Foreword

Chapter 1: Introduction – The Loss of a shared Moral Code

Chapter 2: Who am I? Why am I here? How then shall I live?

Chapter 3: Light another Candle

Chapter 4: It’s not a Quick Fix – Justice and Righteousness

Chapter 5: The Forgotten History of Sad Misunderstandings and Hate

Chapter 6: The Most Important Action (Shabbat)

Chapter 7: Wonders and Secrets

Chapter 8: G-d’s Instructions re-emphasized (Parsha 44)

Chapter 9: This is how (Parsha 45)

Chapter 10: Cut away the barrier of your heart (Parsha 46)

Chapter 11: You shall Rejoice (Parsha 47)

Chapter 12: Justice (Parsha 48)

Chapter 13: The Righteous Society (Parsha 49)

Chapter 14: Serve G-d יהוה with gladness and a good heart (Parsha 50)

Chapter 15: You will return unto יהוה your G-d, and listen to His voice (Parsha 51&52)

Chapter 16: Special Appointments

Chapter 17: A daily Walk

Chapter 18: Conclusion

Bibliography

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Praiseworthy is the man who walked not in the counsel of the wicked, and stood not in the path of the sinful, and sat not in the session of scorners.[Ps 1:1]

Dedicated to Dr Gerrit Nel

A true friend of the People of Israel, a Mentor of many, and a spiritual Shepard. [Written in the Golden Book of Israel. ]

Foreword

….for the Earth will be filled with knowledge of G-d as water covering the sea bed.  Isiah 11:9   

Which of the above images reflect how you feel?

I am writing this blog for everyone.  Be it you are a believer, agnostic,  atheist, secular, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Taoist or Buddhist et al.  Yes   I am especially writing it for you

I on purpose have written short chapters because we all are bombarded by information and stuff to read;  in the paper,  on your phone,  on your  PC,  Facebook, etc. (There are one or two longer chapters’ contents that though merits more)

This is a work in progress and therefore a Bibliography is listed according to the number referred to in the text, and not arranged alphabetically.  Updates and additions can be continuously made to the text as well as the bibliography.

Numbers that appear in the text are as follows: (*4) refer to the footnotes at the end of a chapter, in this instance the forth footnote.  Numbers in square brackets e.g. [5.13,49-51] refer to a book listed in the bibliography,  in this instance book numbered 5, pages 13, and 49-51.

Rav Kook, the first chief rabbi of Israel in the twentieth century, wrote: ’’Is religion man’s quest for God? Indeed, it seems as though religion is an attempt to solve the deepest spiritual problems of life……  in the past, man’s nature and desires were coarser than they are now, and in the future they will be more refined than they are at present…..in the present state, man’s desires still have many unrefined elements, and because of the merit of the good parts, the dregs also rise and become free- and in their freedom, they contaminate the world and destroy it.  This creates a heated war…..The great souls must be peacekeepers between the fighter of this war by showing each side the proper boundary that is truly appropriate for it…..Up until the redemption, we can only teach the world a Divine wisdom of obligations and moral restrictions.  But people do not like obligations, and when they accept them anyway, a grudge lingers in their hearts concerning whoever is responsible for them. For ethics truly come to restrict and imprison our animalistic passions.” [42.138, 193,195]

And to quote the brilliant speaker Denis Prager:  If G-d is not the source of morality, morality is relative. The only way you can have an absolute right and wrong is when there is a transcendent source for it. If rights are inalienable, they can only come from G-d who is inalienable…How is it important to ‘fear’ G-d? Because then you do not fear man” [The Hebrew word for ‘fear G-d’ (yareh) actually means ‘to be in awe of’]

I would like to quote here John W. Whitehead, founder and president of the The Rutherford Institute:  “…we neglected to maintain our freedoms or provide our young people with the tools necessary to survive, let alone succeed, in the impersonal jungle that is modern America.  We brought them into homes fractured by divorce,  distracted by mindless entertainment, and obsessed with the pursuit of materialism.  We institutionalized them in daycares and afterschool programs, substituting time with teachers and childcare workers for parental evolvement.  We turned them into test-takers instead of thinkers and automatons instead of activists….instilling in them the values of a celebrity-obsessed, technology-driven culture devoid of any true spirituality.  And we taught them to believe that the pursuit of their own personal happiness trumped all other virtues, including any empathy whatsoever for their fellow human beings.”  (*1)

In this treatise, in the following chapters I first of all discuss the situation of the world today and why we need a specific moral and ethical code to live by that is not formulated by man. Therefore, I propose that these principles and rules are from the Creator of the world and us. This information is written up in the Bible [Tenach] and especially in the Torah [first five books of the Bible]. Before I then discuss these, using as example those recorded in Deuteronomy (Deu), the fifth book of the Torah and Bible, and because my premise is that all peoples are supposed to live by these, I first have to touch on the Forgotten History of sad Misunderstandings and Hate between Judaism and Christianity to set the record strait and hopefully eliminate misunderstandings.

I truly hope that your eyes and mind will be opened and that the following chapters will inspire you, be a blessing; and give you Hope for your Life, and Peace and Contentment.

FOOTNOTES

*1  vide Whitehead’s book “Battlefield America: The War on the American People” (Select Books, 2015).

Chapter 2: Who am I? Why am I here? How then shall I live?

Today the secular West has largely lost the values that used to be called the Judeo-Christian heritage  [3.256] Or as Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks wrote ‘They – people- are as they are because people think in terms of certain ideas – and ideas have a history.’ [2.23] (*1)

The chapter title here above was used in some form of other by Gauguin (*2), Francis Schaeffer and Jonathan Sacks to point to the eternal question that only religion and faith in G-d, the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob, can answer.

‘Faith is the call to human responsibility [1.100] The whole thrust of modern thought has been toward reducing the sphere of individual moral responsibility.  Human behavior is increasingly seen as the product of impersonal forces – economic (Marx)., social (Durkheim), or socio-biological (the neo-Darwinians).  We are what we are because of things over which we have no control, from the distribution of power to the “selfish gene” [1.103] it is said.

The slow demise of morality and faith, is that which characterizes today the 21st century and is becoming the plight of Europe and USA’s survival. That which is needed for a society to function optimally is what Lord Sacks calls the ”moral bond” that links individuals in the shared project of society  [2.35]

Freedom has never worked without deeply ingrained moral beliefs …where individuals … conform voluntarily to certain principles said Friedrich Hayek  [2.37]  The G-d of Israel is on the side of freedom AND human dignity  [1.33]  Sacks furthermore noted in 2017 that:  God can change nature said Maimonides , but He cannot or choose not to change human nature, precisely because Judaism is built on the principle of human freedom.

There are no morals without discipline and authority….Morals do not look like obligations to us …unless there exist about [outside] us and above us a power which gives them sanction, wrote  Emile Durkheim [2.37]  When people say ‘x is not right, y is’, they do not realize they have unwittingly acknowledged that there is a principle or moral ‘right,’ say z’,  outside and above  x & y.

[One can define the Hebrew faith as a life of discipline and devotion– more about that later. See Chapters 6, 16 & 17],

“A person with all the faculties we associate with humanity except for the capacity to understand right and wrong is someone who could slaughter people with an axe the way you and I mow the lawn. …We call them sociopaths.” [8.7]

“Until recently [± 1960], serious thinkers argued that society depends on moral consensus…This view began to crumble with the rise of individualism.  If morality is private, there is no logic in imposing it on society by legislation.” [2.47]

“When there are no shared standards, there can be no conversation,  and where conversation ends,  violence begins.” [2.47] This statement by Jonathan Sacks actually defines what is happening in Europe and the USA today.  ” Morality has mutated into politics.  Morality is about virtue;  politics is about power.” [2.45]   Already in 1927 Julien Benda said ‘Our age is indeed the age of the intellectual organization of political hatreds’.  And today this is even more so.

“You cannot combine Greek military courage, Roman civic pride,  Christian humility,  Taoist wisdom and Buddhist otherworldliness into a single system… You cannot cast characters from a Greek tragedy,  a Shakespearean comedy,  a D H Lawrence novel and a Henry James short story in the same narrative.” [2.34]  The world-views of these characters and the context in which they operated differ very much.

“It seems that as a people, we have somewhat lost our way; is there a ‘North Star’ we are somehow missing?  And can we find a way to reconnect with it? (*3)

In 1986 Lord Patrick Devlin  stated:  If men and women try to create a society in which there is no fundamental agreement about good and evil they will fail….the society will disintegrate. Devlin was severely criticized for saying this.  If there are areas within a given society that are left to individual conscience,  there is no universal rule.  Yet,  throughout the ages philosophers have sought the Absolute, Universal, Timeless ethics & morality for mankind. 

Can Multiculturalism work?   On a public holiday in South Africa, at the Beach Front in Durban,   people of one of the cultures in the mix that make up the population,  slaughtered sheep in the open on the sidewalk opposite one of the international hotels.   And, at the start of the soccer world cup 2010 in South Africa, it was decided to slaughter an ox to the ancestors in the stadium.  Yet South Africa with its 50+ million black and 5million white peoples regard itself as a Christian majority country.  Well today, especially after the so called first democratic vote in 1994, we observe under the Marxist black government of South Africa an accelerated disintegration of the unfortunately named ‘rainbow nation’ of South Africa. (See also footnote *4 of Chapter 1)

During the 1970’s Francis Schaeffer warned about the disintegration of society and the loss of the underlying Hebrew moral and ethical code of western society.  Then in 1981 Alasdair MacIntyre in his book After Virtue wrote: ‘Moral language,  had broken down.  All we have left is fragments of earlier beliefs.  The words survive:  the beliefs that gave them meaning do not.  We are unable to have genuine moral arguments any more…..all truth has become subjective or relative….Which prevails will depend not on reason but on power.’ [2.41]

In-your-face contemporary examples are the debates about same-sex marriage, abortion and gender.  The scurrility of the discussion in the mass media is ad infinitum and will never reach common ground.   In the 1957 Wolfenden Committee Report on Homosexual Offences and Prostitution, they made a clear distinction between morality and law:   ‘It is not, in our view, the function of the law to intervene in the private lives of citizens’ they said. [2.38]

Johnathan  Sacks wrote ‘The sixties were the years of liberation.  Within a few years the liberal revolution confirmed what philosophy taught – that there were no rules, only preferences.  Moral judgments were expressions of subjective emotion, not objective truths.’ [1.27]  In 2004 Rocco Buttiglioni,  was disqualified to be commissioner of justice for the European Commission because some political parties criticized his conservative Roman Catholic views. “He was then disqualified…on the grounds that his private moral convictions  [that homosexual behavior is a sin] were ‘ in direct contradiction of European law”. [2.43]

Ideas have power and the human freedom bestowed on man by his Creator (*4), opens up to us a wide range of choices. :The natural world consists of causes and effects. The human world is different.  It is made in freedom  of choices made possible by ideas.  What we think shapes what we do. [cf Schaeffer &  Rookmaaker]

“We have many options, and no generation in history has had a wider choice.  We can live for work or success or wealth or fame or power.  We can have a whole series of lifestyles and relationships.  We can explore any of a myriad of faiths,  mysticism or therapies. ” [1.40]  Of course to many,  many people  the question: ‘ what is right and what is wrong;  what is not ethical;  is my behavior or deeds moral?’- never crosses their mind.

Thomas Cahill wrote in The Gifts of the Jews,  to a large degree, Western civilization is framed in terms of concepts first articulated by the Jews . Furthermore Sacks writes:  “Judaism is God’s perennial question mark against the conventional wisdom of mankind,  and this has been the fate of Jewish identity in modern times.  It belongs to a language, a way of seeing and thinking, that become hard to translate into the concepts of today.” [1.41] (*5) To be Jewish meant watching your words, lest they cause someone else harm;  it meant strong family values and an emphasis on education;  it meant respecting people for their inner qualities, not their social mobility.  [Aish.com]

Yet  few perspicacious people throughout history glimpsed the truth;  as Tolstoy said: “The Jew is that sacred being who has brought down from heaven the everlasting fire, and  has illumined with it the entire world.  He is the religious source, spring and fountain out of which all the rest of the peoples have drawn their beliefs and their religion” [1.3]

So let me now here state and spell out what Tolstoy and others like him like e.g.  [Mark Twain]   actually said reading between the lines:  Our guidebook or instruction manual is the Torah and Tenach]  [Old Testament];  the word of G-d, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  When we read: ‘All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.’ [2Tim.3:16,17], said by Paul, he is referring to the Tanach (the OT).  That was the only Scripture available then!  Christians usually ignore or forget this fact!

So I have tried in this short piece to point out to you that morals, ethics and rules have always been part of a society to function optimally.  Yet on what these are based,  by whom these are commanded,  varied from culture to culture;  and over time  also drastically changed.  “Under a ‘Spirit-led’ economy of personal revelation, who could say whether a particular act constituted a transgression or not?” [17.261] (*6)

Let us try to define morality.  This is what Jonathan Sacks writes: ( it may surprise you,  but as a believer,  it shouldn’t!)  “Morality is not factual (how things are) or subjective (how I desire them to be) but covenantal, meaning:  God gives His word to man, and man gives his word to God.  God teaches,  man acts,  and together they begin the task of tikkun olam.” (*7) [1.60]  As the Rabbis explain it: We are partners in the work of creating this world.

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FOOTNOTES

*1  See footnote *4 in Chapter 1.

*2   Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? 1897. Paul Gauguin.  Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

*3   See Rav Binny Freedman’s Small Tastings of Torah, Judaism and Spirituality, Shavuot, 6780

*4    See Genesis2:16,17

*5   The Jews started it all – and by ‘it’ I mean so many of the things we care about, the underlying values that make all of us, Jew and gentile, believer and atheist, tick.  Without the Jews, we would see the world through different eyes, hear with different ears, even feel with different feelings.  And not only would our sensorium, the screen through which we receive the world, be different: we would think with a different mind, interpret all our experience differently, draw different conclusions from the things that befall us.  And we would set a different course for our lives. [41.3]

*6  Also read:  The Story we Tell. Bo; Covenant and Conversation, 5778, Life-Changing Ideas in the Parasha,  by Jonathan Sacks.

*7   To repair or, better the world.  It is seen as the duty of every BELIEVING Jew.

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Chapter 3: Light Another Candle

Before sailing forth and plunging into a detailed discussion of the commandments, ordinances and statues contained in the Torah, I need to discuss a few matters. My premises so far have surely elicited statements like:  ‘but you are not supposed to teach Torah to gentiles’ or ‘the goyim have the seven Noahide  laws to live according to’.  So in this section I want to discuss that Jews are supposed to teach Torah to the goyim (nations),  what exactly is meant with the 613 commandments  and what are the so called Noahide Laws.

If Israel, is supposed to be a ‘light unto the nations’ [see Chapter 2 of my Blog, and Is. 42:6 & Ps. 37:6],  then saying  the nations are not supposed to study and learn the Torah,  is quite an illogical statement. As I have stated in a previous chapter, ‘to be a light’ surely means to show The Way;  to clarify details of the way; and to spread the good life as promised and instructed by G-d, by giving information and instructions contained in the Torah.  The latter in fact is what the title of this blog refers to.  One can light another candle from one that is already lit and that will not diminish the light of the first   In fact it will spread even more light!  Rav Binny Freedman noted  “we are meant to educate the world;  to be a role model of how society can be” (*1)

To state that gentile or Bnei Noach should not learn Torah, totally negates Is 2:2-4.

And it shall be in the latter days that the mountain of the House of יהוה [G-d] is established on the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills.  And all nations shall flow to it.  And many peoples shall come and say, “Come, and let us go up to the mountain of  יהוה,to the House of the Elohim of Ya’aqob, and let Him teach us His ways, and let us walk in His paths,  for out of Tsiyon comes forth the Torah, and the Word of  יהוה from Yerushalayim

Surely Israel was to be a light from the outset.  Note for example: Deu 4:5,6, and 8:-

‘See I have taught you laws and right-rulings, as יהוה  my Elohim commanded me [Moses], to do thus in the land which you go to possess.   And you shall guard and do them, for this is your wisdom and your understanding  before the eyes of the peoples who hear all these laws, and they shall say, ‘Only a wise and understanding people is this great nation!’….And what great nation is there that has such laws and righteous right-rulings like this Torah which I set before you this day?‘

Learning Torah first of all means to learn who the Creator of our world is, why he chose Israel to live according to His instructions and what the light is that they are to show to the world.  On the first or primary level it does not infer rabbinical Judaism – that is something quite different.  In fact I sometimes wonder if my fellow Jews are not jealous of non-Jews learning about the marvels, beauty and depth as well as secrets of the Torah.  Why are they afraid to share the Torah?

