Parashat Hashavua

Portion Ba Midbar Between a (desert of) Rock and 40 Hard Years (of wandering)?

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:30; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1603

Portion Ba Midbar Between a (desert of) Rock and 40 Hard Years (of wandering)?

More Accurately, "Between Egypt and Canaan"?

Bamidbar Means "in the desert"

After a couple of major failings, the Israelites are sent to "desert boot camp"

It was to train them to not worship idols (Golden Calves)

And to learn not to always complain (like after the spies)

etc.

But Wasn't it also to train Joshua and the New Leadership?

The desert is a test - and a training - for people miraculously freed from slavery.

Was it training for war? For spiritual development? To develop a broader community?

SO THE TROOPS ARE COUNTED - at the beginning of the Portion-

and they DID NOT WORSHIP IDOLS 40 YEARS

and they rarely complained to Joshua during the 14 years of his leadership.

I heard a class where a famous Rabbi claimed the Israelites trained there 40 years -

not for war - but how to Live and Love Shabbos! (and its laws).

According to Rabbi Carlebach in the vein of some Master Rebbes

One Can Look at everything as "Shabbos" if you look forward to Shabbos!

Living in the desert and surviving there was certainly some form of

Living in the Bosom of Hashem - the Almighty - as Shabbat should be.

Did they have music? Yes - we are still singing Moses' song(S) -

(a few of them are written in the torah)

Did they dance? Yes - Miriam started at the sea - and there must have been other occasions

Because we don't see Israelites complaining about HER - the dance-leader of the women.

So were they just learning laws? Or music and dance?

Reb Shlomo Carlebach taught us - like Rebbe Nachman did-

That they had to learn there skills - so that

even when you think you are high spiritually -

and then fall the next minute - you can get up again!

And as the Lubavitcher Rebbe taught "his troops" - the Chabadniks-

the way to STAY close to G-d - and to always Get Up

is to do MivTzoyim - masses of mitzvas - all the time.

We will all get out of these shutdowns -

and doing mitzvas will help us train-

For a better time and a better life!

Shabbat Shalom - Health and Safety

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Be Choo Ko Tai - Two Rabbis' Concepts getting closer?

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:29; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1534

Portion Be Choo Ko Tai - Two Rabbis' Concepts getting closer?

Here I am a bit jetlagged and a bit confused in the Jerusalem Quarantine for Recent Arrivals where I lost my cell phone. Miraculously I am able to get a new one deliverd in 6 hours, and figure out how to set it up in 4 hours, and still teach a Hebrew School class on Zoom in NY, and - get some sleep.

Next miracle - when I wake up - I get a whatsapp from a teacher-friend which reminds us the Portion tells us about "the 50 year ..." - what?

The Almighty says: "Proclaim Liberty throughout the Land..." - the Yovel 50th year release! And we are in the middle of counting the 50 days to Shavuot and Mount Sinai's Torah experience.

And the Rabbi reminds us the Gematria (numerology) of 50 means :YAM (meaning ocean) or ME (meaning who). So he quotes a Torah line saying "who (ME) will heal us?" Also that YAM is pure water like a Mikvah to be Cleansed Spiritually.

This week before I left New York to get back to Israel I was in touch with a few people who soon will be celebrating 50 year wedding anniversaries! Mazel Tov to them all! How does that connect to this Portion? Just the number 50?

Many people are really flipping out over the last 50 days of "corona-lockdown". WE NEED SOME INSPIRATION AND HOPE to help get us all through! What's better than ancient miracles? Why :

The miracle of 50 yovel years and the promise of freedom for all ...

and G-d bless those approaching or Who made the miracle of 50 years of marriage

and may the Almighty keep well those of 50 Age (or plus - or minus)

And Bless those who did or didn't go SO crazy during the last 50 days of this crazy shut down!

So, Bless the G-d of Abraham and all of us

with prayers for health and Shabbos and love and connections and friendships ...

