Parashat Hashavua

Portion of Eikev 5773‏

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Portion of Eikev 5773‏

Moshe, Moses, the 2 Tablets Man (10 Commandments - given twice) has the 7 portions of Torah leading up to Rosh Hashono mostly to himself.- and throws in some new tidbits here and there which explain things - but sometimes raise questions - and today I had a few.

So it was funny after prayers this morning to study Eikev - the portion we read tomorrow - and Rashi - the medievil Rabbinic commentary - and then getting an email from my old study-partner Rabbi Joshua Hoffman (when we were in Yeshiva together in Israel) - who was concerned by the same issue!

He wrote a beautiful comprehensive essay - but I will try in a few words to bring his conclusions and mine to this page.

He wrote "The first luchos (tablets - later broken by Moses) were both made and written by God, while the second luchos were made by Moshe and written by God. (For) the second luchos, God told Moshe ... to build an aron, or ark of wood, in which to store them.... Rashi... says that it is not the same ark as the one for the Temple...(which) Betzalel built. ... According to Rashi, the broken luchos remained in the aron (ark) made by Moshe, and that aron, with the broken luchos inside, went out to war with the people (when they conquerred Israel)."

Rabbi Josh quotes Rav Amnon Bazak and others who discuss which Tablets were holier. Some say,the second luchos were on a higher level than the first, because the second set was made by Moshe, thus adding the human element to G-d's work. (This is the Jewish explanation of why we are here on Earth - to add a human element to G-d's Creation).

This "human element that assured their permanence ... in God’s realm, indicating that the covenant He made with the Jewish people would remain forever. "

But I had another issue. The portion quotes Moses saying "I had to go up on the MOUNTAIN again for 40 days and nights to bring you these tablets". Moses went up there 40 days for the first tablets. Then after the Golden Calf he went up AGAIN 40 days to pray that G-d forgive the people.

And then G-d says - come up again 40 more days toprepare the second set of Tablets which will last forever - and not be broken. Why the 3 forties?

So I think that fits in with what Rabbi Josh says - that WE ADD OUR SPIRIT TO G-D'S CREATION AND IT BECOMES HOLIER.

Moses did that - and that effort created the permanent BOND of ISRAEL and G-d and TORAH.

May we be blessed to keep it strong and a light to the world.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

VaEtChaNan - - Moses begs Hashem ...

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VaEtChaNan - - Moses begs Hashem ...

Based on words from Rabbi Moshe Tzvi Neria's son -

WHAT WE REALLY HAVE TO DO -

it's never clear -

but Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach said in the name of the spiritual masters

Everyone has ONE major spiritual challenge in their life-

to get them into Heaven

just don't IGNORE that challenge!

Rabbi Nachman said HIS challenge was to be buried in Uman and help fix the souls of all those from that area

Moshe in the portion Va Et Cha Nan prays "515" prayers to beg Hashem to let him enter Israel

and Hashem said "enough already - stop"

And Rabbi Neria quotes the Medrash Rabba to say

"Hashem said to Moses -

"your JOB was to take the first generation out of Egypt

"and in the end of days to bring them into the HOLY LAND"

so you must NOT go to Israel

and you MUST be BURIED in the DESERT with them ...

AND THAT WAS THE GREATEST CHALLENGE FOR MOSES

I don't know what I wuld have done -

I thank G-d for every day I live in Israel-

but "Moses was Silent" - and accepted G-d's challenge

MAY WE ALL BE ABLE TO MEET OUR CHALLENGES

shabbat shalom

AE

shabat devarim - shabbat before the fast of 9 Av‏

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shabat devarim - shabbat before the fast of 9 Av‏

The Temples - 1st and 2nd - were destroyed on Tisha Bav (9 of the month of Av) -

and this week's portion Devarim is always read the Shabbat before 9 Av

So what's the deep connection between the 2?

We all have heard the Psalm that says "Though I walk in the shadow of the Valley of Death..."

