Parashat Hashavua
Portion Shabbat Va Yee Gosh - the wars continue
Do they really?
Well - in this portion Judah is ABOUT TO strike Joseph - who he thinks is an Egyptian
Anyone remember the Moses incident? Another fight - with the Pharaohs … until WE GOT OUT.
In today's TALMUD CYCLE COMPLETION celebration
in my Kolel of Retired Geniuses - and policemen and bureaucrats ...
One of our teachers at the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem reminded us that
Joseph was a King
And Judah's descendants were kings (from David on down …)
so there were ALWAYS some differences .. over who rules (EVEN CONFLICTS)
OIY - and then Chanuka came in - where the priests of the Tribe of Levi took over!
They ticked off the Davidic dynasty - BUT EVENTUALLY
Because they had wisdom and dedication -
THE TALMUD (MISHNA parts) -
WAS STARTED UNDER THEIR RULE
and was COMPLETED - 300 ears later - By Rabbi Judah the Prince
who was descended from DAVID - and a TRUE PRINCE (and genius).
So remember the rule -
Joseph and Judah and Levi may have their quarrels -
but in the end
they ALL BRING HOLY WISDOM TO THE TABLE - for ALL OF US TO LEARN
ShabbatShalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portion VaYayShev - Dreams and Dislocation
So whose dreams are discussed intros portion?
Joseph and the Butler and the Baker - but
Why was Joseph dreaming about wheat and about stars?
That's easy - he FED the world, and he became a superstar!
Butler - okay wine, Baker - okay bread.
But what's the connection between the three mean for us?
So think about this: Joseph gets stuck still - in jail - after he interprets the dreams of the other guys.
The commentators say it was because he asked the butler for help and didn't trust the Almightyenough.
I say - from a perspective of today 3000 years later - maybe it was PARTLY because -
(not a criticism - but a learning for today)
WE needed to learn from JOSEPH some more tricks for TODAY!
He didn't SAVE the Baker?
He didn't stay FRIENDS with the butler?
He didn't involve the Prison Warden who trusted him implicitly?
WE CAN LEARN SO SO MUCH from JOSEPH's story.
But after the years of holocaust and the new threats against Israel -
WE NEED TO LEARN THE JOSEPH STORY IN A WAY TO BRING US TO WHAT RABBI CARLEBACH SANG
Peace in every home
Peace in Yerushalayim
Peace in the Holy Land
Peace - TRUE PEACE- among the peoples who
like the BDS-liars the terrorists'-apologists - and the anti-semites who allow others to hurt our people
like we read in a few weeks - of those "who don't remember Joseph"-
Who forget all the GREAT things the Jewish People do for the world!
Let's wake up the world with stories of Joseph and getting the brothers to a higher spiritual place!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portion Vayishlach : Nothing to fear? But fear itself?
That was the line touted by president Roosevelt in WW II. Wasn't he off a little bit?
The Torah states clearly that one should " Fear your Almighty - Yareita may Elokecha ".
In last week's portion Jacob said "Pachad Yitzchak" - saved him from Lavan's treachery-
the " L-rd who
Is the Awe who protected Isaac" his father
And thus protected Jacob from Lavan!
So in this portion...
It sounds like Jacob was SO so afraid of Esau? And
did he not Trust in the Almighty?
What in Torah does Awe mean?
Why did Jacob need it?
What does it mean for US?
What is fear? Yirah it says in these portion so...
Is it fear of esau?
Awe of the Power of Hashem ....
Awe of the Miracles wrought by Hashem
Fear of losing our Connection to Hashem
Fear of not doing " the Right Thing " that
Hashem is directing Each of Us to grapple with
The Breslav songs say Low Lu Fached Klal
- be Fearless -
After learning to appreciate all those
" trials by fire of our forefathers and mothers" that the Torah teaches us in Every Portion
But use everthing in those portions
To increase Yirah and Pachad of Hashem in the world.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portion Va Yay Tzay - Oiy what a Wedding!
Jacob is sent to find a wife in the household of Lavan - and there is a big BIG wedding - everyone in town is invited.
And (question from Rav Neriya - with my interpretation) - So why such a big wedding?
Well, Lavan switches daughters on him - and I think maybe Lavan has in mind to embarass Jacob - when he wakes up and sees it's the wrong girl!
I am sure Lavan got the whole town LAUGHING at this joke!
