Parashat Hashavua

Portion Devarim : How to Escape the Holy Temple' s Destruction (9 AV)

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשישי, 21 יולי 2023 13:58
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Portion Devarim : How to Escape the Holy Temple' s Destruction (9 AV)
 
Moses - Moshe - faced a lot of criticism in his long and rough life but
 
Here at the end of his days - in the next few -  portions he teaches
How to survive - how we survived - in the Holy Land for 800 years!
 
And then with less than 100 years' exile - living surrounded by antisemites - 
 
how to make it for another 400 years!
 
How? What can we see in what seems just a portion of historical review?
 
It's the Holiness at EACH STEP that Answers the Crises of the Time.
 
Ttowards the end of the portiòn - Moses reviews
 the Israelites'  tribulations in the desert and says -
 
THOSE OLD WARRIERS. PASSED ON (from the time of the Spies)
 
And then he writes about those waiting to enter Israel
 
he praises the Israelites
 
AND THÈY LISTENED TO G-D'S COMMANDS
 
And finally towards the end of the portion
 
 he adds names of places the Israelites were conquering and hoping to live in
 
THÈIR NAMES ARE ... UNTIL THIS DAY
 
And Indeed the Names of most places hére in Isŕael 
 
are the same names given 3000 yeaŕs ago! Preserved despite all the nations who 
fought us and exiled us and moved populations into Israel
 
And Moshe says in the last sentence of the Portion
 
DO NOT BE ÀFRAÌD!
 
And to those words, I add, now a few days before Tisha B'Av
 
Don't be afraid TÒ CELEBRATE THE SHABBOS - that great gift
 
Shabbat Shalom - Shabbat of Chazon (of VISION)
 
Rabbì Andy Eichenholz

Double Portion Matos Masei. Double hot Weekend . doing right versus skirting the truth

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשישי, 14 יולי 2023 14:57
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Double Portion Matos Masei. Double hot Weekend . doing right versus skirting the truth


This week I was in the ER for breathing/oxygen issues.
I was pondering this Torah Portion Reading
Where our Israelite forebears stòod under
This same hot sun - preparing for battle

At least in the 1960's the Israeli tank soldiers
Had salt pills to help them survive the hèat!

ER to Me - I did my tests - no covid no pneumonia

(Also not a lot of oxygen...)

But there's more in the portion than conquering!

My old Yeshiva andCarlebach friend sent me (may he and his family be well):

Reb Shlomo Carlebach on Parshot Matos-Masai:

In this week's parsha, Matos, we read that when you make a neder (vow) and you didnt keep your vow, you can still fix it.

A person takes upon himself so many different things in a lifetime. Some I keep, and some (sadly) nebach I don't.
What happens if Chas Veshalom ( G-d forbid) I don’t keep my neder? Gevalt am I in bad spiritual shape.

So you see what the beauty of this parsha is? The Ribbono Shel Olam (Master Of The World) promises us there will always be : (real leaders) - Rashei Matos, heads of tribes, soul masters.
There will always be Rebbe’s in the world who are mamesh so desperate that you get back into (your spiritual) shape,
and you should be blessed to find them!
...
I see little people, water carriers, shoemakers, tailors and bakers whose children make it because of their parents, because their parents were really so desperate. They really wanted it with all their hearts

I”ll tell you what it is, What's the difference between a Rabbi and a Rebbe? .... It's like when you need directions on a journey, you drive into a gas station and they give you a map. But what happens to you if your car is broken? Does a map help?

A Rabbi is someone who fixes your car. But a Rebbe
Not only that, it's much deeper than all this. When I come into this gas station and my car is broken, a Rebbe, real true soul master says to me, “You know something, your car wasn't broken. You just didn't push the right buttons, but I'll teach you how to do it. “
If its a super soul master he says, “Obviously you don't know how to get there, I’ll go with you.”
Mamesh the highest!
Good Shabbos!

end of quote


Shlomo Ressler:_____________
Quotation of the week: "It's not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving."
____________
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Did Bilam's donkey really talk? (As The Portion reports)

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשישי, 30 יוני 2023 03:12
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Did Bilam's donkey really talk? (As The Portion reports)

What's the difference between an historian and an archaeologist? Basically
Historians make up theories while
Archaeologists DIG up FACTS.

The facts often disprove the theories.

Just read the bible about: Kings and more Kings
And Wars and more wars and Wars - can you trust what it says? It seems that nothing ever changes.