See what G-d said: “There shall be one law for you, it shall be for proselyte  and native (*2) alike, for I יהוה  am your G-d”  [Lev24:22]  Read also Deu29:9-14 and “Gather together the people – the men, the women, and the small children, and your stranger who is in your cities – so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they shall fear יהוה, your God, and be careful to perform all the words of this Torah” (Deut31:12) 

When one learns that there are 613 commandments [248 positive & 365 Negative / Prohibitions]  – and they will always say in the same breath ‘No -one can actually keep all 613’ – makes it sound even more mysterious or daunting. Yet no one usually then clarifies that very many commandments only applies to the Temple or the priests and the Kohen HaGadol.  Also, that some only applies to the land of Israel;  some only applies to women. Therefore those that apply to everyone, men, women and children, Israel as well as the proselyte and the ‘stranger in your midst’ make the fact that ALL people everywhere are supposed to follow G-d’s word much more understandable and an option to seriously consider.   Rambam [Moses ben Maimond (Maimonides) 1135-1204] (*3)  stated that Jews may teach Torah to Christians, because they accept the divinity of the Tora, [and] in order to correct misunderstandings (Responsa 149) 5 p.xxvi] Yet there are many Rabbis that disagree.  (*4)

It is necessary and very important to point out that without the understanding of the Hebrew that the Torah is written in, incredible and marvelous information is hidden from the reader [more about this later – see Chapter 7].  Just as important is the resultant mistranslations that occur – and there are very many.

The lack of understanding the Hebrew text, and also insufficient knowledge of the traditional Jewish understanding of most of these commandments,   lead to a skewed interpretation which leads to false teaching and therefore a cynicism and abhorrence of the so called “Old Testament” / Tenach as well as  Torah,  or even more false, Christians that maintain ‘the Law was nailed to the cross’.  [More about this later – see Chapter 5]

Let me point out a few examples.   Probably one of the most common that is referred to in a sarcastic and critical tone,  is the command stated in Exsodus 21:24 “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, a hand for a hand and a foot for a foot…” This sound shocking and even primitive today,  but one must be careful not to just consider one tree and not see the forest.  This statute (directive) cannot be understood or applied in isolation of the whole of the Torah;  its context, history or cultural feed ground.  When one has a comprehensive understanding and knowledge of the Scriptures, one would automatically realize that we are not to interpret or understand this statute literally.

(See also Levitikus 24:17-22) 

First of all we learn we are created in the Image of G-d (Gen 1:26, 27)  and then we learn our G-d is a loving and  caring Father that is closely involved with mankind and our lives and actions.  Very importantly we learn that Justice and Righteousness is very much part of the character of G-d. We read in Exodus 34:6,7- ‘…. יהוה, יהוה The  God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty…’

Furthermore we are instructed ‘You shall not commit a perversion of justice…with righteousness shall you judge your fellow’ [Leviticus 19:15]  Disfiguring a person, or to impair a person so that he/she cannot work, will not be righteous, neither gracious or loving.  Therefore the sages stated that a monetary compensation should be paid that would be “equal” to the harm caused, e.g.  a scribe or artisan will be seriously hampered by losing an eye and should be compensated for loss of earnings. (*5)

Another example where a poor translation lends a very different meaning is when G-d instructed Israel to build a Tabernacle (Mishkan).   In Exodus 25:8 we read in English:

They shall make a Sanctuary for Me – so that I may dwell ‘among’ them

But the Hebrew word betuach does not mean ‘among’ you, but within you.   This makes quite a difference.  This surely infers that this G-d desires a personal relationship with each one.  That each one of Israel potentially has G-d in and with them, and in their holy walk with Him, following His commandments, they as a nation will reflect and reveal G-d;  “the goal of the Torah is to establish a nation of human beings who seek perfection in their relationship with one another, no less than in their relationship with God” [11.692]

Another example where one needs to understand the historical and cultural context as well as keep in mind the overall tone and principles of Torah,  is the law concerning the ‘unsolved murder of a stranger’. [Read Deuteronomy 21:1-9] A stranger is found murdered in a field.  The elders and judges of the closest towns then have to measure the distance to each town to see which is nearest. The elders of the latter town “shall take a heifer, with which no work has been done, which has not pulled with a yoke…”  and sacrifice it in a valley which cannot be worked or sown.  The meaning of this strange ancient ceremony is to repent for the inhospitality of the inhabitants of the town that obviously did not offer the stranger a place to stay or food, nor accompanied him on his way.  The mitzvah is therefore to be hospitable to strangers.  A commentary also noted that this ceremony will attract a crowd and possibly lead to the murderer’s identity.

It goes without saying that the former is an example of how important it is for gentiles to be instructed by Torah learned scholars or rabbi’s.   And this brings us to the so-called  7 Noahide Laws.

The Noahide Laws are not listed like the Ten Commandments are as a unit, as in Exodus 20 as well as Deuteronomy 5 (*6).  These seven laws for the Nations were not even mentioned by Rabbi Yehudah  HaNassi in the Mishnah (author of the Oral Torah, completed ±200CE)  They are only mentioned after that by Rabbi’s in the Talmud’s Gemara.   ‘Israel’s Talmudic Sages had recorded the basic Seven Commandments by about 200CE – the doctrine of the Rainbow Covenant was one of the first things they wrote out’ [12.42] (*7)

 In the Talmud tractate Sanhedrin [56a] one reads:   [My numbering added]

 Our Rabbis taught: Seven precepts were the sons of Noah commanded:  1. Social laws; 2. to refrain from blasphemy; 3.idolatry;  4. Adultery;  5. Bloodshed;  6. Robbery;  7. And eating flesh cut from a living animal.

And on page/folio 56b we read:

            ‘For a Tanna of the school of Menasseh taught: The sons of Noah were given seven precepts, viz., [prohibition of] 1. idolatry, 2. adulterty, 3. murder,4.  robbery, 5.  flesh cut from a living animal, emasculation and 6. forbidden mixtures…R. Judah b. Bathyra maintained: he was forbidden 7. blasphemy too.  Some add 8. social laws. [Talmud, Sanhedrin, 56b]

There is clearly a problem here if one only considers the number mentioned in each quote, as well as the terminology used.  Furthermore, considering also the ‘source’ of these so called Laws and where they are written down,  it’s no wonder that Christians are not familiar with them.  It is also only lately that we find books written about them.  “Unfortunately, there [is] very little authoritative material to guide even Rabbis” that lately have been guiding the many Gentiles that have committed themselves to observe this universal Noahide Code. [7.13] 

Let us just consider “social laws” as an example of the obvious shortcomings of the Noahide Laws as a moral and ethical basis for ordering society all over the world.   These are usually referred to as ‘court system / courts of justice / establishing laws, police and courts.  One can by mentioning only one example of one country,  illustrate the obvious shortcomings of presenting the Noahide Code as a universal directive for moral and ethical behavior, without incorporating the whole of the Torah.   The Nazis also had so called laws, courts of justice and police,  but these were not conducted according to G-d’s way and principles!  

Weiner writes in his book The Divine Code, a book attempting to explain the Noahide Laws:  ‘permission for earthly judgment based on Torah Law applies only for a competent and empowered Torah-based court..’ [7.54]  This statement – like so many others in his book – highlights the problem that I have with Rabbis, books and people that refer to the Noahide Laws with a broad sweep and as some panacea for how gentiles should conduct their lives.   The former quote, clearly underlines the fact that the Nazi’s justice system does not qualify as a just and acceptable system.  Therefore,  the question how should we / humankind then live,  still stands,  and is not answered by the Noahide Code.

In fact,  his book almost reads like reading the Mishnah or Guide for the Perplexed by Maimonides.  In other words,  its not that simple.  Weiner actually points out that ‘it is incumbent on one who does know the truth…to teach him God’s truth and the commandments which apply for him as a Gentile, and to correct and improve his ways’.  [7.55] (*8) The tragedy is that it is incumbent upon the people to whom the Torah was given,  to inform the world of nations about G-d’s way for man,  but because of persecution and exile throughout history,  they were rejected,   their hands were proverbially tied and their insight and wisdom lost to the world.  After the first century CE,  pagan influence and distortions infiltrated the Way of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  [More about that later – see Chapter 5].

Considering the term ‘adultery’ used in the Bible,  it’s often referred to as sexual immorality.  But without referring to Leviticus 18-20,  some cultures will find pedophilia, bestiality, pederasty, marring an eight year old girl to a man of 35 or 65, as acceptable.   

Michael E. Dallen in his book The Rainbow Covenant, tries to present a clear understanding of what the Noahide Code entails.  As in Weiner’s book,  the discussion is too limited.  These Only 7 Laws are too limited. One is left with a whole big elephant in the room and questions like, “ but what about…”  These I hope to point out and touch upon in my blog. Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh stated: “But keeping the seven Noahide mitzvoth does not suffice.  This level of Torah study alone cannot fully realize the idea of tikkun olam (spiritual repair of the world in preparation for Messianic days).” (*9)

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FOOTNOTES

*1    Rav Binny Freedman, Bereishit discussion, Isralight, 2016.

*2    Proselyte is someone that converted to Judaism.  See Exodus 12:48&49.  This is one of the many passages in which the Torah states that the convert is to be treated as equals, and one of Israel.

*3  One of the greatest Sages of Judaism.

*4    There are historical statements by Rabbis as well as in the Talmud that explains this, but is not applicable to this discussion now.  Suffice is to say that they maintained Christians will distort what was written.

*5    For more details read Rav Binny Freedman’s discussion of Portion of Mishpatim, 2018, in ‘Small Tastings of Torah, Juidaism and Spirituality’; Isralite.org.

*6    The Ten Commandments are neither listed, nor appear, nor are discussed in the Koran, Hadith or Sura.  Very very few Westeners are aware of this!

*7   See Mishnah, Tosefta Avodah Zarah 8:4;  Tlmud, Hullin 141a-b, Seder Olam 5, Sanhedrin 56a-59  , Bava Kamma 38a; Midrash , Genesis Rabbah 16:9, 24:5, 34:8, Deutronomy Rabbah  2:17, 2:25,  Song of Songs Rabbah 1:16; Jerusalem Talmud,  Kiddushin 1.

*8  “Rambam writes in Laws of Kings 10:1 that a Gentile is liable for transgressing the Noahide Commandments due to negligence, since he should have learned them.  But it seems that he is only referring to a situation in which the general community knows the laws…. It is clear that this only applies to the Noahide commandments that need to be taught (since they are not dictated by logic), such as details of the prohibitions against worshipping idols and eating flesh taken from a living animal.  But for the logical prohibitions such as stealing and murder, it is obvious that a community is obligated to learn and know them…”  [7.55].  Again this brings us face to face with the problem that in the Koran theft and murder is often sanctioned.   So what is the answer?

 *9   Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler writes in her article The Time Has Come for Mass Torah Study for Gentiles, “Many Jews view the Torah as a gift from God that belongs to the Jewish people alone but is that still the case? More specifically, should Torah study only be for Jews”  She then refers to a transcript of a talk The Fourth Revolution: Torah Study for Gentiles, by Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh, one of Israel’s foremost teachers of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and Chassidut (the study of the inner dimensions of Torah). “It is the task of the Jewish people to teach and disseminate the Torah of the Noahides to all of Mankind, Rabbi Ginsburgh acknowledged. [see Breakingisraelnews.com, 7 Feb. 2018]

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Chapter 4: Justice and Righteousness: It’s  not a Quick Fix

Observe justice and perform righteousness….Praiseworthy is the man who does this and the person who grasps it tightly   [Is 56:1.2]

North America’s first laws, from the Seventeenth century’s ‘Pilgrim Code’ …and the ‘Body of Liberties’… were confessedly based on Moses’ Torah.  The American and English Puritans revered the Pentateuch…the Pilgrims tried to pattern American society upon the Torah’s moral teachings.  [12.9]

How incredibly different is the world today.  How many young people in the United States today will be able to explain what the above statement says and means?  Would leaders today lift up their eyes and make a covenant with G-d as did the pioneers in 1836 in Natal, South Africa, when they pledged to henceforth keep that day as a Sabbath if G-d delivers them from the surrounding thousands of Zulu’s that wanted to slaughter them.

From the Seventeenth century onwards, when René Descartes (1596-1650) made the statement ‘I think, therefore I am’,  man’s belief in a higher power and submitting himself to G-d,  declined and disappeared, leaving man in a godless and immoral society as we face today.  Descartes was ‘supremely confident that by human thought alone one could doubt all notions based on authority and could begin from himself with total sufficiency‘ [13.152] Man therefore placed himself on a pedestal, made himself the center of his universe and by the end of the 19th century  Nietzsche (1844-1900) declared ‘God is Dead’   Our beautiful world of unity and meaning had become broken and fragmented as the Cubist painters like Picasso and Braque depicted in their paintings in 1905.

‘If God is dead, then everything for which God gives an answer and meaning is dead.’ [13.178].  ‘A secular universe is an impersonal universe, and thus, far from being an advance on monotheism, it in fact puts us back into the world of myth, where man is at the mercy of impersonal forces. [1.104]  The abolition of God leads, slowly and imperceptibly to what C.S. Lewis called the abolition of man.  (Is it a wonder that today, as I am writing this, in Canada people are insisting that an individual can choose to be referred to as either Ms /he /she /ze according to their personal choice regardless of their appearance, and want this legislated!).Many people have lost their faith in God and place their trust rather in man.  The individual and his mind,  abilities and emotions are now center stage.  We have seen determinism and relativism influence modern man’s thinking.  And today its individualism. 

Kent Hovin related how a man in his audience stood up and declared ‘I decide for myself what is right or wrong, I am the god of my own universe’  Hovin responded by saying: I will shoot you now.  Aghast the man responded: You cannot do that! Yet note, as C.S Lewis pointed out: If one says ‘doing or saying B is not like A, then logically there is a standard or measure C that is outside A as well as B.

 Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach said during a discussion of ‘Is the Torah from G-d’,  that we first have to decide and establish if we need a guide.  He continued: In fact we are the only species that need directions.  A dog knows how to be a dog.  An otter doesn’t need an engineering diploma to build his structures. 

David Thomson in his new book Les Revenants, interviewed French jihadists.  One of them, who grew up in a social housing project in Seine-Saint-Denis,  defined jihad as a ‘response to the ideological vacuum’ of the West.  Islamic extremists in Europe are now filling the Western ideological vacuum by appealing to the masses,  convincing millions of Muslims to hate and fight the West.  We cannot possibly be surprised by this considering the development of the West’s philosophy and world view as I briefly outlined above.  Nor should we be surprised noting for example that since 1925 teaching religion in French schools are forbidden.  The division of church and state has been increasingly strictly adhered to in the USA since especially the mid twentieth century. (*1)

Rabbi Sacks wrote July 2016: This is not politics as usual.  I can recall nothing like it in my lifetime…we are witnessing throughout the West..a new politics of anger… The problems facing the West are real and serious…For the past half century we have been living through one of the great unstated social experiments of all time.  We have tried to construct a world without identity and morality. ….Morality has been outsourced to the market.  The market gives us choices, and morality has been reduced to a set of choices in which right or wrong have no meaning beyond the satisfaction or frustration of desire….Too many people in positions of public trust have come to the conclusion that if you can get away with it, you would be a fool not to do it. That is how elites betray the public they were supposed to serve.  When that happens,  trust collapses and a civilization begins to decay and die. (*2)  Are we not seeing this today?

Rabbi David Aaron wrote :   Your consciousness of reality determines the world you’re in. Your consciousness of G-d determines how much of the light and the truth of G- d will be allowed into your world. To the extent that you acknowledge G-d, to that extent G-d will be in your life. This is a very crucial idea. Although G-d is, G-d is not revealed in your perceptual world unless you actively acknowledge and invite G-d in. Each one of us has a choice. You can believe that this world is filled with the presence of G-d who cares about it and guides it. Or you can believe that this world is one big accident, a chaotic mess….How would I act if I really believed that G-d’s presence filled my life, my home, my office, my city, my world? How would I speak to my wife and kids? How would I treat the stranger? To the extent that I think, speak, and act in accordance with this heightened awareness, to that extent, G-d can be present in my world. It’s not just a matter of believing and saying so…… I need a daily concrete way to walk the talk. The so-called “good- deeds” and “rituals” of Torah tradition are designed to be building blocks to nurture and concretize consciousness all day long, so that I can channel G- d’s presence into the world and into my life. (*3)   [More about this later – see Chapter 17]

Maimonides wrote in his famous tome Guide for the Perplexed:   ‘ The general object of the Law is twofold:  the well-being of the soul, and the well-being of the body….The well-being of the body is established by a proper management of the relations in which we live one to another.  This we can attain in two ways:  first by removing all violence from our midst;  that is to say , that we do not do every one as he pleases, desires and is able to do;  but every one of us does that which contributes towards the common welfare.   Secondly, by teaching every one of us such good morals as must produce a good social state.’ [10.312]

You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, and His testimonies and His statutes, which He has commanded you.  And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the Lord swore to give to your fathers.  (Deu 6:17-18) (*4)  

Rabbi Sacks comments the following regarding what I typed in italics here above:  ‘At first Moses said that you are to keep His statutes and his testimonies which He commanded you, and now he is stating that even where He has not commanded you, give thought as well to do what is good and right in his eyes, for He, G-d,  loves the good and the right.