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Reb Shlomo - simchat shlomo - ishbitz - cry from the heart chakuk emuna

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Emor and Pesach Sheni - an extra Chance to Live

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:29; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1744

Portion Emor and Pesach Sheni - an extra Chance to Live

One is struck by this portion which is occurring in the time period between Pesach Sheni and Lag B Omer.

Both spiritual "minor" holidays are too often ignored in the rush to live "business as usual" .

Then at the end of the portion we are presented with all the holidays in one place.

With us all being between two holidays of "about face" (Lag B Omer) and "making up" (Pesach Sheni) the Torah implies and reminds us that with hope we can fix all and celebrate our holidays together - and with the Almighty.

As per the prophets in the haftora - we can all hope to be celebrating the holidays soon in the rebuilt Beit Hamikdosh.

From the kabbala on this portion, we learn that there is a spiritual energy to each of the holidays - and if we connect and pray for that energy, it will surely help us all to get past the current difficulties in the world.

I just ordered a ticket to get back to Israel in a couple of days - so things are very hectic here right now -

but as a kabbalist once wrote: If it’s not in our consciousness, it cannot succeed. Without our consciousness, nothing can happen.

So I am praying to bring some holy good news for the next holy Shabbat from the Holy Land of our holy people.

Shabbat Shalom

Pesach Sheni Samayach, and

for Lag Ba Omer grab some of that "infinite" G-dliness that we all need.

Stay well

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Double Portion Achrei Moass and Kedoshim Get us Above the Today

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:28; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1635

Double Portion Achrei Moass and Kedoshim Get us Above the Today

Firstly there is an old Torah joke about this double portion

Achrei Moass means "after death" and

Kedoshim means "holy"

So like the old joke goes - "after you die ... everyone says how holy you WERE!"

Truth is that is NOT the objective.

We read a lot of this portion on Yom Kippur. Is it too "heavy" for a regular Shabbos?

What? Can this be "too heavy" for us in the middle of this Pandemic Crisis? Can anything be?

After 9/11 a lot of people "pulled together". Now WE ARE PREVENTED FROM BEING TOGETHER!

Yes, some people are sending food for the overworked "front liners".

Others are bringing food to the elderly or underprivileged.

Some people even drop off food for Rabbi A in quarantine!

Yes in the portion at the beginning G-d reminds us "my sanctuary dwells in your midst", and

the next portion mentions we are here to Be Holy or Become Holy

BUT ARE WE BECOMING HOLIER? I see different approaches in the following:

Rabbi David Aron of Israelite proposed the idea this week of "different kinds of selfishness"- that

create different objectives of individuals - who are all wanting to be closer to G-dliness - that is, holiness.

Rabbi Neria's writings on this portion proposed the idea of "universal holiness" as the objective of:

Yom Kippur

These two portions - and -

Every Jewish person - that is to change the world.

Are these ideas "too heavy" for today.? Do We ALL JUST WANT TO SURVIVE THIS!? Is that enough?

I believe the G-dly objectives today can be learned from the wisdom in this double portion.

Acharei means after

Moass means the death of ... The children of Aron ... priestly leadership

The portions come in the middle of "sacrifices temple worship ... etc...

Rav Neria - wrote - that after the "Yom Kippur closeness" to Hashem -

not only must we BE HOLY - but the Torah implies is a Promise:

That there will always be an "after acharei moass" - after the destruction "we" will be here -

but who will "we" "be" then?

Shabbat Shalom - health love and goodness to all

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

- draft on all cases ... dvar like neria (closeness to hashem - like YK andy:every day, like rebb shlomo

Double Portion Tazria Metzora Plus - Plus What? Joy for Whom?

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:28; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1494

Double Portion Tazria Metzora Plus - Plus What? Joy for Whom?

In brief, the Double Portion comes at a great time to understand today's issues

and ALSO to - look forward to BETTER THINGS:

Tazria talks about childbirth - and also about SOCIAL DISTANCING

Metzora talks about Disease - and also(with the Medrash) about FINDING HIDDEN TREASURE!

