Parashat Hashavua

Portion Ru Ay - Oiy vey - Dont Mess with G-d or the Holi-day!

Portion Ru Ay - Oiy vey - Dont Mess with G-d or the Holi-day!

As Moshe continues his 40 year review,
He warns the nation of Israel to

Stay away from False Prophets
Like the
Soviets?
Putin? china?
Pelosi and her drunk-driver husband?
former governor Cuomo?
Atomic wanna-bees? Who are they kidding?

Greed and jealousy ruin lives - and The World

so the portion starts "take a good look"

and our sages say - it could be simply intellectual
OR
LOOK AT YOURSELVES - and get ready for the Highest Holidays
coming up in 30 days!!!

So we are told to leave a gentle "footprint"
On the Earth,
with our
Kosher laws that restrain some exceses

And the portion gives us a
Holiday calendar review - TO REMIND US TO BRING JOY TO OTHERS

(I just gave 200 shekels to a family with 4 kids who couldn't
afford shoes for the school year starting next week
nobody I know - just saw the trunk of a neighbor I trust
and it was filled with food - so I asked "for who?"

so anyone who wants to donate $10 or so to them -
or the families of the 3 fellows who were "hacked" by axe -
can get me the money when I get to New York in 3 weeks

SO PLAN FOR THE HOLIDAYS COMING UP

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Eikev – What Moses and all great Torah Scholars for 3000 years are teaching us

Portion Eikev – What Moses and all great Torah Scholars for 3000 years are teaching us

 

As we learned together-

for my friends' son's Bar Mitzva this Shabbat

from this Portion What the Almighty wishes for all of us

 

The portion starts out with

Blessings

And that if we preserve the covenant between our forefathers and G-d

(Abraham Isaac Jacob Sarah Rebecca Rachel and Leah)

That G-d will also be merciful to us – even in a difficult world - and

Our parents and their parents have carried on that covenant – and the Almighty has been merciful to us

G-d will never forget the Covenant with our forefathers and mothers

So we should not forget that covenant either

And the Almighty does Chesed - loving kindness

And so shall we

Live doing kindness –

because that is the Jewish way of living and

We shall receive holiness in those blessings

And children

Like my wonderful family

Who are all blessings to the world and

Health – we have got to thank G d for that too

(And for all our friends and teammates) and

Later in portion when G-d tells us to

Teach to your children…. ...

We learn from that – as taught by

Rav Druck -at the great synagogue kolel who wrote in TIFERET MORDECHAI

One of his books

That when the Portion says

... "and teach your children" it means four ways of Torah teachings:

1 to keep the Torah

As the important part of our souls

And to

2

One Must Not be afraid to work and study on understanding all of the Torah books

3

Rather than only talking with others about basic things- share Torah thoughts

And don't keep holy thoughts only to yourself-

learn the joy of sharing Torah thoughts

and study

4 "the inside ...the secrets of the torah - the lights from the Torah" that guide our lives also

So Ely on Shabbat will say (and we should always remember)

Dad and Mom – thanks for loving and teaching and working with me (us) always and

I want to thank all the family

Who are also like those lights from the torah that we all need

And my grandparents, and everyone here – for keeping that covenant with the Almighty who has protected our people and our heritage for these last 3000 years,

And which it is my great privilege to continue

Shabbat Shalom to all

And MAZEL TOV TO ELY AND THE FAMILY

Rabbi Andy Chanoch Eichenholz

 

Portion Va Et Cha nan - Moses pleads, Hamas Attacks the Ten Commandments, and Politics

 Portion Va Et Cha nan - Moses pleads, Hamas Attacks the Ten Commandments, and Politics

Lets make this quick because I write this on a fast day (9 AV)

Moses left Egypt - and Moses Maimònides too -
(Also from Egypt? YES but now buried in Tiberias
where I was this week)

So what are Moses pleadings right from his first words?

(This Message Completed Friday 15th Av - a Holiday)

But Wait! Quick is not in the cards for this Portion of:

Ten Commandments (repeated in the Torah again -
now to seek World Holiness)
and
Shemah Yisrael (yes there IS a G-d)
and
And Answers (it says) you MUST teach to your Children -
Or grandchildren -who must get the points of WHY we LEFT EGYPT

Okay - quickly - the portion teaches us HOW

to love G d love wisdom love the way we are
ALL IN THE THE WORLD COMMANDED -

to Love children and Shabbos and Holiness.