But the teaching from this portion is not about Lavan - it is about Jacob.
He is not dismayed by the tricks of Lavan - but he learns to outwit that scoundrel!
And in the end - he gets out of the "(wifes') parent trap" quite a rich man!
How ?
So here's the news from this week - a Synagogue from the third century has been excavated in the Golan Heights - JUST ABOUT
where Jacob and Lavan parted ways when Jacob and the family escaped back to Israel 3000 years ago!
The existence of a mosaic floor shows the wealth of the Jews who lived there! So Too (probably) Jacob -
who herded his flocks of sheep there! It was clearly a place to support a large population in comfort!
And spiritually - maybe it was because Jacob maintained his honesty and civility despite having to deal with a Lavan who couldn't even
maintain an agreement to let his younger dauguter Marry Jabob - and
So the Almighty "paid back" Jacob for teaching that lesson to "the world" - that you can be wealthy honestly!.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portion Toldot - Did the Ancient Kings - or our Forefathers and Mothers celebrate Thanklsgiving?
The Torah DOES tell us Abraham hob nobbed with Pharoah and the Philistine kings.
And he DEFEATED 4 warring Kings! Was Abraham also a Jewish King? He had followers frirends and an army!
And it tells us The King of Jerusalem came - to say THANKS to Abraham - and did some giving (mostly BREAD)
And Isaac too hung out with the PHilistine king - was Isaac then a king?
I'm this portion Jacob is born ... And runs away from a brother - Esau - who wants to kill him -
He is certainly NOT a KING! He was BROKE for a long while!
But his son Joseph is ALMOST a KING!
But WHO were the EARLY JEWISH KINGS?
Moses - the Shepherd was like a king - and his assistant Joshua was LIKE him … but Not Quite a King!
David the Shepherd of Israel IS A KING … and all his decendants!
Rabbi Carlebach said we are all like kings-
and should make our meals (ESPECIALLY ON SHABBAT) like KINGS and QUEENS - no fast foods! No Rushing!
Let's celebrate the ALMOST KINGS and be like REAL KINGS this SHABBAT
And THANK the Almighty for GIVING us
ALL the stories of our fathers and mothers - from Abraham on down!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portion Chayei Sarah about the Rabbi and the 4.AM Skunk
This week we find Rebecca , or actually Eliezer -finds Rebecca -
But not for himself - but to marry Isaac
So what kind of story is that?
and so what kind of learning can we glean from this chapter in our "Jewish Family history?"
We no Longer arrange marriages long distance or do we?
We will pass on that for now
And who remembers that great heroine Rebecca?
But here we have a story hidden in the middle of the portion
As I thought about that skunk...
Just this morning at four AM I was walking to the bus to go to a class and then pray
when I guess I startled a skunk slinking through the garbage waiting to be picked up by the city
Who was more worried by who?
I walked away quickly and he ran off in the opposite direction
But in the Rebecca story we chance upon a REAL smelly character
It says Lavan tries to kill that match made in heaven AND
In the meantime Lavan probably kills his father who was FOR it
( - or was it heart attack? I think murder...)
Read between the lines and this is a story of greed
( Because Abraham knows his relatives And sends gifts
But knows their treachery
And sends his army captain Eliezer to make sure there is no hanky panky ... See the war two weeks ago)
Who was more of a skunk than Lavan? But he and Rebecca were siblings and
They grew up in the same house!
So lesson 1 seems to be
Teach All your kids Kindness not greed
And lesson 2 that in the Greater World we need to
Teach Everyone that Treachery will Not be Allowed
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portion Lech Lecha
Abraham is in Israel and seeks " hospitality " - in Egypt?
Been a lot of places - also Egypt - had tea with some hospitable beggars in Luxor...
but there is NO hospitality like last Shabbat morning !
with the Na Nach (Rebbe) Nachman (singing dancing) minyan in Elad!
I finished prayers early at my regular shul and went over there to see a friend -
(turned out he was sleeping - works hard as a mechanic)-
and was invited by a couple of guys to stay for kiddush -
and when I tried to leave,
2 nice 20-something guys got up and gave me their seats!
One guy gave me some Burekas and another poured me something that looked like seltzer -
but ended up being a half glass worth of ARAK (licorice-liquor) (it wasn't bad - just strong)
Abraham and Hospitality are synonymous!
Na Nach s are known for spreading joy throughout Judaism and NOW for their hospitality too-
true children of Abraham!