And Friday and Saturday we are supposed to SING HALLEL for Rosh Chodesh - the new Jewish lunar month

And next week is Israel Independence Day - Yom HaAtzmaut - so a LITTLE ABOUT EACH below, and

please take time to study the HIDDEN TREASURES in the TORAH!

(Thanks for that extra inspiration from my friend Zev in Israel)

Next week is Israel Independence Day - Yom HaAtzmaut -

and on the bright side:

you don't have to take the family to go to any parades or cookouts this year!

Seriously now,

It says in Tazria

AFTER GIVING BIRTH YOU BOTH NEED A LITTLE SOCIAL DISTANCING

BUT for A LITTLE DEEPER look:

Rashi reminds us the Bris for a boy is on the 8th day -

and even if a twin girl is born too - the 8th day is the Bris

Why think different? Because Jewish SOCIAL DISTANCING AFTER A GIRL'S CHILDBIRTH IS 14 DAYS

so maybe we should delay the Bris to "Day 14"?

THE MEDRASH said Yitzchak was born with a twin sister Bakol -

BUT THE BRIS WAS ON THE 8TH DAY - because THAT IS THE COMMANDMENT!

It says in METZORA - the Israelites coming into Israel will find some houses were plagued-

Hashem wanted the Kohain to have you to wait and see before fixing because-

You don't curse it yet! .... Why? You Shouldn't see all the negatives only -

BECAUSE THE MEDRASH TEACHES:

SOMETIMES THE KOHAIN WILL HELP YOU FIND A HIDDEN TREASURE THERE!

That Hashem wanted you to see the potential! Always Look and Think About Hidden Treasures

ALSO ABOUT SMALL GIFTS

Hassidism wants us to THINK: How can we all “LIVE” the Parsha this week.

Hopefully – Please G-d - we don’t have leprosy – and I bless you also for nothing similar.

Not all of us gave birth this week - especially the guys out there

Portion Shemini – and Incomprehensible Death

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:28; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1878

Portion Shemini – and Incomprehensible Death

Our portion – like many others – teaches rules that are often ignored. It also describes how two of Aron’s four sons died on the day the Tabernacle was dedicated in the desert.

As of today about 31000 Americans have recently died in the throes of the Corona Virus.

Nazis murdered Six million Jewish people along with many others, and millions by Stalin.

We know of the African civil wars and of the Pol Pot murders. Millions. Incomprehensible! Unacceptable!

Why is there so much murder by governments? How does that color our view of today's pandemic?

Hatred is a perverse human emotion. Haters cannot understand love or kindness.

The Torah taught us that Pharoah had children tossed into the river - while HIS DAUGHTER PULLED ONE OUT! Moshe!

Why does the Almighty have to keep reminding us about incomprehensible deaths - and try to teach us about Human Capacity for Kidness?

There is so much hatred in the world. Yet people have stopped praying for the world! Are people "lost in space"? Or just into their "virtual reality"?!

The portion Shemini (meaning 8^th)– kabbalistically implying “this portion is BEYOND nature”!

Does that mean it Is "outside our nature"? I think the opposite -

THAT THE TORAH SHOWS US IT IS OUR NATURE TO OVERCOME CRUELTY.

The Portion ends – after describing KOSHER laws, BY SAYING:

“You must be HOLY; Al Teshaktzu et Nafshoteichem – don’t defile your souls” .

Would that a little holiness might creep back into the world. It could even improve the “Corona-recovery” everyone is waiting for!.

Shabat Shalom and Health and Love ( and SOME HUMOR, Please, this Shabbat)

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Enough washing floors just in case …! Bring on the Matza!

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:27; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1612

Enough washing floors just in case …! Bring on the Matza!

When I was a yeshiva student at Mercaz Harav in Jerusalem, I would spend every fourth Shabbat in Hevron – city of our forefathers and mothers. I always stayed with a certain family – father from Brooklyn, mother from Connecticut. We would walk to the Tomb of the Patriarchs to pray Shabbat morning. (It’s really like a castle, built by Herod, which EVERYONE needs to see.) Chaim let me carry the Uzi when he sometimes allowed me to join the tours he led.