‘Now this is a great principle, for it is impossible to mention in the Torah all aspects of man’s conduct with his neighbours (sic) and friends, all his various transactions and the ordinances of all societies and countries. But since He mentioned many of them, such as, “You shall not go around as a talebearer,” “You shall not take vengeance nor bear a grudge,” “You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor,” “You shall not curse the deaf,” “You shall rise before the hoary head,” and the like, He went on to state in a general way that in all matters one should do what is good and right, including even compromise and going beyond the strict requirement of the law … Thus one should behave in every sphere of activity, until he is worthy of being called “good and upright.” (*5)

Bill Bullock writes in his discussion of Parashot Matot & Masei:  Only when we let the Torah mold our thought processes can we view the world in its true perspective.

Law is about universals, principles that apply in all places and times. Don’t murder. Don’t rob. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Yet there are important features of the moral life that are not universal at all. They have to do with specific circumstances and the way we respond to them. What is it to be a good husband or wife, a good parent, a good teacher, a good friend? What is it to be a great leader, or follower, or member of a team? When is it right to praise, and when is it appropriate to say, “You could have done better”? There are aspects of the moral life that cannot be reduced to rules of conduct, because what matters is not only what we do, but the way in which we do it: with humility or gentleness or sensitivity or tact. (*5)

Sacks furthermore wrote that the Law lays down a minimum threshold but the moral life aspires to more than simply doing what we must,  and though we call the Torah a book of Law,  it’s not without empathy.

Regarding the Torah Rabbi David Aaron writes: ‘If you think religion is going to give you a quick fix you are wrong. And if you think that religion will put you on easy street you are deluded…. People are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. And they will never find it. Because happiness is not something you find outside — it lies within your soul. You cannot find happiness,  you have to learn to be happy in whatever is happening.

‘The Torah does not give any dispensations from the challenges of life. It does not promise an easy life but a meaningful life. It does not offer an instant solution to sadness but it does offer a soulution  (sic) to sadness and the secret to happiness. Through its’ wisdom and guidance, Torah empowers you to be (a) soul and enables you to make I contact with the Ultimate I — G-d. ‘ (*6) and have a relationship with Him.

I think it is clear from reading this blog that it is about choices that we make.  The Hebrew word בחר (choose) often appears in the Tenach. For example:  G-d chose Abraham to be the first patriarch (Neh 9:7),  He chose Israel to be His people (Is 44:1) and He chose Jerusalem as His city where he placed His name, and David to be king (2Chron 6:6)  Leading  a Biblical life means making good and godly choices ‘to abhor evil and choose good’  (Is 7:16)

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FOOTNOTES

*1 https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-religion-schools/religion-and-controversy-always-part-of-u-s-education-idUSTRE75829R20110609 as well as  http://education.oxfordre.com/view/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264093.001.0001/acrefore-9780190264093-e-46

*2  We need morality to beat this hurricane of anger. Sir Jonathan Sacks.  This article was first published by the Daily Telegraph (UK) on 2nd July 2016.

*4  Note!  Every time that the word ‘Lord’ appears in this quote from the Torah, in the actual Hebrew writing יהוה appears.  In the English translation the word Hashem, meaning ‘The Name’,  is used in the Stone edition of the Tenach.

*5  Jonathan Sacks.  The Right and the Good.  Va’etchanan, Covenant & Conversation 5775 on Ethics.  30 July 2015.

*6  David Aaron.  Sparks.  The Secret to Happiness. Parsha VaYeitzei. Isralite. 25 -6-2018

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Chapter 5: The Forgotten History of Sad Misunderstandings and Hate

Praiseworthy are those whose way is perfect, who walk with the Torah of       יהוה …….How can a youngster purify his path? By observing Your word.  Ps 119: 1, 9      

So many, no, I would even propose, most Christians believe many misconceptions.  One easily fall into the bad habit of repeating and professing a belief wrapped up in a succinct sentence that lacks truth and depth.  A good example of this is when Paul writes :  All Scripture is breathed out by Elohim and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for setting straight,  for instruction in righteousness, that the man of Elohim might be fitted, equipped for every good work.   [2Tim. 3:16]

What Scripture is Paul referring to?  The Tenach, or what is also called the Old Testament.  The New Testament [NT] did not exist when he said that!

Recently Bob O’Dell wrote:  “I certainly didn’t know about the deplorable history of the church since the time of Constantine…I was undone, both by the violent history of Christians toward the Jewish people and also by the fact that [I] had never learned this history. (*1)

It is essential before you go ahead and start studying the Torah,  that you familiarize yourself with the history of the first five centuries, i.e the time of the so called  church fathers and the effect their teachings subsequently had on Christians who over centuries  had Jews live in ghettos; forcing them to wear special clothing, expelling Jews from countries, burning synagogues with Jews trapped inside;  forcing thousands to either convert or they would be drowned;  attacks on Jewish institutions and cemeteries,  lynching, riots and pogroms (1881 in more than a hundred towns) against Jews especially in Poland and Russia, and more.

Studying the Torah without this necessary perspective on history and especially if you do so with  the misconceptions of ‘the Law being nailed to the cross’ or from a so called Replacement Theology (*2) attitude,  your heart and soul will be shut to the treasures of G-d in the Torah. In fact you will be blind to the Hebrew Roots in the NT.

I will never forget when a tour leader here in Israel told how shocked the widow of a pastor was to hear that Yeshua ben Joseph [Jesus] was a Jew. This aversion to Jews and Judaism goes back to the early second century CE.

“The earliest followers of Jesus followed Torah…[yet] Leader after Proto-Orthodox leader castigated them and others within their own ranks for continuing to observe Jewish customs, festivals and laws…If Christianity had remained Torah-observant, even with reverence for Jesus as a potential Messiah, there would have been no grounds for excluding the movement from the family of Judaism.’ [14.248/9] It is important therefore to know the history of the first four centuries after CE to understand the situation we – Jews and Christians – find ourselves today.

It’s amazing how the following verses are just skimmed over or ignored: Matt 12:9, Matt 13:54,  Mark 1:21, Mark 3:1, Mark 6:2, Luke 4:15,16,44;  Luke 4:31, Luke 6:6, Luke 13:10, John 6:59,  John 18:20   -Again and again it is stated here: ‘And He [Yeshua] was teaching in one of the congregations (synagogues) on the Sabbath.’

And, after the Ascension of Yeshua,  His followers also followed the customs of the Torah and the Modeim (G-d’s festivals/ Appointed times):- “You see brother, how many thousands of Yehudim there are who have believed, and all are ardent for the Torah…..you yourself also walk orderly, keeping the Torah,”  Acts 21:20,24 “..I worship the Elohim of my fathers, believing all that has been written in the Torah and in the Prophets,..”Acts 24:14 – wrote Paul.

And therefore we see how these believers of The Way practiced and continued Torah observant (Jewish) ways: Acts 2:1 & 20:16 [meeting on Shavuot];  Acts 18:21, Acts 20:6 & 7( making Hafdalah) ], going to the Temple [Acts 2:46, 5:42 ], going to synagogues [Acts 13:5,14&15, 44; Acts 14:1, Acts 17:1,2,10,17;  Acts 18:4, 19:8;  keeping the Sabbath [Acts 9:20, 16:13, & 17:2 & 18:4]

Then there is the important verse(s) that is usually incorrectly quoted (*3) and misinterpreted:  Acts 15:20 & 21.  At the meeting between Shaul, and Barnaba with the Ecclesia (assembly) of Yeshua’s disciples and followers in Yerusalem,  Ya’aqob says the following:

               20 but that we write to them [the gentiles] to abstain from the defilements of idols, and from whoring and from what is strangled, and from blood.     21 For from ancient generations Mosheh has, in every city, those proclaiming him – being read in the congregations every Sabbath

Note the following:  What is mentioned in verse 20 is literally from the heart of the Torah,  that is,  Leviticus 17, 18 & 19.   Here we read:

             You shall be holy, for holy am I,  יהוה your God…

          …you shall love your fellow as yourself…

           You shall observe My decrees…. (Lev19:1,18,19)

Again and again in these 3 chapters we read:  Any man of the House of Israel and of the proselyte…The proselyte who dwells with you shall be like a native among you…(Lev17:10&19:33) .  These three chapters touch on the heart of G-d’s commandments:  to be holy, not to eat blood – and therefore the Kosher laws – not to follow the pagan idolatrous ways, and to conduct a sexually pure life style,  as well as ‘You shall not commit a perversion in justice..’ [ giving many examples] (Lev 19:35)

I maintain that it is especially these commandments that specifically separates and characterizes the Israelites and the people that follow the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His Torah, from pagans and other nations and beliefs.

It is important not to forget or leave out verse 21 of Acts 15

It clearly continuous the former verses in which Ya’aqob, the leader of the elders and emissaries of the followers of Yesuha that were meeting in Yerusalem, explain to Saul and Barnaba who went to them to clear up the dispute concerning the new gentile and pagan believers from other nations.

The bottom line is:  step by step,  little by little.  First, the most important commandments that characterizes a follower of G-d, and then as is the custom, to go to the Synagogue on Shabbat and hear the Torah being read, and therefore,  bit by bit learn all the commandments. (*4)   This same method is followed when a Christian returns to the Hebrew foundation of his faith and learn the Roots of Yeshua’s teachings.   What I stress here is that ALL of the Torah commandments are to be followed.  But remember what was pointed out in Chapter 3 of this Blog, namely that not all of the so called 613 commandments apply to all.  Some only apply to Kohen, some only to men, some only to women and some only in Israel, and the Temple, that presently does not exist.

HISTORY of the so called early church fathers and their Anti-Semitism –and other outrages:- 

 I am highlighting only a few prominent issues.  Much more can be found on the internet.

Note most of the ‘new believers were not Jews, and therefore came out of paganism, or like Justin Martyr was greatly influenced by the Greek culture that still dominated Israel; and he was a late convert:-

115 CE[Common Era]  Bishop Ignatius – The Lord’s  Day is now Sunday, is amongst his teachings, – he saw the church as a separate gathering from the synagogue. (*5)

140 CE Marcion :  Misinterpreted Matt 5:17, 18 & 19  and Yeshua’s statement: ‘I did not come to destroy but to complete…’  and therefore Marcion implies the Torah does not apply. He maintains that the ‘Old Testament’ is a book of wrath, inferior to the NT book of love. His anti- Semitic Writings influenced the  King James Bible. “Rejection of the Jewish writings had immediate consequences.  It severed for instance , Christianity from its Jewish roots…Jesus was also detached from his Jewish roots” [14.223]

155 CE   Polycarp  campaigned against Passover and promoted ‘Easter’ which of course was greatly influenced by pagan Babylonian Mithras religion.

130-160CE   Justin Martin appropriated the title of Israel for the Church and sowed the seeds for the Replacement Theology’s  inception which maintains the blessings are meant for the Church and the curses for the Jews, and that the Church is the only living witness and one true faith.  This pernicious and totally false belief and teaching still influences many churches!   Justin Martin maintained that Jews murdered Yeshua (in stead of the Romans)

3^rd CE   Origen  Introduced the term ‘ legalism’;  This term became synonymous with  Judaism in the minds of Christians – up till today!  Origen and Tertullian sayings  lead to the expressions ‘ KK’ / Kike / Christ Killer, said to Jews throughout centuries even up till the 20^th!    Furthermore, he asked for Jews’s homes and Synagogues to burn with fire;   and said Jews should be forbidden to go up to Jerusalem.

3^rd CE   Judeophobia, anti-semitism,  anti-Torah spirit had manifested itself in Yeshua’s messianic Hebraic ecclesia.  [NOTE the term ‘church’ is a false translation and concept of the term ‘ecclesia’ (congregation) used in the writings of the 1^st  and 2^nd, century.]

Jerome [347-420 CE ] author of the Latin Vulgate, and Augustine [354-430CE] called the Jews ‘accursed by God’.  Augustine is also remembered for his theories regarding original sin and the Trinity.

Ambrose [340-39 CE] bishop of Milan, Italy, praised the burning of a synagogue as an act pleasing to God.

313CE   Emperor Constantine – and his pagan influence:   [see also the Ediks & councils here below]  To unify his empire, Constantine realised that by making the new Christian faith official will be to his advantage because  various nationalities being part of his Byzantine Empire. “With a sitting Emperor confessing Christianity, it was no longer a shame to be a Christian.  Now, being a Christian could even secure great material and social advantages such as political, military and social promotion.  As a result many heathens and pagans entered the Church.  Of course they brought their pagan influences with them. Because of the deepening spiritual vacuum of humble leadership in the Church of the Western Roman Empire, the Church leaders were more than happy to pacify the heathens by allowing them to continue their pagan practices..” (my underlining) (*6)

 Constantine  called together church leaders and at the Edict of Milan in 313 CE which promulgated a Canon which stated inter alia Christianity teaches that the Holy Days have been done away with and are replaced by Christmas and  Easter.

“in a milestone de-Judaizing edict in March of A.D. 321, declared that ‘Sun-day,’ the birthday of Mithra, the pagan sun god whom he continued to embrace, was to be a day of rest throughout the Roman Empire….The Church Council of Laodicea circa A.D. 364 then carried this process of the de-Judaizing of Christianity to its inevitable conclusion by declaring that religious observances were to be conducted on Sunday, not Saturday.   ‘Christians must not Judaize by resting on the Sabbath, but must work on that day, rather honoring the Lord’s Day; and, if they can, resting then as Christians.  But if any shall be found to be Judaizers, let them be anathema from Christ.’ (Canon XXIX” [15.178] (*6)  Thus synagogues and teaching of the Torah were outlawed.

318 CE complaints were lodged against Arius, patriarch of Alexandria. He  denied Yeshua had equality with God

325 CE Council of Nicea,  Nicene Creed:  declares Yeshua same substance as God, and therefore God.  Anyone that dared change the creed would be punished.

365 /370CE  Catholic Council of Laodicea  calls Sabbath observers Judaizers’ worthy of death

381CE  Emperor Theodosius :  Council of Constantinople  – doctrine of Trinity invented and accepted as Theology.

• The following is shocking to read today. Again I need to emphasize that Christians sadly do not know this history.

One of the most eloquent Church Fathers, John Chrysostom (344-407 CE), whose name means “golden mouth,” denounced the Jews in the strongest language: “They sacrificed their sons and daughters to devils; they outraged nature and overthrew their foundations of the laws of relationship. They are become worse than the wild beasts, and for no reason at all, with their own hands, they murder their offspring, to worship the avenging devils who are foes of our life… They know only one thing, to satisfy their gullets, get drunk, to kill and maim one another… The Jews are the most worthless of all men. They are lecherous, greedy, rapacious. They are perfidious murderers of Christ. The Jews are the odious assassins of Christ and for killing God there is no expiation possible, no indulgence or pardon. Christians may never cease vengeance, and the Jews must live in servitude forever. God always hated the Jews. It is incumbent upon all Christians to hate the Jews.” (see *6)

One particular example of anti-Semitic teachings in the Church that we would like to expose pertains to Martin Luther. [Especially because of his influence on Hitler]  Luther (1483–1546 CE) originally favored the Jewish people in the hope that they would accept his form of the faith, even praising their contribution to Christianity. However, most people aren’t aware that later in his life, when he did not succeed in converting the Jewish people, his attitude towards them changed dramatically. The following are quotes taken from Martin Luther’s, On the Jews and Their Lies (published 1543 CE).

 ·         “The rabbis should be forbidden to continue teaching the Law [Torah].”

 ·         “Therefore be on your guard against the Jews, knowing that wherever they have their synagogues, nothing is found but a den of devils in which sheer self-glory, conceit, lies, blasphemy, and defaming of God and men are practiced most maliciously and veering his eyes on them.”

 ·         “In brief, dear princes and lords, those of you who have Jews under your rule—if my counsel does not please you, find better advice, so that you and we all can be rid of the unbearable, devilish burden of the Jews, lest we become guilty sharers before God in the lies, blasphemy, the defamation, and the curses which the mad Jews indulge in so freely and wantonly against the person of our Lord Jesus Christ, his dear mother, all Christians, all authority, and ourselves. Do not grant them protection, safe-conduct, or communion with us… With this faithful counsel and warning I wish to cleanse and exonerate my conscience.”

•  “Accordingly, it must and dare not be considered a trifling matter but a most serious one to seek counsel against this and to save our souls from the Jews, that is, from the devil and from eternal death. My advice, as I said earlier, is: First, that their synagogues be burned down, and that all who are able toss Sulphur and pitch; it would be good if someone could also throw in some hellfire… Second, that all their books—their prayer books, their Talmudic writings, also the entire Bible—be taken from them, not leaving them one leaf, and that these be preserved for those who may be converted… Third, that they be forbidden on pain of death to praise God, to give thanks, to pray, and to teach publicly among us and in our country… Fourth, that they be forbidden to utter the name of God within our hearing. For we cannot with a good conscience listen to this or tolerate it…” (see*6)

±  1000 CE.  As an aside I need to add the little known fact that only after 1000 CE celibacy was introduced by the Roman Catholic Church.  Most of the Bishops, and even some priests, were from rich and aristocratic families.  With the result that when they passed away their substantial estates were inherited by their families.  The RCC wanted those estates and riches.  Therefore,  celibacy was instituted.  This of course lead to awful practices – the fruits of which has been in the news for decades –  because of this unbiblical and un-natural life style.