BUT Historians for a long time have claimed that Israel/Judea were always backwater little countries
from the time of King David.

While the bible says King David was a conqueror!

Lately the remaining fortified walls of a few cities from David's time have been discovered and

that proves the Biblical version:
that Israel was a powerhouse-
building and expanding cities back even in the early Kingdom! This of course is fact-based - not conjecture.

So maybe the donkey could get Bilam to think! FACT?

Unfortunately historians often use theory to discredit what they don't want to believe from the Bible!

WE CANNOT PROVE that the donkey talked.

But its clear that the Israelite Nation is still great.

Proofs bear witness also to our allowing diverse ideas that Do not stop our developing nation even today.

Among our people debate always exists and even allows some fools to call to "war for democracy" -

Truth is : Such is the foolishness of a small group of
Pro Palestinian Israelis,
Hiding behind cute organization names,
Talking iñ rhetoric like Communists-
Like Putin-
Like all the anti-Jews that fund them.

It's Like biblical criticism - implying a view that we Israelites were just a bunch of wild tribes-
And still are. Both are false.

Else how did we defeat all those kings and countries?

They were not like Canaanites in small city states-
Israelite Kings defeated real kingdoms. Like-
Edom Moab Bashan Emori.

And David modernized them - and so did Hezekiah.

Now- What about the empires of Charles And of Putin?
What do they do for the world? Pomp and - WAR.

We outlasted all civilazations and have see the demise of other supposed "civilizations".

So why the talking donkey?

And what say the prophecies in this week's portion?

The nations are supposed bless the goodness of Israel.
Even the donkeys of the world.
And maybe we should also - just
All Bless the Goodness of Israel.

Shabbat Shalòm

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion What? On the way to Where? NY! "Land of Korach"

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בחמישי, 22 יוני 2023 09:35
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Portion What? On the way to Where? NY! "Land of Korach"
 
 
This week in NY we read the Toràh portion read LAST SHABBAT in Israel.
 
Ashkenazi men getting married have an Aliya to the Torah the week before their wedding 
While Sepharadi men have their Aliya the week AFTER.
 
Confusion? Some times it helps!
 
Before I left this morning I gave a gift to a young neighbor getting married next week
 
I would have liked to be at this "RomeoJuliet" like wedding
 but it is in Israel and I will be in Staten Island (if thè plane makes it pleáse G-d)
 
R-J like?
Yes the groom's parents had a few objections - but it is said that " G-d mixed up the world's nations during history
In order to protect the Jewish people",and
 
Maybe there are also little "issues" before weddings to
Protect Young Couples from some other unseen and more Satanic interferences!
 
I didnt know the groom - just the bride"s family
 
But my 15 year old recognized the guy's picture
 
As a major "influencer" for Jewish religious observance!
 
And  today - there are so many interferences with people who want to be close to G-dliness
 
Sort of Satanic interferences may I say? 
 
Last Shabbat I was studying things with a rabbi friend I hope to quote during the next 2 Shabbatot - especially about the joy of
 
SHABBAT!
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Shlach : Send a few (good) Men...?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשישי, 09 יוני 2023 02:51
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Portion Shlach : Send a few (good) Men...?
 
Why did the Israelites in the desert
Cry so much?
And wasn't it the MEN who cried, 
Fearing the upcoming battles
With the Canaanites who had moved into Israel?
 
Rabeinu Bachya explained
(A thousand years ago)
 
That of our male forebears in the desert
After hearing the 10 (of 12) spies
Who Feared conquerring the land:
 
Some cried,
Some complained,
And
Some demanded new leaders (not Moses)
and returning to Egypt
And
Their punishment was that
They all died in the desert
 
(But their souls weŕe kept as part of the Soul of The people of Israel
AND THEIR CHILDREN INHERITED ISRAEL)
 
Grandma was 12 in Iraq.
She was part of the Jewish Underground
Trying to save our people from
Arab pogroms
 
Last night her daughter asked what a 12 year old was doing in the Underground,
And she told us:
 
She was delivering kosher food
To the prison
 
Where Jewish prisoners were being tortured!
 
Thank G-d for brave Daughters of Israel!
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion BeHa Alowt Cha - the Holy Sephardic Rabbis

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בחמישי, 01 יוני 2023 20:13
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Portion BeHa Alowt Cha - the Holy Sephardic Rabbis
 
Moses is told by the Almighty in this Portion to
 
Tell Aaron his brother that he is to daily light the menora in the temple
 
And our tradition teaches that
Through the Chashmonaim kings-his descendents
 
Our People Will light holy Chanuka menorahs to remember the Great Temple menora
 
Until the Holy Teple is rebuilt again ....
 