So here in the portion it also talks about -
how - Abraham's commandoes rescue a whole town from some warmonger kings -
AND WHO SAYS THANK YOU?
Not them, G-d forbid - but
The "NEUTRAL POWER" KING of Jerusalem! Who believes in the G-d of Abraham!
If only ALL the gentiles in the area believed in G-d - then and now - there would be a lot fewer wars
So - was Abraham a friend to the Egyptians and the Jerusalem Canaanites AND to the Philistines by the coast?
Read more this Shabbat and next Shabbat and find out the TRUTH!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz (writing Tuesday in Jerusalem and sending out Thursday in New York)
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תשובהתשובה לכולםהעברה
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Portion Noah - How Many Names can You Remember?
So what's the most important part of this week's portion? Building the Mythical Ark?
Where was all the room for FOOD for the animals (besides other questions)? WHO BUILDS SAFE HOLY ARK SPACES TODAY?
Are we warned in the words - not to allow "Destruction of the World"?
OIY! Little by little - OIY! Look - What gives?
Do we do a good job of building a better world? We don't need Bible stories, parables, or poetry -
just look around the world! Read History! What did you hear?
"What could I do?" We've heard that so many times - but how can so many people stand by and …?
And why does Noah get drunk in the portion - about the PAST - or about THE FUTURE?
And why does the portion spend the last third just reciting names and ages?
My theory is that
we NEED TO REMEMBER WHO PUTS OUT TO SAVE THE WORLD! Noah built a safe holy space - but he blew it on WINE!
So who kept the world going after his failure?
In the end -of the portion - and always -
it is our father ABRAHAM -
who Battles Babylon (nutty Nimrod) - and Evades Egypt (see Pharaohs Fashla - Hebrew for boo boo - next week)!
Remember - ALL THOSE NAMES ARE PEOPLE THAT LED UP TO ABRAHAM.
And - all the people who came before you - each faced their own trials - and here we are with another chance to DO SOMETHING GOOD!
So - what's to be done? (Volunteer? Fight Forest Fires in California? Help Hurricane Victims in the Bahamas?
ISRAELIS ARE DOING ALL THAT!!!)
SO STOP LISTENING TO THE LIES IN THE MEDIA! Israel has its problems -
BUT THE ISRAELITE HISTORY (and part of it was Noah - yes ) IS TO FIX PROBLEMS! JOIN IN!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portion Buh rayShis - Bottle Beginnings?
This morning at 540AM while sitting at a bus stop
Waiting for my Jerusalem bus - I heard a noise - and turned around quickly.
It was the Ultra Orthodox bottle-collecting lady going thru the trash. I reached into my pocket to give her a shekel -but she was GONE - up the hill - looking for bottles to cash.
Often I walk to Shul in Staten Island - and there I see the Oriental-Bottle-Collector-Lady.
Is there any difference? Could they be a mirror -or warning - of our society?
This week's portion begins a new cycle of Torah Reading.
So where do we begin? The Torah says the world started as
Tohu - Va - Vohu (emptiness and Confusion). ARE WE STILL THERE? OR BACK THERE?
Poverty - Evil or Sadness - Greed - Barbaric Customs - Murder etc ...
And then comes Noah convincing the Almighty that all is not lost?
We need to take stock after all our holidays - communicate some kindness to all the Bottle Ladies
Build some Arks (like Noah) to save the world - AND OURSELVES -
before the revisionists and anti semites point the world backwards again
to
Tohu - Va - Vohu (emptiness and Confusion
Love and Shabbos from Jerusalem
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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Portions - Sukkote - and Simchat Torah
I was in a Sukkah last night with a bunch of scholars sort of debating which is the most important aspect of ASSURING you can stay close to the Almighty
One genius gave a talk about FAITH
Another spoke about Humility
A third told the story of the Brisker Rov whose escape from the Nazis was recorded as happening because he and his son would not stop for a minute saying " I connect myself toYou o L-rd " and wherever they went on their escape route the Nazis who saw them did not shoot!
The whole day yesterday I was at the Moshav Modiim Carlebch Festival which of course
focuses on JOY!
So from where comes the grestest connecting power?
What a great religion we have where we can debate
If it is
mitvas that bring you close to the Almighty
- or is it -
the Almighty brings you close so you can love doing Mitzvas?
Any way you look at it - YOU WIN
Much love joy faith and humility... from Israel
And Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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