Not long ago I was on a bus in Jerusalem and the Mom was there with daughter number two and a grandchild. I knew it was them behind me because that Connecticut Yankee was saying to her daughter and granddaughter, “You see that guy there in front of us? That’s Chanoch who used to come for Shabbat – and he would always wash the floors in honor of Shabbat while we were preparing for our usual 5-6 guests in our tiny apartment!”

Of course, I turned around and was very happy to catch up with them about things.

So, you see, washing floors and preparing for Pesach or Shabbat leaves an impression in the heavens, and in the hearts of all Yidden! And here, I just finished washing the floors in my “safe house” here in New York.

Thank you S and L for taking me to buy shmura matza what seems like SO LONG AGO – before the total hunker-down-at-home orders! I did all I can do to prepare, had a lot of help from the people here, listened to some Breslav Music – and now can wash the NEW pots and pans I bought, and cook a bit for my alone-but-with-the-Almighty seder.

An hour or so before candle lighting I will hopefully host a “ZOOM – internet - seder” for my little group of Hebrew School students, to get them into a holy spirit. This year they will sing the Four Questions with me - and THEN I will ask them four MORE questions, which I HOPE they will discuss with their parents ...

Then I will put on my Kittel which reminds us this year of so much more than any Yom Kippur, and pray, and Do SEDER.

Chag Samayach – Love and Health and Redemption for ALL! A Zeeseh Paysach!

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Tzav in an Isolated Tent

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:27; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1531

Portion Tzav in an Isolated Tent

IN the Beginning of the portion we are still looking at sacrifices while in the middle we switch to consecration of Aron And his Family into the Priesthood - to do not just the bar-b-ques but also the DOCTOR work - helping to HEAL PLAGUES (see later chapters).

Maybe the consecration of Aron into all those jobs is also a sacrifice!

And like I understood from Rav Sholom Brodt (zatza"l) - that the priests ALSO had to give a little pep-talk, encouragement,- to everyone who came to the Mishkan - the Tabernacle - and later to the Great Temple!

Think about this - Maybe it is a job ordained in Heaven - But like all outside-ordered situations it may be hard for independent minded individuals! Thus - to do the job, to walk the walk, it comes often at a sacrifice, as difficult as for those who come to the Temple!

So - in the last part of the portion "inauguration of the Israelite Priesthood" - at the end of the ceremony- we see Aron And his sons get "Put in Solitary"! That's in the last two sentences of the portion- we hear The Final Stage of inauguration/Consecration

is that they must be Alone - by the Tent of the Meeting - AND NOT GO OUT! For a Whole Week!

And this is a skill as well as a requirement! AND FOR ALL OF US TO REALIZE AND LEARN IN THESE DIFFICULT TIMES!

May we all be strengthened to sit patiently in our tents, ready to serve THE PURPOSES OF THE almighty -

EVEN by sitting (MEDITATING ON THE TENTS OF THE MEETINGS - and communing with the Almighty.

Shabbat Shalom...Health Joy

Portion Vayikra - Joy and Sacrifice and ... the Girls in Paris?

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:26; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1473

Portion Vayikra - Joy and Sacrifice and ... the Girls in Paris?

The portion teaches about sacrifices – and forgiveness – and transference – and “paying up a spiritual debt” – Korban OLAH - and PEACE OFFERINGS... etc

THE PROPHET Amos said in the name of God: “If you offer Me burnt offerings ...– I will not accept them; … But let ... righteousness like a never-ending stream” (Amos 5:21-24).

What is Righteousness? And What do sacrifices in the Temple have to do with the French girls in the below story?

Rabbi in Paris: (I wish - but this was from some years ago)

The French Girls in Paris

No. It’s not what you think.

It’s about cookies in a bakery!

How do you connect to others’ souls? And in a foreign city where you don’t speak the language?

Well, there I was in the Mareille (I don't know if I spelled it right). It’s the traditional Jewish part of Paris.

As usual I had stopped for a break in my travels back and forth between Jerusalem and New York. After “touristing around” on foot, I felt the need for a "nosh".