Now hear This Story  - it is from an IsraeliSephardic former army chaplain:
 
The island of Gerba - near Tunis -has a Jewish  community dating back to the first temple period from about
2700 years ago.
 
About 100 years ago 
Its rabbi visited Italy and was friendly with the Italian king - who got the Pope to give the rabbi accesss to the Vatican storerooms!
 
There the rabbi reported seeing all the Jewish Temple artifacts that were  stolen to Rome!
 
Heartbroken, the rabbi got sick
 
And died a week later! From
see ing all our Temple's glory stolen to the basement of the Vatican.
 
 
Another famous interpretation- teaching-
And from a very famous Iraqui chief Rabbi a hundrd years ago -
Who explained the Mishna in Talmud Shabbat 
 
Which says ... we are obliged before Shabbat
To say:
"Isartem
Eravtem
Hadliku et ha Ner"
 
Isartem - help the poor
Eravtem - bring peace to those around you
Hadliku
 
Light the light of Torah and G-dliness
 
Erev Shabbat - before Shabbat 
Meaning
Before you leave the world.
 
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Naso - and Shavuote - Murder on the Tel Aviv Beach

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בחמישי, 25 מאי 2023 06:21
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Portion Naso - and Shavuote - Murder on the Tel Aviv Beach
 
 
It could have happened last Frìday niģht.
 
The violent words and political hatred of today might have causeď it - murder of a socialìst leader in Israel - but it happened in 1933.
 
Was it really Stàvski?
 
Witnesses saw 2 figures running away òn the bèach- British police moved everyone off the beach,
and arrested 2 Jews-
 
But in the end Chief Rabbi Kook prevented the Brittish from hanging 2 innocent Jews.
 
Who was the murdered Arlozorov? 
He was a lèadér in the Jewish Agency.
There were plenty of motives. And it was a time of Arab riots - and their rising pro-Nazi sentiment.
 
It wàs sad. But justice prevailed in the end.
 
 
The ten commandments includes:
Thou Shall not murder.
Not thousands of years ago - not 1933 - not 2023.
 
There are many stories of courageous Jews -
 
Upholding all 10 Commandments!
 
Check ALL  the 10 out this Shavuote!
 
Lite 2 candles and your Yahrzeit candles - to honor your family -
Thursday before dark!
 
So what do I study all night until dawn Shavuote nite this year?
 
Talmud - and Laws of Conversions
And Laws of Honoring Parents
(Another of the Big 10)
 
 CHag Samsayach
Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 
 

Portioñ Bamidbar - Capturing - the Desert?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשישי, 19 מאי 2023 07:30
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Portioñ Bamidbar - Capturing - the Desert?
 
 
Tonight begins Jerusalem Day
 
Today 56 years ago was the Battle of Ammunition Hill against the Jordanians.
 
"Tomorrow 56 years ago" my Father in Law was one of the paratroopers who captured the Old City and the Temple Mount
(Where King Solomon built the First Temple nearly 3000 years ago)
 
On This Shabbat we read in the Portion
 how Moses was commanded by G-d to organize the 12 tribes into the First Jewish Army, in order to
Protect the Jewish people in the desert,
(And to conquer the land of Israel-
400 years before king Solomon.)
 
So hère we are - and half of Israel is STILL desert!  BUT WHY?
 
100 YEARS agò one Rabbi wrote :
"If someone is bòrn and bred to wealth,
They would not recognize that
It is the Hand of G-d that sustains them
 
But-
The Israelites were in the desert 40 yeaŕs,
So they learned well how things dont always come easy, and that G-d takes care of us!"
 
Happy Jerusalem Day
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portìon Emor- Soup to Nuts

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשישי, 05 מאי 2023 11:32
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Portìon Emor- Soup to Nuts
 
In Short - I am back in Israel - still dealing with 
The fallout of the hit and run accident in Staten Island
 
Hey - the portion is ALSO still dealing-
 
With the "fallout " -
From many topics. 
 
Why So Many?
 
Generally Humans think LINEAR
Artists think a little Circular
 
But
G-d is ONE.
 
And another proof that G-d gave us the Torah,
Is : that the Torah cannot be understood LINEARLY.
 