Now for a few minutes ask yourself: to what extent has all of the above influenced your church and therefore you yourself regarding Judaism and the Jews?

All the above lead to the false teachings that are found in Christian churches.

Here are some:

* The Torah is bondage.

• The Torah was done away with after Yeshua’s death and resurrection.

• The Torah was only for the Jews.

• The Jews were saved by keeping the Torah.

• The Torah is temporary.

• The Torah was given to the Jews to curse them.

• The Torah was abolished.

• The Torah was nailed to the “cross.”

• We only need to obey the spirit of the Torah.

• The letter of the Torah has been done away with.

• The Torah brought death to those who obeyed it.

• We are 1) free from, 2) dead to and 3) delivered from the Torah as a standard of right behaviour.

• Obeying the Torah today is legalism.

• Yeshua fulfilled the Torah, therefore it’s no longer necessary to obey it…on and on and on and!

• The Church has supplanted Israel  [the ‘Replacement Doctrine’].

  Jews will go to Hell;  they desperately need saving. (*6)

—- All of the above are absolutely WRONG! —  Do you know this?

EXAMPLES of the PERSECUSION of Jews

Crusades; 1^st: 1095-1099  Pope Urban II gave his blessing for the First Crusade;  thousands and thousands of Jews  slaughtered in Europe:  e.g. Mains, Speyer & Worms along the Rhine – whole communities were wiped out. (*7)  Crusaders are often remembered for their chivalry, faith, and zeal. But in reality, many of the Crusaders were cruel, men who hated the Jews with a passion. As punishment for the Jews’ role in the murder of Christ, the Crusaders took revenge on the Jewish people living in the Holy Land. In the year 1000, when the Crusaders first arrived in the Holy Land, there were 300,000 Jewish residents. But by the time the Crusaders left the Holy Land less than 200 years later,  only 1,000 Jewish families still remained.

 4^th Crusade:  sack of Constantinople 1452.  (This aided the spread of Islam!) People waited desperately on the shore of the Bosporus to try to escape.

Expulsions:  1290 fromEngland,  1308-1390  from France, 1492 from Spain,  1503 from Portugal.

1478 Spanish Inquisition   King Ferdinand II & Queen Isabella ;  Their Inquisition  carried on till 19^th century in Spain and South America!

1215  Fourth Lateran Council:  instituted yellow badge for Jews in Italy

Black Death 1342-1400 blamed on Jews                                                     

Blood Libel: first instance in England 1280? – boy William of Norwich found killed. Jews were accused of his murder to use his blood for baking their Matzos.  An absolute preposterous accusation!

Pogroms:  1648 – 1909

Hitler in 1924 addressing a Church gathering in Berlin quoted Luther.  Hitler and his henchman instituted  Ghettos, Concentration camps and organized the systematic murder of over 6 million Jews known today as the Holocaust [Sho’ah]

“After enduring 1,900 years of discrimination, persecution, forced conversion, banishment and killings, can anyone blame Jews for being hesitant about entering into relations with Christians, or trusting them? Evangelicals should understand why Jews resist… the very religion more responsible for their mistreatment than any other.” (*8)

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FOOTNOTES

*1  Coming to terms with History of Christian Antisemitism. Dr. Rivkah Lambert Adler,  Breaking Israel News, 27 June 2018.

*2  Replacement Theology:  Supersessionism, also called replacement theology or fulfillment theology, is a Christian doctrine which asserts that the New Covenant through Jesus Christ, supersedes the Old Covenant, which was made exclusively with the Jewish people. [Wikipedia]   Followers of this maintain that G-d sees the New Believers as having replaced Israel and the promises.

Root sources:

Justin Martyr (about 100 to 165): “For the true spiritual Israel … are we who have been led to God through this crucified Christ.” ^[22]

Hippolytus of Rome (martyred 13 August 235): “[The Jews] have been darkened in the eyes of your soul with a darkness utter and everlasting.”^[23]

Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 240 AD): “Who else, therefore, are understood but we, who, fully taught by the new law, observe these practices,—the old law being obliterated, the coming of whose abolition the action itself demonstrates … Therefore, as we have shown above that the coming cessation of the old law and of the carnal circumcision was declared, so, too, the observance of the new law and the spiritual circumcision has shone out into the voluntary observances of peace.  [Wikipedia]

*3  Also Wilson in his book How Jesus became a Christian misses the point– see in Bibliography no. 14.

*4  Remember there were no such thing as a book in those days.  So one could not say to someone:  Read and study the scriptures at home!

*5  I only give brief important points to be considered.  More information can easily be found in encyclopedias or online.

*6  Tony Robinson. The Restoration of Torah. http://retorationoftorah.org.

*7  A little known fact and which is never referred to, is that Rashi, the esteemed Sage of Judaism,  at first confirmed that Isiah 53 referred to the Messiah, but after the cruel and barbarous persecution of Jews at Mains, Speyer and Worms, where for example Jews were herded together in a synagogue which was  set fire to, and where he lived, Rashi changed his opinion and thereafter said Isiah 53 referred to Israel as the ‘suffering servant’.

*8  The Jewish-Christian divide. Christians, Jews must overcome mutual misconceptions in order to achieve reconciliation.  Dan Calic. Op-ed. Ynetnews.com, 24/5/2012.

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Chapter 6: The Most important Step – Shabbat

Many peoples will go and say, ‘Come, let us go up to the Mountain of יהוה to the Temple of the God of Jacob, and He will teach us of His ways and we will walk in His paths.’ For from Zion will the Torah come forth, and the word of יהוה  from Jerusalem.     Isaiah 2:3

A man came to Hillel (*1) and asked him to teach him the Torah while standing on one foot.  Hillel’s answer will be familiar to anyone, adult or child, who follows the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: ‘To Love  יהוהyour G-d with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your strength; and love your neighbor as yourself’ – the rest is commentary, said Hillel. (*2)

Now considering what the historical overview of the previous chapter highlighted, it should be clear that since the second century the new believers and followers of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and Yeshua ben Josef, were constantly manipulated and brainwashed to turn their backs on the Jews and the Sabbath and Torah.  These new concepts were made into theological Laws at the Council of Milan 313CE  and especially at the Council of Constantinople 381CE.  Therefore, the new believers in the Nations called Christians, had many pagan traditions and distortions incorporated into their belief system.

The first commandment given to Israel was the observance of G-d’s ‘time clock’   which was officially abolished by the Church at the Council of Laodicea circa 364 CE.  The first thing G-d declared holy was a day, the Shabbat [Gen.2:3] The first mitzvah (command) given to the Hebrew people as a whole prior to the Exodus was the sanctification of time. [Ex 12:2] Calling together a holy convocation is mentioned concerning the instructions for Pesach, and the first and seventh day of  Pesach that were given before the final tenth plague occurred in Egypt.  In Ex 12:16 and in Exodus 16:23 we read: He (Moses) said to them, “This is what יהוה had spoken; tomorrow is a rest day, a holy Sabbath to יהוה     This is repeated in verse 25 and verse 30 states: The people rested on the seventh day.

In Exodus 31:12-17 we read:  יהוה said to Moses, saying: “Now you speak to the Children of Israel, saying: ‘However, you must observe My Sabbaths, for it is a sign between Me and you for your generations, to know that I am יהוה, Who makes you holy.  You shall observe the Sabbath, for it is holy to you;  its desecrators shall be put to death, for whoever does work on it, that soul shall be cut off from among its people.  For six days work may be done and the seventh day is a day of complete rest, it is sacred to יהוה….The Children of Israel shall observe the Sabbath, to make the Sabbath an eternal covenant for their generations.  Between Me and the Children of Israel it is a sign forever that in a six-day period יהוה made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day He rested and was refreshed.”

The Sabbath is also the foundation of all holy convocations,  that is,  the three Biblical festivals:  Pesach, Shavuot and Yom Kippur & Succot.  About these you read in Leviticus 23, as well as other places in the Torah. [More about them later. See Chapter 16]

 יהוה      spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them: יהוה appointed festivals that you are to designate as holy convocations – these are My appointed festivals. For six days labor may be done, and the seventh day is a day of complete rest, a holy convocation, you shall not do any work;  it is a Sabbath for יהוה  in all your dwelling places.  These are the appointed festivals of  יהוהthe holy convocations, which you shall designate in their appropriate time.      [Leviticus 23:1-4]

Do you notice these festivals are called  G-d’s festivals,  His appointed times, which are called moedim in Hebrew.  And they are not called ‘Jewish’ festivals. These are very specific appointments we are to keep to meet with G-d at very specific times of the year.  They are important shadow images of future events concerning Israel, the followers of G-d and the coming Messiah. (*3)

Christians love to say they are ‘grafted into the true olive tree’ (*4) meaning they are joined to Israel.  In fact we read: 

Therefore remember that you, once nations in the flesh, who are called ‘the uncircumcision’ by what is called ‘the circumcision; made in the flesh by hands,  that at that time you were without Messiah, excluded from the citizenship of Yisrael and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no expectation and without Elohim in the world.  But now in Messiah יהושעא   you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of the the Messiah.  For He is our peace, who has made both one, and having broken down the partition of the barrier,….So then you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens of the set-apart ones and members of the household of Elohim,….’       [Ephesians 2:11- 14, 19]

In the previous Chapter 5 I mentioned  three things that clearly separated the followers of G-d from the rest of the heathen world.  They were to cease with Idolatry, to lead a sexually moral life,  and the kosher principle of not eating blood – which also entailed the humane treatment of animals.(*5)   But even before this all, importantly, the fact that the followers of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob keep every 7^th day as a day honoring G-d and resting from worldly pursuits and activities, this especially,  separates us from non-believers.  Therefore do not fall for the scoffers of today like those of the 2^nd century,  that if you want to keep G-d’s commandments, follow his word,  and return to the Hebrew Roots of your faith, you are accused of Judaizing. Now you know to point out to such critics that no, indeed it is G-d who commands his followers to keep the Sabbath and His festivals.  

Therefore, if you wish to follow G-d’s commandments and walk in His way, it should be self-evident that keeping the Sabbath is one of the most important steps you need to take.  And note,  it is the 7^th day of the week: Saturday,  and not the first day of the week,  as the church fathers of old, coming out of their pagan traditions, changed it to Sunday, specifically as a statement against, and a rebellion against the Synagogue and the Jewish believers.

What makes keeping Shabbat, the 7th Day so special?

May you also experience the excitement and building up of anticipation of the coming Sabbath.  One has to plan ahead. Already by Wednesday one needs to consider what ingredients and items one needs for making the festive meal for Friday evening when the Shabbat starts. (*6) There will be no last minute rush to buy an ingredient, because all the shops will be closed. This is one of the main fundamental characteristics of a follower of G-d’s life:  discipline (selfcontrol), order and fellowship. (*7)

Guests for The Shabbat meal need to be invited, and by Thursday the special outfits for Shabbat will be checked to see if they need to be washed or ironed. It is an absolute delight to see all the little children dressed up in their very best for Shabbat.  I recall us three sisters all dressed in similar dresses, which made me feel especially proud and special and belonging.  By not being dressed in your usual work or day clothes confirms the feeling of and making of the seventh day holy onto G-d,  separating it from the ordinary and the secular.  Right at the outset of the Bible we are told that G-d separated light from dark, order from chaos, that which is good from that what was formless and empty. [4.62ff]

By Thursday the wonderful aromas of the baking and cooking for the festive meals of Shabbat, fills the home.  I recall how I would closely watch the mixing and kneading making bread and loved partaking in the preparations.  And by Friday afternoon laying the crisp clean white tablecloth – because our table represents the altar and table of G-d – and setting the special crockery and cutlery for Shabbat, all this added to the special expectation of being together, sharing and experiencing the joy of fellowship and care and presence of our Creator.

The town goes quiet. There are no cars and noisy busses rumbling pass, only the quiet peaceful evening envelopes the homes of people that have ceased their daily running, scurrying and stressing.  The moment then, when the woman (and children) of the home light the Shabbat candles, almost brings a sigh of relief of letting go.  One can literally feel the holy presence of G-d;  it almost feel you can reach out and touch His grace.  What a blessing it is, that for 24hours you need not slave away in the kitchen, be at the beck and call of the household’s demands because everything has been prepared for the Shabbat.

With Shabbat approaching, it is such a relief, a lifting off of one’s daily load of labour of words, terminology, figures, reems of information, input, filing, red tape, conflict and frustrations, and on top of all this domestic and family duties as well;  when all this can be put aside, totally ignored and forgotten, on this Holy Day of rest;  just to be with G-d and G-d’s word.  Thinking of this, a deep sigh of gratitude is expressed and a smile of joy appears.

Have you ever experienced this freedom?

By keeping and observing the Shabbat, we believe in G-d’s revelation to us, by this divinely ordained remembrance we are able to experience a G-d-encounter. (*8)   Apart from being an important ritual in the keeping of the Moedim, Appointed times with G-d,  it is also a Shadow Image of the World to Come.

‘…unique as far as I know, to Judaism – is to reveal the end at the beginning. That is the meaning of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is not simply a day of rest. It is an anticipation of ‘the end of history’, the Messianic age. On it, we recover the lost harmonies of the Garden of Eden. We do not strive to do; we are content to be. We are not permitted to manipulate the world; instead, we celebrate it as God’s supreme work of art. We are not allowed to exercise power or dominance over other human beings, nor even domestic animals. Rich and poor inhabit the Sabbath alike, with equal dignity and freedom. (*9)

He who wants to enter the holiness of the [Sabbath] day must first lay down the profanity of clattering commerce, of being yoked to toil. He must go away from the screech of dissonant days, from the nervousness and fury of acquisitiveness and the betrayal in embezzling his own life. He must say farewell to manual work and learn to understand that the world has already been created and will survive without the help of man. Six days a week we wrestle with the world, wringing profit from the earth; on the Sabbath we especially care for the seed of eternity planted in the soul. The world has our hands, but our soul belongs to Someone Else….The seventh day is the exodus from tension, the liberation of man from his own muddiness, the installation of man as a sovereign in the world of time….The Sabbaths are our great cathedrals; and our Holy of Holies is a shrine that neither the Romans nor the Germans were able to burn…”— Abraham Joshua Heschel, The Sabbath: Its Meaning for Modern Man (*10)

Something to remember at the Shabbat table is what Paul instructs the young teacher (disciple) Timothy in 1Timothy 6: 20-21 to “Watch over that which has been entrusted to you, turning aside from the profane and empty babblings and contradictions of the falsely called ‘knowledge,’ which some, having professed it have missed the goal concerning the belief.”  It is a tradition not to talk business, politics or discuss contentious matters. The father or host / hostess would discuss lessons learned from the weekly Parsha and any of the people at the Shabbat table, even the children, is asked to share something from the Torah learned.  See also Ephesians 4:29 and 5:3&4.

‘Failing to receive and be transformed by the blessing and holiness inherent in our Covenant Partner’s love gift of Shabbat is avon (*11);  so, however, is reducing the Shabbat to a day of ‘do nots’, rather than a day of freedom to pursue the Divine Bridegroom with all one’s soul, mind, strength, and physical and spiritual senses. Failing to arrange one’s calendar and life around the mo’edim of the Holy One is avon; so, however, is turning those special times of appointment into days to hold religious meetings and assemblies focused on the talents and ministries of men, rather than special appointments to meet with and receive revelation from the Holy One…(*12)

” When we recite the Kiddush [blessing of the wine and bread] on Friday night, and affirm that the world was completed on the seventh day, we are testifying that the world is a creation, which means it is meaningful, it is purposeful, it has a theme, it has direction. It means that we believe that the world is not simply the mechanistic outcome of natural laws but an expression of creativity. We believe that the world is not the product of nature at work but the creative masterpiece of G-d.’

“To know this truth and to celebrate it weekly changes my whole week and my whole life. When I stop on Shabbat and refrain from doing creative activity, I renew the image of G-d in which I’ve been created. Otherwise, I am merely an animal compelled and propelled by my natural instincts rather than a being created in the image of G-d who has a free will, who has a mind, who has the ability to choose.’

“Some people can’t stop. They don’t know how to take a rest. They don’t know how to put aside what they’re doing. They’re compulsive. These are not creative people, these are people who labor. They are slaves to their jobs and slaves to their instincts.’“(*13)

” G-d created the world for you and me and our joy, task and service is to take this world and build it into a sanctuary for the presence of G-d…… Shabbat restores your soul and makes you whole. If you are single, then the best place to find your soul mate is over a Shabbat meal. And if you are married that best to renew your love (*14) is over a Shabbat meal because that is when we are most soul. Shabbat is holy. It is time to become whole with yourself, with your loved ones and with  G-d.” (*15)

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FOOTNOTES

*1   Hillel (early 1^st Century) Sage of the Second Temple period. He was president of the Sanhedrin. He was considered more lenient than Shammai, his contemporary.  He is known for the saying: ‘What is hateful to you, do not unto your neighbor; this is the entire Torah, all the rest is commentary’.