Is this a little much to absorb for a summer weekend? Okay...
Certainly Hamas doesn't get it! Who are those terrorists anyway?

So why is there NO HOLIDAY CALLED HOLINESS DAY? In ANY country!

Today is "15th of Av" - sometimes called the Holiday of Love

but it is really (see the Talmud) the Holiday of Making Matches -

But Isn't That the FIRST STEP TOWARDS WORLD PEACE?

In the 10 Commandments is says
Do Not Kill - is that SO hard for nations to swallow?

How Stupid Not to end lies like UN accusing Israel every week,
and ignoring Random Missles shot at civilians by crazies in Gaza
( with a taste for blood - and money)

And the propaganda from Putin ?

and Communist China is just Testing Missles - why?
Not to frighten people into enslavement by the

Peoples Republic of Chinese Manufacturism?

10 COMMANDMENTS covers a LOT OF MILEAGE in SEEKING PEACE

WHY do cartels and drug lords stoop to terrorism and gangsterism?

Arent there any smart honest leaders in the world to stop their abuses?

So Moses pleads right from the first words of this Portion:
asking the Almighty:

I listened,
I didnt attack Edom
I only Defended when attacked by Amalek and Moav and Og

I set up Honest Courts in the desert

So
Let me please - Almighty - go into Israel

And teach the world by example

How to set up a Sane Society

The answer he got was ... it seems ... the world wasn't ready yet

Are we finally ready on this year's 15 of Av - ready
to share a HOLY vision FOR ALL

the same as we read in the Torah
"Hear oh Israel ... yes there is an Almighty -
Whose NAME is ONE?

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Devarim and Tisha Bav - going thru Red Lights

Portion Devarim and Tisha Bav - going thru Red Lights


The Torah Reading before Tisha Bav is always Portion Devarim, and it's

A quick review by Moses - who was to "be leaving the world in 30 days"-

And who reminds the Israelites - and us - of 40 years of issues,
and reminds them to

not attack relative-tribes-
But when they attack us -
Moses reminds us how the Almighty helped us win each battle -

and Remember- all of what is now "trans jordan " - the kingdom Britain created to fight the Jews - was ours for over 300 years!!!

How are we being attacked now?
The imams in Israel are telling their supporters to kill with axes and knives and car rammings! What a combination!

So now, today, just before commemorating our TEMPLES' destructions:

Daily lies in the media about Israel (from UN Jew-haters)

And make believe "palestinian history" created by burning
Jewish Archaeological history

and Arabs who are killing Jews on roads -
(
as well as each other with family fights and killing girls
when the family doesnt agree on boyfriends -
As I read in daily and
The local weeky articles)

and
Politicians are fighting and
Palestinians are Shooting and throwing heavy rocks at cars

And Russia is murdering
And China is practicing for an attack on Taiwan

So what are YOU praying for this weekend?

Some Relatives came over yesterday and asked ..
Do you really eat no meat this week (before Tisha B'Av)
.
So I explained to them about the
Rules of Mourning - and asked them:

don't you know , that about a mllion Jews were killed
with the First temple destruction
and the
Same or more with the second temple (by the Romans)!

(Dont believe it? Hitler wiped out 6 million 1900 years later!)

So we don't eat meat for a week - and we mourn all our losses

Another relative asked about washing dishes
So I tried to explain A Torah Rule:

Why I don't was dishes in hot water
and always put soap right away on dishes in the sink -

because that way I don't have to worry about someone
mixing up Dairy with Meat or Pareve silverware!

So does "The Exile" end with JOY (as one Rabbi explained here 445 AM on the radio (before my 5AM class)

and everyone can INCREASE JOY -
like - do a couple of favors for others and enjoy the smiles!!!

Or like a different Rabbi was quoting:
"the exile Ends with teaching Torah"

Like the above rules on keeping meat and dairy dishes from mixing up.

My Kabbalistic Rebbe taught recently that a BIG STEP would be
if rich people would stop using their clout to abuse the less fortunate.