How did King David get into there? Okay - he experienced it ALL -but

How do WE fit into that FEELING? Why does the whole world know that Psalm?

What is the MIRACLE of the destruction of Israel? THAT IT CAN'T HAPPEN !!!

But we all face tragedies, failures - and sometimes FEAR -

and King David taught us HOW to deal with these:

to know (as the Psalm continues) "Because YOU are with me"

Even during the Temple Destruction we were not destroyed!

WE FAST in sadness on Tisha Bav - and hope we LEARNED OUR LESSON from the horrible events of the day

- BUT it's not a simple fast for penitence like YOM KIPPUR

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach taught:

The holy Reb Elimeilech of Grodzisk says that Moshe Rabeini said these lectures (lessons or criticism of the Israelites' complaints over 40 years -recited in the Portion of Devarim) in a hidden way....

(To teach us to RETURN- that is) Tshuva ... from Ahavas Hashem (love of G-d, and) then all the Aveiros (sins) become ...(counted as) Mitsvot, ...

so when we say Mussar (constructive criticism ONLY) in a hinting way like Moses in this portion

(it shows) we do it with Ahavas Hashem and Ahavas Yisroel (love of G-d and Israel)

...(and) this is the real fixing... that will bring the rebuilding of the Beis Hamikdosh (Holy Temple)

and (may) this very day Tisha beAv that we so mourn ... be turned around (as was prophesized) for the day Moshiach is born -

(to fix the world)

omein,

Portion of Matos-and-Masay

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Portion of Matos-and-Masay

What a week – Egypt in turmoil again, the world ignoring civil war in Syria, Tunisia starting it’s own re-revolution – and the world keeps claiming ISRAEL is the problem, and ISRAEL should give half of Jerusalem to the Fatah leaders in Ramallah – etc.

So too at the time of the Israelites coming to Canaan - Moab and Midian and Canaanites were all at war with each other - and ALL TURNED ON MOSES AND THE TRIBES - because they feared the MORALITY of Israel

So after the wars with Balak and Og and Sichon, after 40 years wandering the desert, the Israelites are told by G-d to appoint 1000 soldiers from each tribe to conquer the Midianites who tried to help Balak destroy the Israelite people before they got to Canaan.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach explained the words of the Apter Rav –

that hidden holy people were chosen by their peers – to win the war and protect Israel’s Eastern flank when the tribes entered the Promised Land. (see below the Hebrew text).

And who are the holy hidden people ? Their neighbors knew – because they were ALWAYS there to HELP – and asking nothing in return.

- Rabbi Norman Lamm - retiring from Yeshiva University -wrote this week about Jewish Courage:

Biblical Judah was big enough to admit that he was small. He confesses a mistake. He can experience guilt and confront it creatively. He does not offer any tortured rationalizations to vindicate himself. He says simply and forthrightly: tzadkah mimmeni (Gen. 38:26), she was right and I was wrong.

And with that statement Judah is transformed into a Jewish hero, a role model - and a self-critical man of moral courage. He concedes guilt. He knows that he is guilty with regard to Joseph, and together with his brothers he says aval ashemim anachnu, "indeed, we are guilty.”

You dont see that with the political leaders of the world who blame Israel - and the Jews - for the troubles they themselves propagate.

So after the Torah Reading this week we have to say " Chazak Chazak v Nit Chazek -
be strong and strengthen each other"

say YES to Israel
say NO to pressure on Israel
say "we will be there to help one another"

WE'RE JUST SOME NOMADIC ISRAELITES TRAVELLING IN THE
CONTINUUM OF TIME -

- and that is what we are here for.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz (in Israel)