*2  See Deut 6:5,   Levitcus 19:18  and  Matt 22:37-40

*3  ‘The prophets were the first people in history to see God in history, seeing time itself as the arena of the Divine-human encounter. Virtually every other religion and civilization before and since has identified God, reality and truth with timelessness. …..  So time in Judaism is an essential medium of the spiritual life. But there is one feature of the Jewish approach to time that has received less attention than it should: the duality that runs through its entire temporal structure. Take, for instance, the calendar as a whole. Christianity uses a solar calendar, Islam a lunar one. Judaism uses both. We count time both by the monthly cycle of the moon and the seasonal cycle of the sun.’ The Duality of Jewish Time. Emor. Covernant and Conversation 2017 / 5777. Johnathan Sacks

*4  See Romans 11:16-20

*5  In fact man’s first duty and instruction given by G-d was to care for the earth and animals. See Genesis 1:28.

*6  ‘Then consider the day. Days normally have one identifiable beginning, whether this is at nightfall or daybreak or – as in the West – somewhere between.  For calendar purposes, the Jewish day begins at nightfall (“And it was evening and it was morning, one day”). But if we look at the structure of the prayers – the morning prayer instituted by Abraham, afternoon by Isaac, evening by Jacob – there is a sense in which the worship of the day starts in the morning, not the night before.’ The Duality of Jewish Time. Emor. Covenant and Conversation 2017 / 5777. Johnathan Sacks

*7  See Titus 1:8, 2Tim.3:3, 2Tim. 1:7

*8  Read also the notes on p.657 of the Chumash. *9  The Sabbath: First Day or Last.  Rabbi Jonathan Sacks,  Ki Tissa 2017 / 5777

*10  Quoted by Rabbi Doctor Nathan Lopes Cardozo, The Times of Israel, 31-8-2016. Cardozo continues: “It is not the renouncement of technical progress that Shabbat requires, but rather the attainment of some degree of independence from an ever-increasing race and cruel struggle for our physical existence, in which we are all involved and which denies us embracing the presence of an eternal moment.”

*11 ‘To transform a verb root having hey as its final letter – like avah — into a noun, the hey at the end of the shoresh is transmuted to a nun sofit.  The nun sofit is the Hebraic symbol of the Messiah, the ultimate Son and Heir.  The Hebrew noun avon, therefore, is a Hebraic picture of a situation where something in a person [or nation’s] life which prevents that person [or nation] from seeing, recognizing, and receiving life from, the Messiah.’  [Bill Bullock,  Rabbi’s son studies for Parashat Korach]

*12   Bill Bullock,  Rabbi’s son studies for #38 Parshat Korach, A little negativity goes a long long way.

*13 Shabbat: Rest Assured. Sparks by Rabbi David Aaron. Isralight, 1-3-2018

*14  After blessing the children each individually, the husband blesses his wife with everyone then singing the Aishes Chayil, that is Proverbs 31:10-31 where inter alia is said: An accomplished woman, who can find? Far beyond pearls is her value….a G-d-fearing woman she should be praised…  Keeping and practicing this ritual is known to actually have brought families closer together, and has even mended marriages!

*15 Successful People are Unaccomplished. Sparks by Rabbi David Aaron, Isralight, 23-3-2017.

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Chapter 7: Wonders and Secrets

Sod & Remez (*1) in the Torah and Hebrew;   MISSPRINTS,  DELETIONS, MISS TRANSLATION,  HIDDEN AGENDA  in the  Brit Chadasha /[NT]

G-D’S  TIMING  AND PROVIDENCE

The Shabbat after Ben Gurion signed the Proclamation of the State of Israel  on Friday 14 May 1948,  the sixth day of Iyar,  the Haftarah (*2) reading for that Shabbat was Amos 9:7- 15, which reads:

:9  For, lo, I will command, and I will sift the house of Israel among all nations, like as corn is sifted in a sieve, yet shall not the least grain fall upon the earth.  ……..

:11  In that day will I raise up the tabernacle of David that is fallen, and close up the breaches thereof; and I will raise up his ruins, and I will build it as in the days of old:

:12  That they upon whom My Name is called may possess the remnant of Edom, and of all the nations, which are called by my name, said the word of יהוה who shall do this. ……

:14  And I will bring again the captivity of my people of Israel, and they shall build the desolate cities, and inhabit them; and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine thereof; they shall also make gardens, and eat the fruit of them.

:15  And I will plant them upon their land, and they will never again be uprooted in their land which I have given them, said the יהוה thy God.      

It that not amazing!!  The Word and prophecy were confirmed in the fullness of time. (*3)

TORAH  CODES  AND  ‘SOD’ AND ‘REMEZ’  HIDDEN IN THE HEBREW TEXT

“Take the first time the Hebrew letter ת [tav] appears in the Hebrew version of the Book of Genesis. Count out 49 letters from that TAV and record the next letter, that is,  record the 50^th letter.  Repeat this three times.  The result: תורה [Torah].  Do it again in Exodus.  The same result: תורה  Do it again in Leviticus.  The result:  gibberish! However, take the first letter of the four-letter explicit name of God,  using consonants for the Hebrew name of God. [the word Jehovah when transliterated into English]   Count 7 letters.  Repeat this three times.  The result: Jehovah (or יהוה in Hebrew).  Now the book Numbers.  The word  תורה appears at the characteristic  49-letter spacing, but  backwards.  That is, it faces the Jehovah of Leviticus.  Repeat the process in Deuteronomy and get the same result: תורה facing Jehovah.”  (*4  )

We see here therefore how ‘Torah’ brackets G-d’s name and in effect always face it!

What gave Schroeder the clue to use 50? The counting of the Omer takes place for 49 days after the feast of Pesach.  The 50^th day following that is Shavuot and commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai.  The Messiah and his coming at the End of Days is associated with a Yovel / Jubilee.   Every 50 years is a Jubilee, and we read: For from Zion will the Torah come forth, and the word of יהוה from Jerusalem  [Is2:3b]     Schroeder using  7 could be the  association of the Sabbath with  the 7^th day, the first day declared holy by God;  and  it is also a sign that acknowledges that G-d created the universe.  Seven also means completion and fulfilment.

______________________________________________________________________________

MISTRANSLATIONS  &  MISUNDERSTANDINGS

[1]      Mtt 23:1-5  “Then Jesus spoke to the crowd and to His disciples,

saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.

Therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do.

 But do not do according to their works; for they say, and do not do”.

The ‘they’ should be ‘ that he’, referring to Moses / Torah. When you carefully and honestly consider this mistake,  the logical and Biblical sound meaning of this verse is so obvious. This is a mistranslation therefore in all Bibles:

Here I need to quote Nehemia Gordon’s (*5) research and explanation comparing ancient Hebrew manuscripts,  more than 28 of the book of Matthew that he traced, and following the famous Shem-Tov’s Hebrew Manuscript of Matthew:  “Saying, the Pharisees and sages sit upon the seat of Moses. Therefore all that he says to you diligently do, but according to their reforms (takanot) and their precedents (ma’asim) do not do, because they talk but they do not do.”

“The main difference is that the surviving Greek text contains the 3^rd plural aorist active subjunctive form eiposin….’They said,’ whereas it should have had 3^rd singular aorist active

“Subjunctive eipei…..’he said,’ which would have been equivalent to the reading in Shem-Tov’s Hebrew Matthew……..In other words, whatever the origin of Shem-Tov’s Hebrew Matthew, it clearly contains early readings not found in the surviving Greek text.

“The surviving Greek text is also missing the words  kai tas paradoseis auton ‘and according to their traditions.’  I have reconstructed this missing Greek phrase based on Matthew 15: 2-3,6 in which the word  paradosis  ‘tradition,’ is paralleled in Shem-Tov’s Hebrew by ‘takanot’. Josephus uses the same exact Greek word when he describes the Pharisaic Oral Law…..It is possible that  paradosis was the accepted Greek term for the Oral Law!” [16.88,89]

[2]   In John 7:37-38  reference is made to  Sukkot !  Understanding this is very important because the water and wine oblation / sacrifice that is referred to here,  only takes place at this time at Sukkot.   The Jewish crowd realized the importance of this and therefore reacted by remarking what is written in verses 40 & 41  “This truly is the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah,”

In the Talmud it is recorded that the Messiah will come with ‘blood and water’

[3]  The following acts as proof that Mathew & rest of NT is written with a Hebrew mind set;  this also again illustrate  Hebrew-isms, and their love of  using puns:

• And the crowds saw – vayir’u  and they feared –vayiru [Matt9:8]
• And he stretched out – vayet – his hand;….. and he turned – vayet – from there   [Matt12: 13, 15]    
•  See Matt18:23-35   [Debt payment to master – note, repeated  5 times]: = shalem,  then note the ending: “so shall my father in heaven do if you do not forgive each man his brother with a complete- haSlem – heart

****NOTE the above do not work like that in Greek.  The only one that does is:

•  “You are a little stone / Petra / peter–even-
•     and on this stone – Petros – I will build – eveneih – my house of prayer/ecclesia” [Matt16:18]

NOTE!  What is referred to here should be house or ecclesia NOT church.  Matthew was written in Hebrew.  Six extant Hebrew Matthew MS [manuscripts] are in the British Library.   Also note!  ‘and on this stone I will build…” refers to what Peter said in verse 16: “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living Elohim” and therefore does not refer to him, Peter!

[4 ]     “ And I said, What is it? And he said, This is the ephah  [tub / measure of capacity]  that goes forth. And he said, This is their form / eye in all the earth. And behold, a lead cover /disk was lifted up, and a woman was sitting in the middle of the ephah “/[translated as basket!].[Zech 5:1-8]  

Here the word ‘woman’ was incorrectly translated or written. Compare:-

 אשה= woman    אש  = fire.    The correct word here is ‘fire’   Do you see and understand the difference?  And how obviously this is a writing error. Zecharia is in fact describing here what we today would describe as a ‘missile’!

[5]   “ Jesus said to him, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life; no one comes to the Father but by Me.”    [Jn14:6]     

This has always been incorrectly interpreted by the church.  The Jews hearing Yeshua say that would have understood “the Temple, and what it stands for” because” the way, the truth and the life” are the names for the three curtains of the Mishkan: 

1. The Way –  the entrance to the court in which the Altar is (=return to G-d, make Teshuvah, ask for forgiveness of your trespasses) and the Laver with water  (= be holy like G-d;  I will clothe you in righteousness, I give you living water)

2. The Truth – the curtain/door to the Holy  – here is the Menorah (= Torah;  by being righteous, by following the Torah – G-d’s light,  you are a light onto the world)  and the Showbread altar  (= I give you the Bread of Life / Torah and G-d sustains you and the world) as well as the golden Altar of Incense, (that represents the prayers of Israel/ you,  communicating daily, all day,  with G-d)

3.Life –  the curtain in front of the Holy of Holies.  (By walking according to the path described here in cursive,  you will have life everlasting in Olam Haba / Heaven)

[I have added here, just a few examples of the meaning / metaphors of the Mishkan’]

[6]  The Roman Catholic Church  (RCC) inserted a verse in 1John 5:7 & 8 to justify their invention and  teaching of the Trinity! NOTE the words in cursive which they added:

“For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one. And there are three that bear witness on the earth: the Spirit, and the water, and the blood; and the three are into the one/ these three agree as one”  (1Jn 5:7-8)

The RCC actually had those that did not agree with them killed.

[7]   The RCC added John 6:4 to make Yeshua [Jesus Christ]’s ministry run to  three years.  Michael Rood after many decades of research have put together a one year ministry of Yeshua in his book: The Chronological Gospels,  and the researchers Nehemiah Gordon and John Lorquet have discovered MS’s and documents that prove that John 6 verse 4 was added in old manuscripts  (*6) 

[8]  “The Day of the Lord “ is a Hebrew idiomatic expression that means:  The eighth day, the Messianic era.  See Isiah 60 &  Obadia 1:15 and Rev. 1:10  “I came to be in the Spirit in the Lord’s day and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”

The word ‘Lord’ should of course be יהוה –but the  Christian translators were unaware of this Hebrew-ism and understood it incorrectly;  said it was a Sunday,  and translated the tetragrammaton name of G-d as Lord.    My contention is that one of the main reasons why there is confusion about G-d Echad [one] and the Messiah,  is because the Tetragrammaton  was changed  to “LORD” in all translations in the Tenach (OT)– in whatever language!!  Therefore, in the end when you say ‘Lord’ – who do you mean?

With Yeshuah being referred to as ‘Lord,’ (that actually stands for Adoni / Adonai / ‘Sir’, causes confusion.

[9]  The Roman Catholic Church deleted verse 37 from Acts 8:36 – 38.  Therefore, most bibles do not have a verse 37.  This was because their doctrine says that one can only be saved by partaking in the 7 sacraments of the RCC and the adherence to their theology.  Verse 37 negates this:

Act 8:37  “Philip said, If you believe with all your heart, it is lawful. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.”

[See if your Bible contains this verse]. 

[10]  “In the days of Herod, the king of Judea, there was a certain priest  named  Zacharias, of the course of Abijah. And his wife was ofthe daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. And they were both righteous before God, walking blameless in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord. And they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren.” [Luke 1:5-14]

If Christians had been familiar with the Priestly Orders and their service at the Temple,  namely, that there were 24 orders and that they did two weeks duty each per annual cycle,  they would have been able to work out exactly,  with the Historical information regarding Herod’s death etc,  when Yeshua was born  which is NOT on December 25!  See Fossilized Customs. The pagan origins of popular customs, by Lew White  [#20 in the Bibliography.] Also watch the presentation: When was Jesus really born? by Rabbi Johnathan Cahn https://youtu.be/ptIsXtTf6nO .

[11]  Matt 26:29,30  “But I say to you, I shall certainly not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on till that day when I drink it anew with you in the reign of My Father.  And having sung a song , they went out to the Mount of Olives.

– Reading the Gospels relating this meal Yeshua had with his disciples / talmudim,  one realizes this is NOT a ‘mass’ but Pesach seder.   Two distinct clues are revealed in this verse:  

1)  The  4^thcup of wine, is  the cup  of  Restoration at the Pesach meal:  This cup of ‘Restoration’ symbolizes the Restoration at the End of Days [this is the correct Hebraic/Jewish way of saying it] when the Messiah comes.  That is why Yeshua said : ‘I shall certainly not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on till that day when I drink it anew with you in the reign of My Father’  because the Day / Time of Restoration had not yet come.

2)  It is custom to end off the Shabbat & Pesach meal with singing songs of praise.

[12] “And the chief priests and the elders and all the sanhedrin sought false witness against Jesus, in order to put Him to death …….   For he knew they had delivered Him because of envy.  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the crowd that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus…. Then all the people answered and said, Let His blood be on us and on our children. ”  [Mat 27:12,17,18,20,25]

It has become custom throughout the past 2000 years to blame ‘the Jews’ for  crucifying Yeshua, BUT careful reading of the Gospels – as well as knowledge of that period in Israel, when they were under Roman rule –  makes it very clear that it was the leaders of the community of the Temple in Jerusalem:  chief priests, elders and the Sanhedrin that decided to crucify him.  The High Priest ‘bought’ his position. Since the time of Greek domination of Israel, the Aronic line of the priesthood was not kept.  The Sanhedrin in the time of Jeshua was therefore not a leadership of honourable leaders anymore as in the time of Moses. [43.111]  Many priests were in fact political appointments, some even appointed by the Roman authority! As such also only the Romans could put someone to death.

This attitude of Christians throughout the ages has been one of the most poisonous and detrimental towards Jews.  [ 43.108-111]

[13]  Yeshua  was  a Jew that kept the Mitzvot /Commendments   and kept the Moedim  / Festivals

Yeshua went to the synagogue [See for example Lk 4:15].  He kept   the Torah.  How do we know that?  Because he kept Shabbat and he kept the Moedim /Festivals.   Again and again it is said:  he  went to,  or taught in the Synagogue. 

He kept Shavuot [ Pentecost] –the second major Festival/  Moedim /Appointed times with G-d.   [Luke 24:49-Acts2:1–4]

 He kept Sukkot  [Feast of Tabernacles] -see  John 7:2,8.   and  Chanukkah

The  disciples  kept  the  festivals – they therefore attended the Temple / synagogue

 See for  Pesach  –  1 Corinthians 5:7,8

 Shavuot –  Acts 20:16  and  1 Cotinthians 16:8,9                                 

 Sukkot  –  Acts 27:9

Hafdalah  ceremony, i.e. ending off the Shabbat:  Acts 20:7

[14] “Then shall the kingdom of Heaven be likened to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. The foolish ones took their lamps, but took no oil with them. But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. ” (Matt25:1-9)

This has never been properly understood by the church.  This is a parable that refers to the End of Days when the Messiah will come.  It also clearly describes what the Jews know as ‘the Long Day’ i.e. the 1^st of Tishrei when the Feast of Yom Teruha takes place.   Because this feast takes place on the first day of the month,  man will not know beforehand – i.e. before the scientific age & age of the computer – when this day will be.  This is because a Hebrew month has either 29 or 30 days.  On the 29^th day two witnesses were sent from the Temple to watch the sky at sunset,  to see if they see the new moon  which appears only for 15 minutes above Jerusalem’s skyline.  If they did, they reported to the High Priest that the new moon has been sighted and therefore the next day will be the 1^st of the new month of Tishrei, the 7^th month of the Hebrew Calendar.   If they did not see the new moon,  they will know that the 1^st day will be the following day.  Therefore the 1^st of Tishrei / Yom Teruha is called ‘The Long Day’.   Therefore,  the ‘five foolish virgins that did not take additional oil for their lamps’,  waiting for the Bridegroom (Messiah) to arrive and were not prepared, and oil is a metaphor for the great Light of G-d and Anointment [Messiah].   Note also the use of 10,  because  the 10^th of Tishrei is the Feast of Yom Kippur,  i.e. the Day of Atonement,  when the Messiah will redeem the sanctified bride/‘sheep’. The number ten is a metaphor for the bride as well as for completion. And 5 days later, on the 15^th of Tishrei is Sukkot,  the Feast when the Messiah will tabernackle with us.  [Note the symbolism of the numbers – this is in fact very important in all the parables:  5 often refers to the five books of the Torah.]