AND Maybe praying for WORLD LEADERS
and writing to them
TO BE ACCOUNTABLE - really helps?

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

 

Portion Mas'Aiy of Murders and Marriages Mixed

Portion Mas'Aiy of Murders and Marriages Mixed
 
Our Torah Portion this week deals with killing - and it's Very "Today"!
 
CRIME sounds like it's built into America - but Mass Murder Shootings?
Murder. It sounds so evil - and it IS!
 
Everywhere.
 
On Thursday a Palestinian Arab rammed his car - while driving on the other side of a solid while line - to  hit a car
which was
Driven by a Jewish woman with her 4 kids inside,
 
  killing the 6 year old boy,
and putting his family in the hospital .
 
With his baby brother in pediatric intensive care - a boy was murdered - 
While the two in the ramming car got away  in the "palestinian territory".
 
We all know that huge stipends are paid by the PA to terrorists who kill Israelis - and to their families -
And American tax money pays for some of this - with European partners , despite the Taylor Force Act passed by Congress!
 
This is murder.
 
The Torah is lenient in accident csses - But Not With Murder.
 
In our Portion, 
Jewish Judges are adjured to utilize  models for deciding who is a murderer and Who is Guilty And - what is truly accidental. 
 
 I just got a long article on that of Rabbi Neriya's,
 
About who The Torah says is to investigate murders, and
Who who to bring to court ,
And how to decide on  those who were not premeditating.
 
And how sometimes,
our ancient justice system decided on execution of murderers.
 
So the Torah is NOT out of date!
 
So what do we ALSO find in our Portion that
 is the Jewish Opposite of what we discussed above?
 
On returning to Israel last week, one of my two study partners greeted me and said, He was very hapy after he had 
Just come back after a week stuck home with Covid,
 
BUT he was SUPER happy as he
Said his Daughter just got engaged!
 
And speaking of Traditional Marriage
 
I was so happy that well...
 
We All Need To Celebrate More Simchas -
Joyous Jewish Happenings.
 
Putting it all Together to Finalize this SHABBAT reading of Book 4 of the
5 books of Moses this Shabbat
 
Rabbi Carlebach taught us that
Moses' last Official Duty,
Was to precide at what the ending of our 
Portion Ma'Say depicts-
 
The Weddings of the 5 Daughters of Zelafchad!
 
May this summer turn into a
Great Time of Joy - for all good SOULS
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 

Portion Pinchas in US and Matos in Israel - as Timing is King

Portion Pinchas in US and Matos in Israel - as Timing is King
 
Intro:
 
We  bless the new moon on Shabbat, and it's just
2 moons (months) Before Rosb Hashonah -
And we need some praying for a better coming year!
 
This past year we saw a murderous Putin attack on Ukraine, and a disruptive China lockdown and new Iran nuclear threats etc.
 
And we should probably start looking for new inspiration to help strengthen us for whatever is coming.
 
 
Where is the human factor in all this? The inspiration?
The inspiration is in the teaching of compromise by Moses - inspired by G-d - the antidote to war and greed...
 
In our portions...
 
 
Portion Chukas  " read in the  diaspora" we see
 
Moses prepares the 12 tribes and 12 military divisions to enter a new world
 
To leave the desert wandering and settle down when entering Israel proper.
 
Until...
In
Portion Matos‐‐in israel teaches-
 
Based on Rabbi
 
Moshe tzvvi Neriya who says:
 

 it is a disappointed Moses who organizes a deal with three tribes who desire land outside the original boundary of Israel

According to Rabbi Neriya, Moses worries, 
 "And why should the heart of the children (12 tribes of Israel)   be defiled by three tribes who do not want to shepherd their flocks in Canaan" As did Abraham Isaac and Jacob?
So Moses The Military Leader strikes an agreement: 
that is, a military force of several tens of thousands of Israelis from the tribes of Gad and Reuven ,

 Who Moses then allows  them to live on the land of the first three kings who attacked the Israelites - and lost...

 however, Moses' heart ached from the political approach that views everything in terms of property and achievement. 
That's selfishness. 
So the Torah hinted to us his disgust from all this practical approach (by instead of starting the story of the event in the usual way
 "and the sons of Gad will come
And the sons of Reuben,"
By couching it in 

Terms of the "economy" and selfishness in the three tribes.
Moses had to demand devotion of those 3 tribes who inherited over the Jordan, and he won their agreement,
Including pioneering training for all the sons of Gad and Reuben together; no shirkers allowed.
And there was no in-fighting despite Moses' compromise!
May it be a model also for today.
Shabbat Shalom 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 
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Portion Balak in USA

Portion Balak in USA
 
 
 
 
As Rabbi Carlebach used to say (and teach us to appreciate) , "what do we know"?
 