Vuallah! (Again I’m not sure of the spelling, but it means, “like magic”.) Right there in front of me was a bakery shop (kosher of course).

Time for some French pastries, and maybe a cup of coffee?

There was a problem, though. Not that I didn’t have French currency – because the old Boy Scout in me is usually prepared.

But sitting on the step, at the entrance to the shop, were two teenage girls. And they were crying.

What do you do? You certainly don't push them aside and walk in. I was also not SURE how to say "Pardon me" (excuse me) with my horrible American accent, and go inside.

But in French you CAN say Pahr-Dohn (I think), and that's what I did. The girls shuffled aside, and kept right on crying.

Reb Shlomo used to say "What do I do if I hear my baby crying? I go and pick her up!" No, I did not “pick up” the two girls!

Inside I bought a bunch of cookies, said "Pahr-dohn" again on the way out (the girls were still crying), and left the store.

Turning around, I presented each of the girls with a little bag of cookies!

Is that a sacrifice? I gave them half of my cookies!

Or is that righteousness? You can decide - and get back to me.

This week's CHALLENGE - OIY! To STAY WELL!

Rebbe Nachman says - sickness is a response to lack of joy - SO -

We All Need to Sing and Dance a little MORE each day!!!

Shabbat Shalom from STATEN ISLAND - not Paris - or Jerusalem (preferably)

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Vayakhel-Pekuday – the Double Whammy or a Double Dip?

פרטים: קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua; פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:26; נכתב על ידי Super User; כניסות: 1420

Portion Vayakhel-Pekuday – the Double Whammy or a Double Dip?

This week's double portion brings us into the World of the Israelite Desert

What did they do 40 years in the Sinai?

We were ordered to be centered around our homes and the Tabernacle - so as NOT to suffer TOO much

from the doubling-down sins of the Golden Calf and the Spies convincing Israelites NOT to want to be in Israel

So we built a Holy Temple in the Desert - to keep us focused PRESENT AND FUTURE

Our sages tell us it was mainly because we had to atone for the sin of the Golden Calf

Some people contributed to building a little golden calf - OIY! So Silly!

But EVERYONE kept GIVING to build the little Mishkan – the Tabernacle in the desert

They knew they made a GOLDEN MISTAKE – and they knew they had to FIX IT, so

EVERYONE gave until Moses had to say ENOUGH!

Who doesn’t want MORE and MORE stuff, gold, silver, offerings? G-d!

The Almighty tells us EXACTLY what the Temple needs – and it’s ENOUGH - but

We Needed - and still need - To be CONNECTED to that Temple EVERY DAY!

It's how to make every day SPECIAL –SO start by saying SHEMA YISRAEL – in the AM and the PM

And it is how to make SHABBOS and HOLIDAYS SPECIAL: like

JOY ON SHABBOS IS SPECIAL

CLEANING FOR PASSOVER IS SPECIAL (yes!)

Being part of the Temple Family is special – even if you can’t go because of …well

You know, whatever these days ...

BUT DON’T FORGET TO STAY CONNECTED –

G-d Gave Us Telephones to help get us through! AND TORAH BOOKS!

So be well, follow the GOLDEN rules

Stay connected to the Holy Temple and the Almighty

And may we all SEE REDEMPTION AND HEALING SOON

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

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Parashat Hashavua

Portion Ba Midbar Between a (desert of) Rock and 40 Hard Years (of wandering)?

Portion Be Choo Ko Tai - Two Rabbis' Concepts getting closer?

Portion Emor and Pesach Sheni - an extra Chance to Live

Double Portion Achrei Moass and Kedoshim Get us Above the Today

Double Portion Tazria Metzora Plus - Plus What? Joy for Whom?

Portion Shemini – and Incomprehensible Death

Enough washing floors just in case …! Bring on the Matza!

Portion Tzav in an Isolated Tent

Portion Vayikra - Joy and Sacrifice and ... the Girls in Paris?

Portion Vayakhel-Pekuday – the Double Whammy or a Double Dip?

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