[15]   Christianity teaches that the Shabbat of Genesis has been super ceded by a Sunday Sabbath. This was decided in 115CE and made law 321CE.  And Christianity teaches that the kosher requirements of Leviticus 11 have been abolished.  It’s now okay to eat pork.  In fact, [they say] Yeshua specifically stated  that all animals are now fit for eating.

This is not true! If they then quote  Mark 7:1 – 20, they are quoting the text out of context & without understanding for in Acts 15:20 most important commandments are referred to:  those that will ‘set apart’ Israel / you from other nations / unbelievers. Verse 21 puts it all in perspective.

“….so those men who are left might seek after the Lord, and all the nations on whom My name has been called, says the Lord, ……….. All His works are known to God from eternity. Therefore my judgment is that we do not trouble those who have turned to God from among the nations, but that we write to them that they should abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses from ages past has those in every city proclaiming him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.”

(Acts 15:17-21)

 Here it is stated that the Torah [Moses] is read in the synagogues each Shabbat;  has been and still is.   The new believers joined the Jews in the synagogues [see Acts 13:15,16 & 14:1] and therefore heard the Torah being read, and thus they will learn the whole Torah step by step., week by week,  little by little and so learn all the commandments.  Note also:  these commandments regarding idols/ false worship/ gods &  sexual conduct & how and what you eat, appears in Leviticus 18, 19 & 20 – see especially 18:3-5,6ff,  20:25  – exactly in the order that they are mentioned in Acts 15!   Note also,  these chapters in Leviticus [Vayikra] are known to be the ‘heart of the Torah’  and in fact are the exact centre of the five books! They also form part of the Parashat Kodeshim, in which we read more than once: You shall be holy for Me, for I יהוה   am holy.    I repeat:  this life style was also especially that which made the Israelis / Jews different from other nations.                       

The false teachings that are found in Christian churches  are some of the following:

* The Torah is bondage. • The Torah was done away with after Yeshua’s death and resurrection. • The Torah was only for the Jews. • The Jews were saved by keeping the Torah.

• The Torah is temporary. • The Torah was given to the Jews to curse them.

• The Torah was abolished. • The Torah was nailed to the “cross.”

• We only need to obey the spirit of the Torah • The letter of the Torah has been done away with.  • The Torah brought death to those who obeyed it.

• We are 1) free from, 2) dead to and 3) delivered from the Torah as a standard of right behaviour.  • Obeying the Torah today is legalism.

• Yeshua fulfilled the Torah, therefore it’s no longer necessary to obey it…on and on and on!

• The Church has supplanted Israel  [the ‘Replacement Doctrine’].

 Jews will go to Hell;  they desperately need saving.  (*8) 

Now when Christians really study the Torah and its commandments, they will come to the realization that all the above are FALSE.    

[16]  The following verse from Revelation reminds one of the verse in                     1Thessalonians copied here below, that is talking about the arrival of the Messiah.

  “But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and Safety! Then sudden destruction comes on them, as travail upon a woman with child. And they shall not escape.

 But you, brothers, are not in darkness, that the Day should overtake you like a thief. You are all the sons of light and the sons of the day. We are not of the night, or of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep as the rest do, but let us watch and be calm”. (1Th 5:1-6)

Now compare the following verse:

 “Behold, I am coming as a thief. Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his garments, lest he walk naked and they see his shame”.  [Revelation 16:15] 

It is recorded in the Talmud that once when the High Priest went to investigate if the priest on duty in the Temple is keeping watch,  seeing to it that the lights of the Menorah have not gone out,  he found that the priest on duty had fallen asleep.  The High Priest  then took burning hot coals and poured it onto the garment of the sleeping man who woke up with a fright,  tore off his garment  and ran naked through the streets. So the coming of the Messiah will be.

Paul’s contemporaries would have understood  “comes like a thief in the night.”  Because they would have known this referred to the High Priest that would check if the priest on duty in the Temple had not fallen asleep.

[17]  “Understanding the instructions….. regarding kohanim and how they were not to partake in burials of the dead like others, throws light upon Y’shua’s response, to the young man who asked to “first let me go and bury my father.”  Matthew 8:21; see also Luke 9:59. “Y’shua said (Hebrew, emor): “Follow me [Hebrew ahar halach – walk intimately with Me, trusting in Me, and leaning on Me for on all aspects of life] and let the dead bury their own dead.” Matthew 8:22.  The young man in question is referred to as “another disciple” in verse 21. But you must look back to verse 19 to see whose disciple he was.  In verse 19, we are told that “a teacher in the ‘law’ [i.e., the Torah]” – that is, a rabbi with disciples of his own – came to Y’shua and said “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” Who were the teachers of the Torah?  According to Leviticus 10:10, it was the duty of the kohanim to: “to distinguish between the holy and the common,   between the unclean and the clean, and you must teach the Israelites all the decrees Adonai has given them through Moses.” – and kohanim were not allowed to come into contact with a dead body.” (*9) 

[18]  Michael Boaz of First Fruits of Zion named the following as ‘marks of Jewish identity’: circumcision,  Tzitzit, Tefillin, Mezuzah,  Sabbath,  Kosher & Mikveh.  Furthermore he said that Jews are compelled and obliged to keep all these laws,  but for a Gentile God-Fearer not living in a Jewish context or environment,  it will be extremely difficult to adhere to all these.   I can appreciate that.  Just think of all food having to be Kosher;  not driving & working on the Sabbath; openly wearing Tzitzit in an anti-Semitic environment;  being a slave and not master of your own time – and this was the reality in Galatia.

Furthermore,  Lancaster differentiate between ‘Brothers’ = fellow Jews; ‘Sons of Abraham’ = Proselytes / non-Jews who made a formal conversion to Judaism;  ‘G-d’fearing Gentiles’ = non-Jews,  attracted to Judaism but not converting.;  and these were the different people in e.g Antioch and Galatia.

[19]  Whenever the word ‘Law’ is used in the NT it should be read as  – should have been translated as  – ‘Torah’ – this is definitely in 99.9% of the instances.

In the same way, the word ‘church’ is an incorrect translation.  The word should be ‘ecclesia’ which means ‘specially selected,  seperated out of / called out ones’  The word church comes from the word ‘circe’  from which the word ‘circus’ comes and has thus a totally different meaning!

[20] “Prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 CE the Messianic Jews fled Jerusalem to the mountains of Pella located in modern-day Jordan.  Although some Messianic Jews returned to Jerusalem after its destruction, this was the first event to dilute their leadership and influence from Jerusalem.   Between the two Jewish revolts (70 – 135 CE) the antagonism between the Messianic Jewish believers and the Synagogue had heightened mainly because of their theological differences concerning the Messiahship of Yeshua.   The number of Gentile converts in the emerging Messianic congregations increased rapidly giving them a majority over the Messianic Jews…..

…. this created problems,  as would,  the [new Christian/Messianic] leaders appointed by  Emperor Constantine.   Ego’s,  greed and aspirations to hold seats of power and influence certainly contributed to The Great Schism that ensued between Messianic believers and Jews of the Synagogue and which still separates the two today. (*10) [my underlining.]    

[21]  The following words said by Stephen is actually the reason why they killed him:-  “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Adam standing at the right hand of Elohim!” [quoting Tehillim/Psalms 110:1]   In the Hebraic understanding ‘sitting’ means that person is giving blessing;  when the person / Messiah is ‘standing’ it means He is judging,  and Stephan was therefore giving the meaning of Ps 110:1-6, which was unacceptable to the people surrounding him and they therefore stoned him.  They did not understand that G-d’s representative on earth/ Messiah/ the anointed, will come to do G-d’s judgement.

[22]  What often caused misunderstanding for non-Hebrew speakers,  or theologians and pastors without the knowledge of the Jewish language and culture, and history,  are like the following Hebrew idioms:– 

  Mtt 24:20 [spring solstice]  ‘And pray that your flight does not take place in winter or on the Sabbath’

  Mtt 24:28 [dead of a slaughter]  ‘For wherever the dead body is, there the vultures shall be gathered together.’

  Mtt 24:36 [Yom Teruha]   ‘But concerning that day and the hour no one knows, not even the messengers of the heavens, but My Father only.’

  Jn 17:22,23  [of one accord; in agreement] And the esteem which You gave Me I have given them, so that they might be one as We are one,  I in them, and You in Me, so that they might be perfected into one,…

“they shall call his name..” – said at the Bris of an 8day old baby boy.

“I came in my Father’s name” = in his nature, image or likeness; representative. 

JEWS  WOULD  HEAR & UNDERSTAND THESE  REFERENCES TO THE TENACH

[23]   When Yeshua said to Miryam of Magdala after having risen ‘Do not touch me’,  [John 20:17] He is saying the words that the High Priest, prepared, says before he goes into the Holiest of Holy to do Atonement for the whole of Israel on Yom Kippur.  Yeshua in other words was indicating that he now is the HaKohenGadol  that will plead for our sins in Heaven.  If they had touched Him, He would be unclean, and unable to enter the throne room of G-d.

[24]  A very important mistake and misprint is in the genealogy of Yeshua quoted in Matthew and Luke

“The Aramaic texts of Matthew 1:16 indicates that Miriam’s mighty man (gevra) was named Yoseph, and Matthew 1:19 specifies that Miriam’s husband  (ba’ala) was also named Yoseph.  Yoseph is a very common name in Israel.  Miriam’s husband Yoseph had three grandfathers with the same name.  This undoubtedly led the translators to make ‘a mistake of familiarity,’ thinking that the two ‘Yosephs’ of verses 16 and 19 were one and the same.  The Greek translators chose to render both Aramaic words gevra and ba’ala as the Greek word aner, which simply means ‘a person of full age.’   The English translators then chose to translate the singular Greek word aner as ‘husband.’  This created a fatal mathematical error in the Greek and English texts, because it left only thirteen generations ‘from the carrying away into Babylon until Messiah’ while the text itself states that there are fourteen generations listed.  In Aramaic,  gevra technically means ‘mighty man’ and is commonly used to refer to the elder patriarch of the family, but it can refer to the ‘husband’ if he is the oldest male of the household.  Both the immediate and greater context of Matthew 1:16 demand that gevra be translated as ‘Yoseph the father of Miriam’ …… [for a list of 6 more reasons see M. Rood’s book from which this is quoted.]  [19.36]

[25]  See Matt.15:1-3 (regarding washing of hands) , this ‘your tradition’ refers to:-

Is 29:13  “Wherefore   יהוה said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precepts of men:

Or  ‘The Lord said: Inasmuch as this people has drawn close, with its mouth and with its lips it has honored Me, yet it has distanced its heart from Me — their fear of Me is like rote learning of human commands’ – [ Stone edition of the Tenach]

“Traditions of the fathers”/ “traditions”/ precepts of men”   is the NT apostolic term for what later would be called “the Oral Law”, that is the Mishnah (*11)

[26]   One reads inLuke 24:13ff:- On the way to Amma’us /(Emmaus),  “Jeshua Then, starting with Moshe and all the prophets, he explained to them the things that can be found throughout the Tanakh concerning himself.”

Another translation reads:  And beginning at Moses [Torah]  and all the Prophets [Naviim], He expounded to them in all the Scriptures [Chetuvim /Writings]  the things concerning Himself.”  [Luk24:27 ] 

Note the parts of the Tenach are mentioned in exactly the order as they appear in the Hebrew Canon: 

The first letter in the words:   Torah, Naviim &  Chetuvim, spell TeNaCH 

[See also Luke 24:44] (*13)

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Look at this interesting info from the Torah and Hebrew

So much more  is revealed through the Hebrew text of the Torah.  For example,  the story / prophecy regarding salvation and restoration  is told through the Soresh of names of every 10^th generation after Adam;  Jacob / Israel’s children and David’s sons:

(Gen 5) Adam man Seth appointed Enosh mortal Kenan sorrow Mahalalel blessed Jared shall come down Chainoch teaching Methusela death shall bring Lamech the despairing Noach comfort and rest.

Jacob’s sons:-

Reuben See a son Simeon hated  Levi loved  Judah praised by G-d;  Dan judged & vindicated Naphtali prevailed / paid the wages Gad how fortunate Asher happy Ishecar soon he will come to  Zebulun honour Dinah judge (who will judge)

Joseph  Add to me  Ben-Oni Son of Sorrow / changed to Benjamin by Jacob! =  Son of my Right Hand.

King David’s sons:-

(2 Sam. 5:14) Shammua listen Shobab rejoice Nathan I’ll give you Soloman peace Ibhar will be chosen Elishua G-d saves Nepheg will disappear Japhia will appear again Elishama listen to G-d Eliada will know G-d Eliphelet G-d will give salvation

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A Horticulturalist tells how olive branches are grafted on to bear fruit

 The method of grafting wild olive branches in on a cultivated (true) oliveTree :

• The cultivated tree is planted by design, the wild olive tree by e.g. bird seed and although the latter will have blossoms,  it will not bear fruit. For that to happen, cross pollination has to take place.
• Healthy branches are cut from the cultivated tree. They are then laid down on the ground around the base of the tree and left there for 3  years.
• In the mean time branches cut from the wild olive tree  are grafted on to where the branches of the cultivated branches were cut off.
• Because the wild olive branches do not have the same DNA as the cultivated tree, they are not recognized by the cultivated tree;  the tree has to force sap up into the wild branches; therefore they have to attach themselves to where the cultivated branches were.
• For three years,  no fruit appears.
• After the first 3 years, holes are drilled next to the grafted wild branches, and the cultivated branches that were lying on the ground,  are then grafted on even though they are quite dry!
• These cultivated branches become ‘jealous’ and after 3 years  come back to life!  For another 3 years, no fruit is born & they feed together.
• In the 7^th year they both bear fruit!!                     Facinating!
• ____________________________________________________

G-d’s presense in a relationship / marrige

The first five commandments is about our relationship with G-d. But why is the fifth commandment:  to honour your parents,  also one of these?  The Hebrew words give us one of the reasons: G-d’s name appears in the words ‘man’ and ‘wife’ / woman:  G-d’s name is : יה(yah) [see Ps68:4b]  Now look at the spelling of

       איש(man)  &   אשה(woman)   If you remove G-d’s name, i.e.the  יה  from ‘man’ and ‘woman’,you end up with  אש  =fire!

The implication for a relationship is very clear!  Just as we must honour G-d, so husband and wife are to honour each other.  [see Ephesians 5:21-28] If G-d is not in the midst of the husband and wife’s relationship, the relationship will come unstuck.

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The Prophecy revealed in G-d’s name

One reads Hebrew from right to left.  Each Hebrew letter has a numerical (Gematria) as well as pictorial meaning.  The holy and covenantal name of G-d is יהוה (a pictorial meaning for the Hebrew letter, is written in brackets after the Hebrew letter).    Thus we read:  The Hand = י (=hand) that reveals = ה (=window);   a nail/ is nailed= ו (= nail)  that will /make an opening to /reveal / free =  ה(=window) ___________________________________________________________________

  יהשע said to them, “Did you never read in the Scriptures, ‘ The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief corner-stone. This was from יהוה and it is marvelous in our eyes’?” (quoting Ps 118:22-23) and Matt21:42 [This is also referred to in the Talmud obliquely.]

 Note the following amazing revelation tucked away in the Hebrew writing of ‘father’, ‘son’ & ‘stone’ in Hebrew!

Father  =  אבא   –  Son  = בן

                           אבן  =stone

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GEMATRIA – The numerical equivalents of Hebrew letters.

Jona  and the Big Fish

The gematria (*12)of the words:  great fish adds up to 50:  דג גדול big fish=  50 =[30+6+4+3 +3 +4] The gematria of the letter nun נ is 50 and the pictorial meaning is son.  Both the  nun as well as the number 50 is associated with the  Messiah and Jubilee . And ‘nun’  in Aramaic means ‘fish’!   So can you see how the prophecy regarding the Messiah is even hidden in the words great fish’!     The tradition says that the Messiah will come when it is a Jubilee.  One of the main principles of a jubilee is that land (the earth) is returned to the original owner (G-d) and that debt is forgiven (restitution and redemption.) 

Understand now why Yeshua said the following:

Matthew 12: 38-40 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we wish to see a sign from You.”  But He answering, said to them, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign,, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Yonah. “For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so shall the Son of Adam be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. (*13)

What is important and remarkable is that whenever 3, 30 or 300 etc. appears in the Tenach [Old Testament] one needs to look for hints (sod & remez,) some information regarding the coming Messiah. Note e.g. Gen 22:4; Gen38:24; Gen40:12, 16, 20; Gen42:18; Gen45:22; Ex2:2; Ex4:2-9 (three signs); Judges 7:6,7; Lev14:6 (three elements); Num19:6 & 12; 2 Samuel 5:2b,4&5. (*13)

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The  את revealed in Zacharia 12:10b

This verse reads: “… They will look toward Me because of those whom they have pierced / stabbed.”     Now, look at the Hebrew,  as this verse appears in the Tenach:   

 ושפכתי על-בית דויד ועל יושב ירושלם רוח חן ותחנונים והביטו אלי את אשר –דקרו וספדו עליו במספד על-היחיד והמר עליו כהמר על-הבכור     

Do you see the ‘aleph tav’ in the line above?!

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Swarms of Bees are dying out

This has been reported in the media of late. In Amos 8:11 we read:

‘See, days are coming,’ declares the Master יהוה, ‘that I shall send a hunger in the land, not a huמger for bread, nor a thirst for water, but for hearing the Words of יהוה

And in Revelation 18:8 ‘Because of this her plagues shall come in one day:  death and mourning and scarcity of food….’

Therefore,  ‘In the latter days there will be a famine of Torah / the word of G-d.’

 Now, דבר means ‘speak’ and is the soresh, root letters, of ‘bee’ : דבורה– And bees point to the source of food!  What is our spiritual bread?  The words of G-d – Torah!  We also read “…the judgments of יהוה  are true, altogether righteous.  They are more desirable than gold,….and sweeter than honey, and drippings from the combs” Ps 19:10,11

When young four year old Jewish children are taught the Hebrew AlephBet, a drop of  honey is placed on their lips;  and so they learn the sweetness of G-d’s Hebrew words.

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Every Hebrew Letter is a sign for something.  Now, if you drive the ‘nail’ i.e. the ‘vav’ [ו] inbetween the  את it changes the word to ‘sign’ אות

– ‘seed & sign’ ….

The Word = Torah =   תורה; when planted in our innermost being,  is like a seed that grows and   brings forth light =    אור

– The principle of the seed [see Gen 1] is that “kind brings forth like-kind.”  An apple tree will not suddenly produce oranges.  A horse gives birth to another horse and not suddenly a dog;  and a lion will not give birth to a leopard.  This principle debunks the so called Theory of Evolution.   But it underlines the fact that living according to the true ‘seeds’,  pure, and holy way of G-d, will produce righteousness and truth and holiness.

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DINASORS IN THE BIBLE &  SNAKES

In verse Gen1:21 it says:-   

“the large reptiles” / HaTaninim gadol= התנינם הגרלים = “the large reptiles” 

Whereas in Gen3:1&11–  the serpent is The Nachash   הנחש

Placing the  ה   (= the) in front of this word meaning ‘snake,’ says it is a very specific snake ___________________________________________________________________________

Do you know the Hebrew riddle?   The answer is in Prov 30:4

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—See illustration on the left at the top of this Chapter

 An example of a  pictorial meaning of a word which reveals deeper understanding and gives a Messianic message,   is the mysterious place name Dothan,  דתן that Joseph was given by the man he came across walking in the field, when Joseph was sent to his brothers. – [note the ‘heh’ ה [= the] in front of the word that spells ‘man’ –  האיש, the’heh’ means it’s a specific man] Gen 37:17]  Hebrew words are constructed  onto three basic letters [soresh] of a verb.  Dothan  is often translated to mean ‘two wells’  but the Hebrew words for ‘two’ or ‘wells’ do not contain the soresh of the word ‘dothan’.  We must therefore look for the meaning of this word in the pictorial meaning  of the letters of ‘dotan’.  It therefore says the following according to the ‘pictures/images that these letters stand for:  ד  =dalet = a door,  that leads to / shows the. ת=tav=covenant of the – ן=nun sofit = Son /Messiah [Remember, one reads Hebrew from Right to Left]

• What is ‘a door’ to the witness of G-d? –

In the Hebrew text of Deuteronomy/Devarim 6: 4 you will notice something unusual!  The Aiyn, ע of the word ‘sh’ma’ as well as the Dalet ד in the word ‘Echad’ are written larger than any of the other letters.  That, in a very obvious way, draws our attention to some ‘hidden’ [i.e. sod & remez] information revealed by the combination of these two letters.

  עד means ‘witness’.

   שמע means Shma and as Bill Bullock so beautifully teach:  

          to listen intently to, to pay attention to, to nurture,  as a gardener tends to a garden, & let things grow, to bring to full potential;  to hear, to receive and accept, to meditate upon, , to treasure;  speak about and teach to one’s children, and to gradually be transformed by, and conformed to, the Holy One’s creative and prophetic Words.

The    ע ayin‘s pictogram means ‘eye’

The   ד dalet’s pictogram means ‘door’

Therefore the message here could be:  The door that leads to the witness of G-d’s word also comes through the ‘eye’ i.e. by reading the Hebrew text.      NOTE! The Sages & Rabbi’s say that a verse has up to 70 meanings or interpretations.

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What we learn regarding HaSatan : Is14:14-15

 Children would love to know more about HaSatan!  Let them try and read & decipher this Hebrew  text:  Isiah 14:12-15

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   Acronyms: Elul & Pardesh – .

The Hebrews loved to make acronyms.  Elul and Pardesh are acronyms, yet actually mean something and the deeper meaning what it refers to is bound up in the meaning of the word.

In Song of Songs 6:3 we read:

        אני לדודי ודודי  לי  –I am my beloved,  and beloved is mine

The first letters of each of these words spell the word ‘elul’ which is the name of the month preceding Tishrei when Yom Teruha, Yom Kippur & Sukkot takes place.  This month of Elul is a month of preparation for these important Fall festivals. These verses in Song of Songs refer to the coming Messiah, which we know according to prophecies and the Shadow image of the Fall festivals, will take place at the time of the Fall Festivals mentioned here above

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P-A-R-D-E-S [Acronym]  

The traditional way of studying Biblical texts are according to the following steps:

PESHAT  –   the  plain  text’s  meaning

DRASH   –    searching for meaning;  relevance;  explain

REMES   –   what  is  hinted  at

SOD       –    the secrets contained in a deeper level

The word ‘Pardes’ means Orchard. And this is very fitting, because our faith and walk according to the commandments of the Creator, should bear fruit.

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Some Scientific facts in the Bible

In Genesis 1:16 we read: ‘And God made the two great luminaries, the greater luminary to dominate the day and the lesser luminary to dominate the night;’

•  Long before scientists gave the measurements of the moon and the sun, it was clearly inferred in Scripture.

In Job 38: 22 we read: ‘Have you entered into the storehouses of the snow, or seen the storehouses of hail,…’

•   Long before the invention of the microscope,  the magnificent patterns in snowflakes and crystals in hail is referred to here.

Job 26:7,8: ‘He spreads out the North over a void; He suspends the earth upon nothingness   He bundles water in His clouds, yet the cloud does not burst under them;’

Isiah 14:9 ‘The nether-world from below trembles for you to greet your arrival; it has awakened the giants for you,’

Isiah 40:22   ‘It is He who sits on the circumference of the earth,’

Isiah 43:16 ‘Thus said יהוה, He Who made a way through the Sea and a path     amid the mighty waters,’  –  It would be centuries before men knew of the currents in the sea and deep valleys in the ocean floor!

And the Areola of the Northern sky:  Ezekiel 1: 4   ‘I saw and behold! There was a stormy wind coming from the north, a great cloud with flashing fire and a brilliance surrounding it; and from its midst, like the color of the Chashmal….’

In a fascinating and beautifully illustrated book that explain how science later discovered Truths of the Bible,  explains: “In kosher animals (permitted by the Torah for consumption by Jews), the blood flowing in the vertebral artery joins with blood flowing in the front (carotid) artery.  This results in absolutely no pain during Jewish ritual slaughter…In animals that the Torah forbids… the blood flows from the vertebral artery directly to the brain” [ See 18.154]

­____________________________________________________There are many many more such fascinating Sod and Remez information in the Bible! – listen to e.g  Nehemia Gordon’s interview with Dr Roy Blizzard: https://www.nehemiaswall.com/understanding-difficult-words-Yeshua?ct=t(EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_7_12_2018_8_41)&mc_cid=a357e17b6e&mc_eid=65018fb999

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FOOTNOTES

*1   The sod and remez  are those meanings, hints, and secrets hidden in the Hebrew of the Hebrew Tenach / Bible.  This is in the Hebrew letters and words, as well as the gematria (see *4) and pictorial meanings of the letters.  [See the two illustrations at the beginning of this part/chapter]

*2   After the Babylonian exile of the inhabitants of Judea, and since the time that the Jews were forbidden to study the Torah, after the Greek and Roman rule, they devised a plan to keep on learning the Torah according to the weekly Parashat reading,  by reading a section in the rest of the Tenach that contained information similar to that of the specific weekly parashat.  These sections are referred to as the Haftarah.

*3  See also Johnathan Cahn’s book The Oracle. The Jubilean mysteries unveiled. (2019) for many more astounding examples.

*4    SCHROEDER, G. Genesis and the Big Bang  p. 182

* 5    Nehemia Gordon, [received his degrees from  Hebrew University, Jerusalem, and helped translate the Qumran Scrolls]   affirmed that it becomes obvious when reading the Brit Chadasha (NT) and the way it has been translated into Greek, that the original text was written in Hebrew, with Hebrew-isms, i.e Hebrew idioms and a Hebrew mind set,  which gets lost or confused in the – very often – incorrect Greek translation.  In fact the Gospel of Matthew  was originally written in Hebrew. “ancient Hebrew texts of Matthew were clandestinely preserved and copied by Jewish scribes These texts were copied in secret because the Roman Catholic Church forbade Jews to possess copies of New Testament books …..a Hebrew version of the book of Matthew had been preserved by a 14^th Century Spanish Jew named Shem-Tov Ibn Shaprut….[who] lived in Spain during the Inquisition” [Copies of the Hebrew Ms are in the British Library London,  HU Library, Jerusalem] [Gordon, N. The Hebrew Yeshua vs. The Greek Jesus. P. xiv, 37]

*6 Watch and listen to /Rood/FMfcgxwDqThsLWNcrNTCtRFcsWsrFMQc  

*7  Thomas Lancaster’s The Holy Epistle to the Galatians, published by FOZZ (First Fruits of Zion) is an excellent book on the very early Messianic believers,  and at last explains this letter of Paul properly].   

*8  See Tony Robinson  discussion of Parashat 45 Va’Eschchanan;   https://resationoftorah.org

*9 See Bill Bullock’s discussion of  Parashat  27 Tatzria & 28 Metzora; rabbisson@cableone.net

*10 My underlining.  Quoted from: Thomas Lancaster’s The holy epistle to the Galatians, pp 74, 75, 91, 92,  – see Bibliography #17.

*11  The Oral Law.  The term ‘mishnah’ can mean the entire corpus of oral law.  It is also the title of Judah Ha Nasi’s great compilation of the 2^nd Century.

*12  Every Hebrew letter has a numerical equivalent as well as pictorial meanings,  and because of that additional incredible information is gleaned from the Bible – but sadly missed and unknown to people reading and understanding their Bible only in a translation.

*13 The following information and explanation of the symbolism of 3, 30 or 300 as well as ‘Life from Death’ was written by Tony Robinson in his discussion of the 9^th Parsha  Vayeishev, of his Parashat HaShavua teachings in his Restoration of Torah Ministries. [It is a long quote that contains very valuable information and is very worthwhile to quote at length.]

“ the writers of Midrashim (midrashic interpretations of the Torah) in traditional Judaism clearly saw hints and allusions to the concept of resurrection in the Akeida.  In fact, please note that one of the prominent themes in the Haftara reading is that of RESURRECTION!  The major theme of resurrection can be explained as follows.  In resurrection, that which was DEAD is brought to LIFE…..

“ I submit to you that it is this theme of The Resurrection that is the sign of the Messiah also given throughout the Torah!  If we want to see the Messiah in the Torah, we need to look for the theme of Life from the DEAD, or Resurrection!  Remember, Yeshua came to fulfill the Torah.  Therefore, the Torah must substantiate everything He taught.  In Yeshua’s own words, the sign that proves that He is the Messiah involves two concepts:

• Resurrection—This particular word captures the general theme of Life and Death in the sense of Life from the DEAD!
• THREE—Utilizing the Sod level of interpretation, we see that the number THREE teaches us about the Messiah

“In the third introductory article to this Torah commentary entitled PaRDeS, you learned that there are four levels of understanding in the Scriptures.  The deepest level is Sod, which means hidden.  Sod level interpretations often involve numbers.  Adonai uses numbers to teach us profound spiritual truths.  The number THREE is the most important number in the Scriptures concerning the Messiah.   With this as an introduction, let’s see how the Torah teaches us about our Messiah, Yeshua.

1. “As you read the Torah, anytime you see 1) pictures of resurrection, 2) pictures of renewed life as a result of deliverance from impending death and 3) pictures of victory and renewed life as a result of death, we know the Torah is about to give us a teaching concerning the Messiah.  I call these themes of The Resurrection and the Life, and they are especially strengthened when coupled in some manner with the number three. 

The Sign of the Messiah!

