

Portion Bo

What did G-d's message in the Portion add to what was transmitted at the Burning Bush?

Do you have to be a prophet ti know whats going on in the world today?

There's Enough enriched uranium in Iran for 3 bombs ( the UN reports.)

Or that

67 journalists were killed in the world last year -

and everyone complains ONLY that

one might have died in a crossfire between Israeli troops and terrorists.

That's Anti Semitism.

Are we really DIFFERENT from everyone?

The Portion Bo tells us that before the Israelites could leave Egypt, that

their families HAD to celebrate

A FAMILY PASSOVER SEEDR (the first).

Jewish FAMILIES are the building blocks of

CREATING A SANE WORLD

It's been known for Thousands of Years

(Idea from Zev Neriya - thanks)

(By the way there is a famous ancient Egyptian wall fresco depicting

Pharoah's Wife applying salve to him-

From around the time of JOSEPH...- while most frescos show wars and slaves)

And what does the Seer of Lublin learn here -

He who we hear could read minds and commune with the Almighty-

He Says This Portion is given to us to

CONNECT US TO THAT FIRST

FAMILY SEDER NIGHT

So ASK ME NOW-

So what about all the firstborn Egyptians

Who were punished for enslaving our forebears? Was the Almighty a bit too tough?

BUT

Many more Egyptians were killed by the Romans.

And even more ORIgiNAL Egyptians- by the Moslems/Arab armies!

So where does the Portion leave US

ABOUT TO ESCAPE SLAVERY?

Sonething that gave hope-

American slaves gathred STRENGTH from

OUR EXODUS

THE WORLD NEEDS TO LEARN

Love of Israel

Portion Va Aiy Rah : Dealing with the Pharoahs

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בחמישי, 19 ינואר 2023 18:19; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 255

Portion Va Aiy Rah : Dealing with the Pharoahs

Joseph's bones - why wasn't he buried in the Valley of the Kings?

His Niece Serah- daughter of Asher -showed Moses where the Pharoah had ordered Joseph to be thrown into the Nile!

Lots of questions here,

One answer being : Egypt felt

Joseph was a good luck charm,

And they needed luck with the Nile

But let's look a minute at history -

where it seems that Egypt was taken over by

Hyksos conquerors - but there's not a lot to prove that it was during Joseph' s time

Or maybe that was when it says

" and a new king arose who did not know Joseph " (as the Bible writes) - arose

Be that as it may - what was the general consensus of ALL Egyptian rulers?

And maybe Vladimir Putin? huh!? What?

Last Shabbat I was at the Kiddush in memory of the father of a Yemenite Breslaver Hassid / huh?! Yes. A very colorful guy...

While the rabbi-son read a portion from Rabbi Nachman's tales

He was pretty adamant relating

Putins murders (yeah yeah yeah ...Also Ukrainian Nazis etc).

Pharoah's murderers - who tossed babies into the river

(While some righteous gentiles saved kids)

On a lighter note my teacher friend told a meaningful joke.

Rav Yaskil said about Jewish Rulers

(based on Jacobs blessings to the children

.Be.. chadash... New....renewal

So these

Three robbers heard the sirens ... cops were coming

One hid under a Maserati

The second Under A tractor

The cops asked what they were doing there?

Fixing the motors, they answered.

No motor tools with you? Forget it, you're Coming with us!

The third went to hide Under A donkey

When asked what he was doing there

He answered,

I was just born!!! So they let him go.

Lesson from

Rebbe Nachman:

Always Start over (Jewishly Speaking especially)

Forget your Old Ways and

You will stay out of trouble!

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Shemote - Snakes and Jewish Memory

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בשישי, 13 ינואר 2023 09:14; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 273

Portion Shemote - Snakes and Jewish Memory

Beraysheet - the first Portion - is where the Snake first figures into history

What removes the Snakes as they show up (like in the desert saga) in history?

So in this portion Shemote is where the Saga and Morality of Israel begins to control the snakes-

When on Mount Sinai Moses

Is confronted by the Almighty -

And says No One Will Believe me!

Its The SNAKES versus G-d - and the Jews

At the Great Synagogue Kolel this week

I heard a class

From the famous nephew

Whose famous Uncle inspired me

to study for the Rabbinate

(That uncle founded Keren B Yavneh

The first place in HISTORY where

Yeshiva students

Serve half time as paratroopers in the IDF)

So Moshe is not sure of BELIEF in this G-d

Who turns Moses' staff into a snake

And says:

Grab it by the tail !

That will

Change it from a wiggly waggly

Danger to the world

Into the Tool of Faith that will Split the Red Sea!

The snake symbol

Belief and trust

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

PortionVa ye Chi - do Rules and or Spitituality Require Redemption?

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם בשבת, 07 ינואר 2023 16:33; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 313

PortionVa ye Chi - do Rules and or Spitituality Require Redemption?

Wednesday night I prayed the night prayer Maariv twice - at two places which were just one short of a Minyan.

At the second place I checked on the Avnei Nezer book:

Which Rules on Jewish Laws:

One law said you can sleep on Shabbat in a house without a Mezuza. Why?

Because on Sha bat you can't put up a mezuza! Even though you generally need one.

Also that you Can wear 4 a four cornered garment with out tzizit on Shabbat

Because you can't tie the Tzizit on Shabbat!

Etc. There were a lot of interesting and lenient rulings.

And about the Torah Reading:

There is Spirituality and Prophecy here:

So I ask:

In this Portion , what did Jacob -

one of Our forefathers -

what Mitzvot did he teach the families ?

Or did he only instruct about the prophecy about the Kaytz - the end of days?

And Did that reqire them and Us to succeed at tikun olam? To fix the world?

To bring a Peace at the End of Days?

So I saw a thought by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

That when the Portion writes Jacob's eyes were "heavy " - the real translation is

Jacob's Eyes "Kavdu meZoken" -

Kavod Meaning - he taught the families

To Truly Honor with their Eyes

To fix the World with Eyes and Looks

WHEREBY WE HONOR ONE ANOTHER

Love is only by eyes

Honoring is clear in loving eyes

My interpretation is:

Jacob Taught for All Generations to

Give Honor to one another not by talk but by seeing things together -

With honor and Respect

and that honor fixes the world!

So where do the rules of Shabbat

And

The Prophecy of our Forefathers

Guide US?

Food for Thought

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

מאמרים נוספים...

עמוד 4 מתוך 53

Nav view search

Navigation

Search

Parashat Hashavua

Portion Tzav – Chametz and Weight Loss

Portion VaYikRa - Calling to Moses in an Israeli Taxi ?

Portion Vayakhel-Pekudei

Portion Teruma- Building the Temple and G-d's Chariot - Before Purim

Portion Mishpatim : Why I Yelled at those Kids last night

Portion Beshalach : Between Chanuka (Goats) and Passover (Lambs)

Portion Bo

Portion Va Aiy Rah : Dealing with the Pharoahs

Portion Shemote - Snakes and Jewish Memory

PortionVa ye Chi - do Rules and or Spitituality Require Redemption?

מאמרים נוספים...

מונה

ברוכים הבאים לאתר השבת