Only when Pinchas the grandson of Aron stood up to those Misleading from Within the Israelites
 
He knew the Inspiration of Evil was from Without
 
But just as we see in 
 
Portion Balak and Portion Pinchas
 
While the vile plots of Bilam and Balak we're uncovered ,
 
Their righteous gret great granddaughter Ruth
 
Still was sent to be the great grandmother
Of King David!!!
 
 
And other Righteous Gentiles and Converts?
 
In The Talmud in
Ketubot page 6,
 
Is the story of
Heleni Hamalka the Queen
 
Who promised a vow of a Nazirite for
7 years IF 
her son return ed safely from war ...he did,
And she did it.
 
But when she later moved to Israel
The Rabbis ordered
Another Nazarite Vow 
And she complied
 
 
 
Written in Florida and Texas
Sorry for the rush
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Chukat in USA-Balak in Israel - on Donkeys and Death

Portion Chukat in USA-Balak in Israel - on Donkeys and Death
 
 
This week let's look at Traditional Laws and Traditions as Torah (in Judaism)
 
As I wrote in my book "Seeking Reb Shlomo" - everyone has complaints about something!
 
Sadly a majority of Jewish People outside Israel seem to blame the Almighty for EVERYTHING -
especially what happened many many years before!
 
Even those that acknowledge Jewish traditions find fault: How could the Almighty write such things in the Bible?
 
In Portion Chukat people worry about the concept of Tuma and Tahara - that is, laws of "ritually clean or not"
 
In Portion Balak everyone worries about the Talking Donkey - what's he doing there? Moses threw that one in?
 
Come on, now -
 
Why pick on our ancient traditions when there is so much joy to be found-
 
As well as ancient BUT ETERNAL wisdom-
 
By carefully reading the portions!
 
Don't get me wrong - I too have questions - but the JOY IS IN THE LEARNING FOR LIFE!
 
This world is so devoid of respect - and so full of abuses and bloodshed!
 
So here are just a couple of quick thoughts:
 
the "Tuma" wisdom shows how to respect life - not only after people participate in a funeral!
 
The donkey wisdom is so clear - Why does the donkey wait until he is hit three times?
  Every word is applicable to our lives today - and giving some thought to the Torah might give us a new perspective on
 
THE GENIUS OF THE TORAH!
 
If you read these portions with love of   G-dly wisdom
 
It might just give a holy perspective to us all


Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Portion Korach - did he Know his Left from his Right?

Portion Korach - did he Know his Left from his Right? 
 
The Kabalah uses the Torah sentences to implant DEEP MEANING into ALL of G-d's CREATION
 
The Talmud uses the same Torah sentences to implant WISE Daily Ritual into ALL of G-d's CREATION
 
The Medrash uses the same Torah sentences to create a Sweet AWARENESS of G-d's Torah Wisdom
 
all there are from about 2000 years ago - after 1000 years of Solomonic Wisdom and Davidic Spirituality,
ALL WRITTEN DOWN FOR US - and those who try to defame the simple truth above-
by "making up THEORIES" are basing their theories on on ego or need to deceive in order to further their on ambitions or economics
(like those who constantly claim to see UFO's - not starts - or the Loch Sea monsters - not fish ...)
 
so this week in Israel (where I started the week) is Portion Korach 
 
and here in New York (where I am now) is the Portion of Shelach
 
Both talking about COMPLAINING and using falsehoods - with
implications for many many years of troubles for Israel - and for the world.
 
Zohar has an interesting insight on Korach - the guy who wanted to replace Moshe and/or Aron
 
He was a Levite who wanted to be High Priest!
 