There is a Talmudic Rule
From thousands of years ago:
Ein Mukdom U Meuchar baTorah-
Meaning
There is no exact time of portions of Torah,
But
For humans it HAD TO be written Linearly.
 
And this portion Emor
 
Ties up some loose ends:
Laws of Kohains
Laws of Holidays
And other issues.
 
At the end it deals with
Prohibition to Curse G-d.
What?
How could someone do that?
 
Like I said:
We cannot COMPREHEND G-d's Total Plan.
 
Frustration can lead to Anger.
 
And the Portion ends with
Never take that out on G-d!
All we can do is
LEARN FROM THE GREAT RABBIS what we can,
 
Who for ALL history
Study and Teach the best way for us
To Comprehend the in-comprehensible-
 
The Torah that guides our lives to joy and power
Each of us on our own level and
According to our investment in G-dliness.
 
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 
 
 

Portions teh Tza Veh meh and Tzora : the Illnesses we Don't Understand

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשבת, 22 אפריל 2023 18:34
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 Portions teh Tza Veh meh and Tzora : the Illnesses we Don't Understand
 
 
This Weekly Double Portion teaching the Jewish People about connections between :
 
Childbirth
Temple offerings
Leprosy
 
As we see in a bit.
 
Yes, today there are still illnesses like blindness in Africa from infected water And other diseases :
G-d should only protect us from!!!
Why?  Who needs all those? 
And years ago - oil VEY! all the germs before someone invented SOAP!
 
Did you know the Kohain priests - sons if aron - were/are Healrs? and Doctors?
 
Someone sent me an anti-kabalist video pokiing fun at some ancient prescriptions for "healing".
 
But 1700 years ago the Rabbis Estimated "PI" - and maybe the Egyptians before them!
 
And Maionides 800 years ago incorporated Roman and Greek knowledge into his medicsl books! And:
 
The Talmud talks about how  they made Penicilin 1700 years ago !!!
 
So those  boors or fools poking fun at some old medical-practical theories in Rabbi Books were

Simply Not up to Date about HISTORY or Ancient Wisdoms - or RESPECT.
 
If some stuff sound odd to the modern person...so what?
 
Boors make fun of things they are too foolish to undetstand or too lazy to put in perspective.
 
Studying in Yeshiva University High School we were taught not to follow all literal statements in the Talmud-
that not all old stuff works.
 
 It is sometimes just background stuff - not material for fools to use today to detract from essential truths!

At 430 AM I heard a class given by one of my favourite Rebbes-Teachers
In Israel (via computer miracle) on Talmud of Sota22 
 
(While I was getting ready to walk 5 kilometers to prayer - the shul where I am now making my AM turmeric tea)
 
The Talmud was warning against rabbis who may be knowledgeable but
Mislead others -
 
and it's because they never served and observed a holy scholar teacher -
something truly needed to absorb:
 
The reasons behind all of the Torah! and the TRUTHS of the Torah.
And how and why did all those African and South American people I met convert to Judaism,
And why did so many of them come to Israel to live a classical Jewish holy life?
 
AND: Why don't I just sleep later and pray by myself instead of pushing myself for 3 miles to get here on time for a 620 AM minyan?
 
Is it because of things like how
this Weekly Double Portion is teaching the Jewish People about
 
best medial/spiritual practices for
Childbirth - and connecting those practices to
the HEALING QUALITIES of 
 
Temple offerings
 
And the Healing Powers of the Kohain/Priest in dealing with ancient forms of Leprosy?
 
Or just because ALL the Torah - understandable or not - give MEANING AND POWER
in an UPSIDE DOWN WORLD?
 
We have a lot to learn from the INTRICACIES the Torah - 
and SPIRITUAL POWER to receive - 
Especially from this week's double portion...
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi A
In The USA

מאמרים נוספים...

  1. Portions teh Tza Veh meh and Tzora : the Illnesses we Don't Understand
  2. Make the Bitter times into Sweet
  3. Portion Tzav – Chametz and Weight Loss
  4. Portion VaYikRa - Calling to Moses in an Israeli Taxi ?
  5. Portion Vayakhel-Pekudei
  6. Portion Teruma- Building the Temple and G-d's Chariot - Before Purim
  7. Portion Mishpatim : Why I Yelled at those Kids last night
  8. Portion Beshalach : Between Chanuka (Goats) and Passover (Lambs)
  9. Portion Bo
  10. Portion Va Aiy Rah : Dealing with the Pharoahs