Portion of Pinchas

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Portion of Pinchas

A late-night short Holy Thought from Rabbi Shlomo Carelbach's teaching-

In this Torah Portion the All-mighty tells Moses our teacher
"you must appoint a successor who will go out (to lead) in front of the people",

and Rabbi Shlomo says
"the Holy Vorker Rebbe says (translates) "asher yetze lifneihem"
(going out before them)
means he (the real Jewish leader) will mamesh (truly)
give his life away (Yotzee Nishmato - from the same Hebrew root word)
for every yid (follower of G-d's teachings),

(and that) this comes from (we learn from) Pinchos
who was moser nefesh (gave over his whole sould and life)
to save yidden (the Israelites who had sinned in the desert),

so Hashem gave him (Pinchas) the blessing of peace -
(and he because the role model for Jewish leadership)

Love and Shabbos
and may we be blessed with truly Jewish Leaders who are not afraid to do the right thing though they may become at risk - rather than risk us all,
so they do not suffer ...

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
from New York

Mosquitos and viruses (not computer ones) attack Israel- Torah Portion of BALAK‏

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Mosquitos and viruses (not computer ones) attack Israel- Torah Portion of BALAK‏

Mosquitos and viruses (not computer ones) attack Israel) -

Torah Portion of BALAK - or -

BE NICE TO YOUR DONkey (figure out the reason that's not ALL capitalized?)

Chesed - LovingKindness - a HEBREW word you don't see used daily in most languages - but BIG for the praying Jew ... is the KEY

NOT TIKUN OLAM (fixing the world with a few nice gestures)

but ACTIVELY FINDING THINGS TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED-

and we ALL need caring - and it's MORE than "ALTRUISM"

Tough week - a new lethal virus spreading from Saudi Arabia and Jordan

and mosquitoes attacking in Israel (oh - and shells from the north...)

Thank You My Friend Russel for pointing out that "Tikun Olam" is often an excuse for replacing our 4000-year-old commandments which teach CHESED - with "words" and doing a few nice gestures (arms for which Syrians?) and coming to Temple once a year

todays Midnght Mitzva - finding a SPECIAL Kippa for a SPECIAL NEEDS kid - this morning's request from someone SPECIAL- thanks J...

WE MUST DO THINGS TO HEAL and SAVE - NOT TO KILL

BILAM and BALAK were G-d's gift to the OLAM - the WORLD-

and 3500 years later - 100000 (official count) dead in Syria-

and FORGET ABOUT iRAQ -

where Abraham came from - south syria and northern Iraq!

What did Bilam learn from Abraham? NOTHING !

What can we do today for the 29 ethnic and political groups fighting in Syria? START BY TEACHING CHESED - and stopping Arab LIES

Bilam was so greedy and so angry and so MEAN that he

couldn't get his donkey to go fast enough to go curse the Jews for Balak

(his WHAT? read the Torah Portion!) - for a few gold pieces...

BECAUSE CHESED WAS NOT HIS TOOL (Thank you Rabbi Weisz for pointing our the idea of Bilam's Anger vs. Moses' Kindness)

BUT chesed - LOVINGKINDNESS - IT IS OUR TOOL

WAY BACK - Abraham asked the People of Hebron to be Merciful -

to let him buy a burial plot in Hebron to bury Sarah

and MOSES is NOT MENTIONED in the story of Bilam/Balak

because

HIS WHOLE LIFE IS ASKING FOR MERCY FOR THE ISRAELITES

I may NEVER understand this Torah Portion -

and the Prophecies in it - well enough -

BUT LET'S PLEASE FIND WAYS TO FULFILL

"HOW GOODLY (and G-dly)

ARE YOUR TENTS OH JACOB -

and your dwelling places oh Israel"

Shabbat Shalom from Israel at Dawn

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion of Chukat - or "HOLY ROCKS MOSES! and WHY IS THE BBQ ALL ASHES?"

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Portion of Chukat - or "HOLY ROCKS MOSES! and WHY IS THE BBQ ALL ASHES?"

This portion has a lot of stories and a bunch of laws.

And this week I was praying at the Tombs of a lot of Holy Men and Women - each one with their own stories.

Tombs - usually cause "ritual impurity" and we wash our hands when leaving a cemetary (as Roy and Ann pointed out). EVEN WHEN THE TOMBS SPIRITUALLY UPLIFT YOU BECAUSE THESE WERE GREAT MEN -

but remember - any death is a sad thing and sad things cause "ritual impurity"!

AND the MOST sad thing is ANGER - because it doesn't get you or anyone else anywhere!

So there I was praying in Tiberias - and I finally(after a number of trips up north) found someone who knew how to find the 1780 Tomb of -

Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Vitebsk zatza"l - in one of the old cemetaries there!!

One word about this Tzadik -who was very ill - whenever they read in the Torah the portions of the diseases which happen if Israel deserts G-d - HE WANTED THAT ALIYA! Why ? because he was HAPPY to hear about them -because he KNEW that behind every disease there is a CURE!

You just need to know how to LOOK for it!

One spiritual cure for sadness and impurity is taught in this week's portion - that if you become inpure you make 2 (inspiring) trips to the Holy Temple, jump in a mikva, get shpritzed with the ash-water of the red heffer and - ritual purity is yours!

WHY? No one knows - but -

Like the Rebbe of Vitebsk said - we gotta know EVERYTHING is part of G-d's purpose - and G-d clearly states we shouldn't be sad!

But also in this portion is Moses and the rock-hittings!

ANd Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach explains:

The holy of holiest The Rebbe Reb Levi Yitzchok from Barditchev reveals the deepest depth - what was the mistake with Moshe Rabeini hitting the stone?

, he explains that as moshe got ANGRY ... (he went) to hit the stone,

but Hashem wanted (that) we should give over Yiddishkeit with so much Ahava (LOVE) and Simcha (JOY so) that every (one) ... should know how much Hashem has Nachas (JOY) from every good deed we do, without force ...and

then we serve Hashem with all our hearts filled with joy, ... (which we need) to go in to Eretz Yisroel and (experience) the ultimate redemption

May the World finally GET IT!

Love and Shabbos from Israel

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion of Korach - based on Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

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Portion of Korach - based on Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

Laughing is holy healthy and HIGH -
but sometimes it can run away with itself.

Rabbi Carlebach said Korach's troubles with Moses and G-d started by laughing at the little blue fringes (Tzitzis) G-d commanded to put on a Talis.

That got him to also laugh at Aron's leadership of the Temple - Aron's running around to make peace between angry people - instead of JUST SITTING HOLY IN THE TEMPLE

This disdain for the commandment of tzitzis and Aron and then Moses spread to a group of people who wanted the honor of serving in the Temple of the desert - and some habitual discontents -

causing a mini-revolt in the Israelite camp.

So the incense burners get burned, the guy who opened up this can of worms got swallowed when the earth opened up a sink hole -

and nobody was able to laugh for a while -
UNTIL MOSES TAUGHT
(QUOTE FROM RABBI SHLOMO CARLEBACH ZATZAL)

" the truth is Mitsvots are not just simply daily tasks,
mitsvots are mamesh connections to Hashem and its only when I do it correctly how Hashem taught us without compromising,
... (AND) even a house full of holy sforim (BOOKS) needs this tiny mezuzah
(THEN) this (IS A ) conection to Hashem.
(then ) ...WE CAN be (TH) utmost filled with joy.

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

"we need spies not lies!" or "2 against the Minyan!" - portion of Shlach

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"we need spies not lies!" or "2 against the Minyan!" - portion of Shlach

Portion of Shelach:

Lots of questions this week - with some hints at how to be an example to the world!

Moses sends 12 spies to check out Israel - and 10 come back to sew fear into the public - while Joshua and Caleb come back enthusiastic about the beautiful Land of Israel!

Moses KNEW who he was sending - and he CHANGED JOSHUA'S NAME - to give him G-dly Strength to protect him from being influenced by the others!

But how did Caleb withstand the pressure of the 10 other spies who wanted to prevent the Israelites from entering Israel?

So principle 1 this week in the Torah is:
THERE ARE 2 WAYS TO MAKE IT IF YOU KNOW YOU'RE DOING RIGHT:
EITHER WITH THE FORCE OF G-D'S BLESSING (Like Joshua)
OR WITH THE DETERMINATION OF DOING WHAT'S RIGHT (like Caleb).

And Principal 2 (from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Zatza"l) is -
that even if the task is almost impossible (like resisting the corruption of the 10 spies)
we see that:
Moshe Rabeini ...gave us strength to hold out ... to continue to serve Hashem with Simcha,... (as he said in the words to the spies) " IM AYIN" - (even) if we feel we ... have no strength anymore, then "VHISCHAZKTEM" (which) means be very strong and watch the "PRI HAARETZ" (the trees who start to grow only after the seed is already rotting in the earth).

and Principal 3- based on Rabbi Moshe Zvi Neria (Zatza"l)
who brings the Zohar's words - that Caleb went to Hebron to pray at the Tonb of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs -
and received there the spirit of Holy Leadership -
so that afterwards he withstood-
even the "whole Minyan" of 10 fearful spies!
Just as Abraham AND Sara stood up to Nimrod
Isaac AND Rebecca stood up to Avimelech
and Jacob AND Rachel and Leah stood up to Laban!
So Principal 3 in the portion is-
WE ALWAYS HAVE our HOLY ANCESTORS
to inspire us through the hard choices

Love and Shabbos from Israel

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

BeHa Ahloat-cha - about nudges and rich men and teachers‏ Leadership - somethin

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BeHa Ahloat-cha - about nudges and rich men and teachers‏

Leadership - something so important that so few know so little about!

In this week's Portion - Beha-Ah-loat-cha - Moses the Leader is pushed hard -
and happily branches out sharing his holy powers with 70 "elders" - but those complainers who nudged him out of ego didn't make it - their purpose was not holy

Also on this portion, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach Z"TZL quoted Rabbi Aron Karliner (3rd generation Hassidic founding-leader) saying Moses got EXTRA holy power from those Israelites who wanted to bring the Passover offering but could not because they were ritually impure on the 2nd Passover in the desert. They were insistent, though, for a holy purpose.

Moses told them "your strong desire will warrant a direct response from Hashem" - which actually happened. G-d ordained the "second Passover - for those who could not participate in the first passover season.

Rabbi Moshe Zvi Neria Z"tzl - educator and leader of Religious Zionist Youth wrote that we MUST BE WATCHFUL that leaders who start out doing public service do not become nudged or co-opted by the leaders of industry who often seek power for their own good only.

While
everything we are or feel today

IS PART OF G-D's INFINITE AND ETERNAL TORAH-
actually existing in a spiritual 5th dimension (not the rock group) -

It is best to think weather we are pushing for things that lead to the common good - and holiness or goodness - or power or greed - and may Hashem grant our prayers and wishes and protect the Holy Israelite People and its Land and Torah -

so we may fulfill G-d's plan to make the world a holier and better place for all.

Love and Shabbos from Israel

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

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עמוד 51 מתוך 57

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Parashat Hashavua

Portion of Eikev 5773‏

VaEtChaNan - - Moses begs Hashem ...

shabat devarim - shabbat before the fast of 9 Av‏

Portion of Matos-and-Masay

Portion of Pinchas

Mosquitos and viruses (not computer ones) attack Israel- Torah Portion of BALAK‏

Portion of Chukat - or "HOLY ROCKS MOSES! and WHY IS THE BBQ ALL ASHES?"

Portion of Korach - based on Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach

"we need spies not lies!" or "2 against the Minyan!" - portion of Shlach

BeHa Ahloat-cha - about nudges and rich men and teachers‏ Leadership - somethin

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