But in the "Zohar on Korach" it explains the strengths of:
 
Kohain vs Levi.
 
Not everyone has the "strength of the right"
 
But the world needs also the the strength of the left...
 
(kabbalistic concepts of "mercifulness " versus "powerful support of G-dliness")
 
In synchrony they work -
 
But with Korach's complaints he confused the
strength of those,
with others' strengths-
 
- and his Ego charged the Israelite Camp with dissent -
 
And the earth "swallowed up the rebels"! 
 
Because the earth follows the Laws of the Almighty!
 
Reb Elimelech on this Portion explains the mission that says
 
 ... b nakom sh ayn ish - hishtadel ...
 
If no one stands up to be a person -
in that instance- 
 
Try to STAND STRAIGHT -
 
 ... it means the WORLD and G-d  need you!
 
It's the same problem of Portion Shelach ... 
 
"anashim Roshei..."
 
The 12 Leaders All wanted to be leaders of the people,
to take away Moses' G-dliness from the Israelite Camp -
 
They just Didnt want to be Mentshen - People that Stand with G-d!
 
So look at what some people do to pervert the truth
 
 
On the News " Iranian TV fabricates 
occer legend Cristiano Ronaldo declaring his hatred of Israeli “assassins.” (Pure lies and Photoshop)
 

By The Algemeiner

 

Iran’s state TV has falsely "quoted" Portuguese soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo as saying that he dislikes Israeli soccer fans and calls them “assassins.”

In a report that aired on June 15, Iranian state television showed a video clip of the Manchester United striker speaking, falsely translating him as saying: 
 
“Israeli football fans, for me, are the most hated. I cannot tolerate them. I won’t exchange my shirts with assassins.”
 
However, Ronaldo never made those remarks, news outlet Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported on Monday. 
 
Iran’s official broadcaster used footage from a 2016 video 
that Ronaldo recorded for Save The Children, the London-based humanitarian organization, 
Radio Free Europe reported. 
 
In the original English-language video, Ronaldo drew attention to the struggle Syrian children faced during that country’s brutal civil war.
 
The TORAH portrays the TRUTH
while Depraved Tyrants prefer PROPAGANDA and LIES.
 
We Jews must stand for:
 
PEACE LOVE HEALTH TRUTH WISDOM AND GOODNESS -
which shall prevail - we just need to teach the world to prioritize that!
 
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
תשובההעברה

Portion Shlach but the Spies didnt hit the Beaches!


Portion Shlach but the Spies didnt hit the Beaches!

Moshe sent the spies to "check out the land".


Go to the South he said. Check out the grapes. Dry wine or sweet?

Why didn't Moses tell our people there would be NATURAL GAS off the coast?

Funny, but the Lubavitcher Rebbe did 50 years ago!

WHAT ABOUT fishing rights?
The people complained that fish were "free" in Egypt (as if really...).

There was no Canaanite sea trade the Israelites could deal with (nothing I know was ever discovered).

My theory is that the Phoenicians from Greece and the Syrian Hittites dumped people they didnt like - criminals and abusers -into Canaan,

Like Egypt did 100 years ago - dump CRIMINALS into Gaza!

Ancient Egypt did sea patrols - but did they do commerce besides fishing the Nile? I don't know of any.

Greeks and Romans did commerce ...while conquering and destroying - and the Iraqis and Chinese ... silk trades...etc?

Africa - not likely they did sea trade ... maybe a little with Arabs -
so the spies were sent to see if the agriculture would support the Israelites.

So why were only 2 of the 12 spies smart? Why did 10 fear leaving the Sinai for the land of Israel?

Combining ideas and bringing innovation is a Jewish thing...

Was there ever a Scottish navy? Or a Pakistani people (just tribes like in Afghanistan)? (And why did Bangla Desh split off from them, anyway?)

America was founded on individuals trying to get by.

Israel was founded because one of 2 reasons
1 The Almighty loved our ancestors
2 the worl needs a place where holiness can reach out to the world
and get the world off the vicious cycle

Fake Socialism
Greed
Ego
False gods


How many nations just want to develop and help others like Israeli doctors volunteering in Africa whom I have met?

And bring Shabbos to the world!


Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz