Parashat Hashavua

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

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?

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

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

 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

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

 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

Make the Bitter times into Sweet

Make the Bitter times into Sweet
 
 
My friends, it is like
My Teacher Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach said often
"
Let's make this short and sweet ..."
And "
Who remembers those bad jokes Uncle X
Would say at the seder,
That was just a FamilyMeal with Matza?"
 
But Passover is the Holiday of the World!
 
In the middle of the Israel and Egypt story
 
The Torah teaches us the Almighty made
4 promises of Redemption.
 
And in the middle it says
 
"I bring you out of there with
Mishpatim Gedolim - 
Great Judgements"
 
My interpretation is
(Since RASHI doesn't comment on that)
That the exodus is SO GREAT
that it is BASIC TO JUDGING THE WORLD
(NOT JUST EGYPT)
 
Can You Prove It? Asked one of my congregants once,
Who still believes we are all
Descended from OuterSpace Travelers
 
My abswer:
Our teachers traditionally taught that 
When the Red Sea Split For US,
SO DID all the OTHER WATERS AROUND THE GLOBE 
 
And the congrebant added:
 
The Scientists say
There was a Tidal Wave Tsunami
At that time
From a Planet that Passed Close to Earth!
 
So you see, I said that
 
Whatever Happened it was just
 
SO THE WORLD WORLD would LEARN:
 
THE ISRAELITES ARE FREED 
TO FIX THE WORLD
 
By Following G-d's Command to 
LEAVE EGYPT-
The Greatest Miracle in History
Which 
LEAVES THE WHOLE WORLD WITH HOPE
 
if they just look up
Smell the Roses
See the Stars
And THANK G -D FOR THE EXODUS
 
Happy and Healthy and 
Meaningful Passover
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 
 

Portion Tzav – Chametz and Weight Loss

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) –
 
Like
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 ?

 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

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
 
1
Are building plans a holy theme?
 
Remember it's also built 
With all the wealth redeemed... when
Israel Left the Slavery of Egypt.
 
2
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

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