1. “The first LIVING things (plants, grass, etc.) were created on day THREE!  This is not strictly LIFE from the DEAD; however, the principle of LIFE coming from a state where there is no LIFE is clear.
   1. The Torah’s picture of the RESURRECTION of the Messiah is found in the Holy Days.  The Holy Day that is a shadow of Yeshua’s RESURRECTION is the THIRD Holy Day, the Day of the Omer Wave Offering (Leviticus 23)!  The offering of the barley sheaves on the day after the Sabbath that occurs during the week of unleavened bread is a prophetic picture of the resurrection of the Messiah.
   1. Jonah, who was in the belly of a great fish, should have been DEAD.  But on the THIRD day he came forth ALIVE!  Truly, DEATH was swallowed in victory!
   1. The Akeida (binding of Isaac) found in Genesis 22—Abraham was supposed to offer Isaac as an olah (whole burnt offering).  Although Adonai prevented him from actually sacrificing Isaac on the THIRD day [they ascended the mountain in three days**], the manner in which the Torah relates the story hints that Isaac died and was RESURRECTED.  That’s why Hebrews 11:17-19 records that Abraham received Isaac from the DEAD through RESURRECTION figuratively!
2. “The Sign of a Barren Womb—We have already learned that there were THREE Matriarchs who experienced barrenness.  Furthermore, we learned that this was a Sign of the Messiah, because LIFE came forth from the DEADNESS of a barren womb. [see the closed ‘mem’ in Is 9:6 in the Hebrew text**] ….. we saw the Messianic significance of Benjamin’s (Rachel’s second child) birth.  Therefore, we should expect to see some Messianic significance in Joseph’s life.  You won’t be disappointed!
3. “The Sign of Divine Election—Have you noticed that the natural born firstborn never received the coveted blessings?  Abel was chosen over Cain, Isaac over Ishmael, Jacob over Esau, Joseph over Reuven, Perez over Zerah and Ephraim over Manasseh.  Why was the second child consistently chosen instead of the natural born firstborn?.  Yeshua is the second Adam.  All of the blessings of eternal life did not come through the natural first-born man, Adam, who originated from the earth.  They came through Yeshua, the LIFE-giving Spirit (See I Corinthians 15:45-49), who descended from heaven.
4. “Joseph the Shepherd—We have already learned that the righteous usually have the occupation of a shepherd.  This common theme unites Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses.  Why is this a common theme?  Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance.  The Messiah is the Good Shepherd (See John 10:11).
5. “The One Who Was Hated—Why was Joseph hated by his brothersJust as Joseph was hated by his brothers, so likewise, Yeshua was hated by His brothers (See John 15:24-25).  The Coat of Many Colors—Why did Jacob give Joseph the coat of many colors? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance.  As stated earlier, the coat of many colors, a ketonet passim, was a special long-sleeved coat or garment worn by the children of kings.  This was intended to teach us that Messiah was the Son of God, the Son of the Father, King of all creation.  Read John 19:19-24, especially John 19:23, and note how often Yeshua’s Kingship is mentioned exactly when His garments were taken from Him and divided!  Joseph was the son of his father Jacob, so likewise, Yeshua is the Son of the Father in Heaven.
6. “Why Did Jacob Love Joseph Over His Brothers—Earlier, we saw that Jacob loved Joseph more than his other sons.  This was thematically connected to the great love Abraham had for Isaac.  Adonai told Abraham to “Please take your son, your only one, whom you love…” and make him a whole burnt offering (see Genesis 22:2).  So why was the love of Jacob for Joseph thematically connected to Abraham’s love for Isaac? ..Yeshua is the only begotten Son of the Father, whom the Father loves with an infinite love.
7. “The Rejection of Joseph by His Brothers—Why did Joseph’s brothers reject him?..  They rejected Joseph because this portion of Scripture shows that Joseph’s life is a picture of the first Advent of the Messiah.  He was rejected at His first Advent; however—at His second advent—Yeshua will be accepted by His brothers (House of Judah), just as Joseph will be received when he reveals himself to his brothers later on in Genesis.  Consider that the Tanakh presents us with Four people whose lives foreshadow the first and second advent of the Messiah.
   1. Joseph
   1. Moses—Initially, Moses’ leadership was rejected by his brothers.  However, when he returned after forty years in Midian, they accepted his leadership.
   1. David—David was initially rejected by Saul, who is a picture of the religious leadership who ruled during the time of Yeshua’s ministry.
   1. Jephthah—Jephthah was initially rejected by his brothers.  However, when he returned after many days, they accepted his leadership!
8. “They Hated Him All the More on Account of His Dreams—Why did Joseph’s dreams cause his brothers to hate him even more? ..Joseph’s dreams were supernatural manifestations of the Ruach (Spirit) of Elohim.  Yeshua was also hated more because of the supernatural display of the Ruach in His life (see Matthew 12:10-15).  Note how often the religious leaders wanted to kill Him precisely because of the supernatural works He performed.  Joseph’s brothers obviously did not think his dreams supernatural in origin.  So likewise, the religious leaders of Yeshua’s day claimed that He cast out demons by the power of hasatan.
9. “The Messianic Significance of Joseph’s Dreams—Why did Joseph have prophetic dreams, foretelling of his future position of leadership above his brothers? ..This was to teach us about the Messiah, of whom many prophets have prophesied concerning His Kingship.  Just as there were supernatural prophecies of Joseph’s future authority, so likewise, there have been numerous prophecies of the coming Kingdom and authority of Yeshua the Messiah (see Isaiah 9:6-7).
10. “Joseph Was Sent to Shechem to Check on His Brothers and the Flocks—Why did Jacob send Joseph to check on his brothers and their sheep in Shechem? Just as Joseph was sent, so likewise Yeshua was sent from the Father in heaven to His brothers on earth.  Note the obvious thematic connection between Jacob sending Joseph, and the Father who sent his son in Yeshua’s parable recorded in Mark 12:1-12!
11. “Seeking Lost Sheep—Joseph was sent to determine the welfare of his brothers and their flocks.  Why was this so? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance.  Just as Joseph told the stranger he was sent to seek his brothers, so likewise, Yeshua was sent to seek and save the lost sheep of the House of Israel (see John 10:1-21).
12. “The Conspiracy Against Joseph—Why did Joseph’s brothers secretly conspire/plot against him as he approached them in Dothan?  …  Just as Joseph’s brothers plotted/conspired against him, so likewise, the religious leaders conspired/plotted against Messiah Yeshua (see Psalm 2; 41:9 and Matthew 26:59; 27:1). 
13. “They Wouldn’t Kill Joseph Themselves—Why could Joseph’s brothers not bring themselves to kill Joseph? ….This was to teach us that Messiah’s brothers would not kill Him.  He was handed over to the Gentiles for his execution (see John 18:28-19:42, especially John 18:31.
14. “They Threw Joseph Into a Pit—Why was Joseph thrown into a pit The pit was actually a type of cistern.  It was a hole dug into the ground to collect water.  This was also a picture of the burial place of the Messiah.  It was a hole in the earth.  Messiah was placed into it.
15. “Joseph Was Not in the Pit When Reuven Went to Rescue Him—Why was Joseph not in the pit when Reuven went to retrieve him…Note, Reuven was the only brother who wanted to save Joseph from murder.  Therefore, he represents the believing remnant of Yeshua’s disciples who didn’t want him to die.  Reuven went to the pit/well (a prophetic grave); however, he did not find Joseph in it.  So likewise, the believing remnant (Yeshua’s disciples) did not find Yeshua in the grave.  For He had Arisen, Baruch HaShem YHVH!  Also note, the pit did not contain water.  Water is essential for LIFE; therefore, the reference to water is a hint (Remez) that the pit/well was a place of DEATH—like a tomb.
16. “Joseph Was Stripped of His Garment—Why did Joseph’s brothers strip his coat from him? …..This was to teach us that they had rejected his leadership, symbolized by stripping him of his kingly robe.  So likewise, The Romans stripped Yeshua of his garments (see Matthew 27:26-33).  Note the thematic connection between the stripping off of clothes and Kingship!
17. “Sold For Twenty Pieces of Silver—Why was Joseph sold for twenty pieces of silver? Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance.  Just as Joseph was sold into slavery for twenty pieces of silver, so likewise, Yeshua was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver (see Matthew 27:3-10).
18. “His Kingly Coat Was Dipped in Blood—Why was Joseph’s identity made sure by his coat which had been dipped in blood…..This is to teach us how to identify Messiah when He returns in His Kingly garments, for they will be stained with blood (see Revelation 19:11-16, especially Revelation 19:13).
19. “Jacob Rent His Garments When He Learned Joseph Had Died—Why did Jacob rend his garments? ….This was to teach us how the Father’s heart was torn because of the death of His only begotten Son.  Could the rending of the veil in the Temple be thematically connected? 

“Judah and Tamar—Judah had THREE (hint) sons named Er[= ist sight/seeing], Onan [= vigerous/ full of lilfe], and Shelah [the dawn of Light/2^nd coming] ( –note! All 3 APPLY to the Messiah!} .  He gave Tamar to Er as a wife; however, Er died because of his own sins.  It was the practice then for the living brother to marry his deceased brother’s wife if he died without any heirs.  So Tamar was given to Onan as a wife.  Onan also died an early death due to his own sins.  In his mind, Judah felt that Tamar was causing the deaths of his sons, so he didn’t give his youngest son, Shelah, to Tamar as a husband, fearing that he too would die.  Seeing that Judah would not give Shelah to her as a husband, she disguised herself as a harlot and had relations with Judah, who didn’t know the harlot he slept with was his daughter-in-law!  In Genesis 38, it states that after THREE months (hint) Judah found out that Tamar was pregnant.  He demanded that she be burned to DEATH (hint) for being a harlot.  However, she had taken THREE items; his signet, cord and staff as surety when they had relations.  She produced these as evidence that Judah was the father of the expectant child, and her DEATH sentence was stayed, preserving her LIFE.  Whereupon Judah realized that she had been more righteous than he.  She simply wanted to raise up seed in Er’s name.  Since Judah was withholding his last son, she felt compelled to deceive him into impregnating her.  Thus, she was not a DEADLY woman.  She actually burst forth with LIFE from her womb!  She went on to give birth to twins named Perez and Zerah.  Do you see the sign of the Messiah in this story?[1]  So, what is the Messianic significance?  Read Matthew 1:3.  Thus, we see that her child, Perez, is listed as an ancestor of the Messiah!!!   Joseph & Judah are thematically related, because in both instances, a son of Jacob is seduced/tempted to engage in sexual relations………  [The Messianic line appears here embedded  in Gen 38, the story of Tamar, at Torah Code 49 equidistant skips: Boaz, Ruth, Obed Yishay /  Jesse & David] ………..

• “Joseph the Servant/Slave—Earlier, we read that Joseph experienced a descent in stature as well as a physical descent into Egypt.  And why did Joseph experience THREE descents in stature…Just as Joseph was stripped of his “kingly” coat and prestige, being made a servant/slave of lowest esteem, so likewise, Yeshua emptied Himself of all Divine and Kingly prerogatives and was found fashioned as a lowly human.  This process, theologically referred to as the Self-Kenosis of the Messiah, is described in detail in Philippians 2:6-9.  At each stage, Joseph was second to one over him, just as Yeshua is at the Father’s right hand.
• “Joseph in Prison—While in prison (Genesis 40), Joseph interprets the dreams of two of Pharaoh’s servants, the chief baker and butler.  Note how often we read the number THREE.
• “There were THREE branches on the grapevine, which equaled THREE days.
• “There were THREE baskets, which equaled THREE days.
• “The THIRD day was Pharaoh’s birthday.

“In Joseph’s interpretation of the dreams, one of them was promised LIFE in THREE days, while the other was promised DEATH in THREE days.  And why does the Torah emphasize the number THREE and the theme of LIFE and DEATH?  Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance.  LIFE, DEATH and the number THREE are the signs that tell us Joseph’s life (and this incident in particular) is a foreshadowing of the Messiah.  Still not convinced?  According to Isaiah 53, Yeshua was incarcerated as a criminal.  How does this fact thematically relate to Joseph’s life?[1]  How is the fact that two criminals were crucified with Yeshua thematically related to Joseph’s experience in Genesis 40?[1]  How is the fact that one criminal received LIFE while the other received DEATH thematically related to Yeshua’s execution?[1]  How was the baker executed in Genesis 40?[1]  How are the professions of the two criminals in Genesis 40 prophetic symbols of the work of the Messiah?[1] [These are pictures of the Bread & Wine, symbols of JM’s redemption**] Now do you see that Joseph’s life was a prophetic shadow of the work of the Messiah? [The BIRDS pecking at the Bread in the basket = represents the Thorn Crown of Yeshua]

“ Josephthe Egyptian—Why did the Holy One cause Joseph to be sold to the Egyptians?  Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance.  Just as Joseph was rejected by his brothers and handed over to the Gentiles, so likewise, Yeshua was rejected by His brothers and handed over to the Romans.  And why does Genesis 39-41 account for twenty years of Joseph’s life?  Because, the Holy One, blessed be His Glorious Name, intended for us to understand its Messianic significance.  Through this He teaches us that the Gentiles would know the Messiah as a Savior for 2000 years.  During Joseph’s twenty-year exile from his family, all of his characteristics seemed to be Gentile—he spoke the Egyptian language, had an Egyptian name, dressed like an Egyptian and looked like an Egyptian.  His brothers didn’t even recognize him when they were brought before him after twenty years of separation.  So likewise, Yeshua is known throughout the Gentile world as Jesus.  His transformation into a Gentile has been so complete that most non-Jewish believers do not even see Him as a Torah-observant Rabbi any more.  Furthermore, His Jewish brothers even see Him as a Gentile false God.

“In summary, Yeshua’s words seem truer today than ever before:

“For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me (John 5:46, emphasis mine).”

**Comments in brackets by me

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Chapter 8: G-d’s Instructions re-emphasized – Parshat 44 Devarim (Words) 1:1 – 3:2

“Unveil my eyes that I may perceive hidden wonders from Your Torah” –   Psalm 119:18

On a Shabbat all over the world in all Synagogues, the same part (Parsha) of the Torah is read. In the following 7 parts (chapters) of this blog I am going to discuss the parts of the 5^th book of the Torah,  Devarim, meaning ‘words’, (Deuteronomy in English).  The 44^th Parshat of the Torah (*1)  is read for the 44^th Shabbat of the Hebrew year, and starts the book Deuteronomy.

I will be discussing each Parsha according to the following headings:  The commandments that apply to us (*2);  How they apply to us;  What we learn from the historical background; What we learn from certain Hebrew words in the text.

“The Sages refer to Deuteronomy / Mishneh Torah which is commonly translated as ‘Repetition (or Review) of the Torah,’ or as ‘Explanation of the Torah’……R’ Hirsch explains that Deuteronomy was Israel’s introduction to the new life it would have to forge in Eretz Yisrael. Once they crossed the Jordan, the people would no longer see God’s constant Presence and daily miracles, as they had in the Wilderness.  They would plow, plant, and harvest…They would need strong faith and self-discipline to avoid the snares and temptations of their pagan neighbors and false prophets.  To stress these laws and values and exhort Israel to be strong was the function of Deuteronomy, its laws and Moses’ appeals….of the two hundred laws which are contained in this Book, more than seventy are completely new.  (My underlining) [11.938]

In the first 4 books of the Torah, we constantly read “יהוה spoke to Moses” but now we are going to read “G-d spoke to me” – thus it’s mainly written in the first person.  But do not fall into the trap and call it: Moses’s Laws!  All this was spoken to and taught to Moses by G-d. This book consists of actually 4 speeches written not in the 3^rd person, but in the 1^st person.  Israel is poised to enter the Promised Land; it’s the 40^th year after their exodus from Mitzraim (Egypt) – which means constraint, narrow,  limited, in Hebrew.  And note how in verse 3 of Deu.1 the exact year, month and day is specified.  This underlines and verifies that we are reading true history and true facts!

The Commandments –

 I will list only those Commandments that apply to men, woman and children in general. Therefore, not those that only apply to Kohanim, Priests, the land of Israel, Temple, etc

1. Trust G-d.  G-d keeps his promises [see also Hebrews 6:18]
2. Form a just and ordered society with honorable and wise leaders and judges.  You the individual, do not judge.  G-d judges.
3. Do not fear, do not lose resolve, trust G-d
4. Be fair – Moses was fair and just.
5. Do not commit slander;   do not gossip – do not commit  loshan ha’ra
6. Obey the Torah, then you will get to Olam Haba – The principle of the World to Come.
7. Listen to G-d;  obey him.  If you do not, there will be consequences

Now tell me which of these 7 principles Christians are not supposed to do?  So if you agree that these are in fact behaviors and beliefs that you are to exercise, where do you think these commandments came from and where were they first written down? 

 Now write down for yourself where in the NT these beliefs and behavior principles are to be found:  …

What follows are brief discussions of the above commandments:-

1. Deu 1:8-11   G-d promised the Land of Israel personally to Abraham, [Gen 12:1,7 & 15:17] Isaac  [Gen26:2-5 ] and Jacob [Gen 7:13-15  ] and confirmed it with Moses [Ex3:8-10].  Thus many years may pass;  time may pass by, but G-d will keep his promises because He is not a man that He should lie [Num 23:19].   Trust in Him.  The fact that Israel became a state again in 1948 confirmed this promise of G-d to Jacob and his family!
2. Deu 1:13- 17  We should live in an ordered society according to G-d’s commandments and have judges that: listen, judge righteously, show no favoritism;  handle big important issues as well as small,  and are not bribed “for the judgment is God’s” – [see also  Exodus 18:21-26]

Note!  The King of Israel was instructed to write TWO copies of the Torah for himself- Deu 17:18

• Deu 1:21, 29, 33 & 2:34, 3:2 3:22  See how many times in this Parasha Israel is told not to fear, not to lose resolve but to trust G-d.  Moses in fact pointed out many of the miracles that G-d provided for them during the 40 year journey in Sinai, as well as the pagan enemies that they actually conquered;  even the Rephamim (giant) king Og!  Moses even ‘boosts their confidence’ by saying:   “This day I (G-d) shall begin to place dread and fear of you on the peoples under the entire heaven… and they will tremble and be anxious before you.” [Deu 2:25]

[See also Deu 4:6 & 26:19 & 28:1-13]

• Deu 1:23  Moses did not favor one tribe over the other, when the Isralites asked that men should be sent to tour (*3) and inspect the land. He chose a man from each tribe.
• Deu 1:27  The principle of Loshan H’ra  (bad talking) is considered a very serious transgression. The Sage Chofetz Chaim is especially known for his tome on and wisdom concerning the Laws of proper speech. “Scripture states, ‘You shall not go about as a tale-bearer among your people’ “[Levitikus 19:16] (*4) …There is a criminal act …included under this prohibition, and that is evil gossip.  This means that a person speaks disparagingly about his fellow-man , even though he tells the truth;  for a person who speaks falsehood is called ‘one who spreads a bad report’… יהוה will cut off all unctuous lips, the tongue that speaks proud things [Ps 12:4]…..The Sages of blessed memory taught…For three transgressions punishment is exacted from a person in this world, and he has no share in the world-to-come: idol worship, incest or adultery, and bloodshed [murder]. But evil gossip is equal in seriousness to them all….Evil gossip kills three: the one who tells it, the one who accepts it, and the one about whom it is told.  But the one who accepts it is affected more than the one who tells it. ….So also if one speaks well of another person before someone who hates him, because that makes that person speak in disparagement of him.  So too if someone speaks evil gossip by way of a joke…and…[if] he is an informer… [my underlining]  [see further 27.163]

All those gossip magazines, Facebook,  columns in newspapers and videos on the internet, of course all fall under this prohibition.  Therefore, teach your children it is not good to look at those.  Because in fact the ‘admiration’ and worship they have for those stars and pop-stars and presenters on channels, is in fact Idol worship!  Today, during political campaigning we also often commit this sin.

• Deu 1:36  Here we read that because Caleb  did not give an evil report regarding the Promised Land that they spied out and because he followed יהוה wholeheartedly, he will be allowed to enter the Holy promised Land.

Here we have an example of a shadow image (*5) in the Tenach [OT].  Tony Robinson explains it so well in his discussion of this Parasha 44 Devarim:-

       ”..read Leviticus 18:5 ‘You shall therefore keep My statutes and My judgments, which if a man does, he shall live by them:  I am the LORD’. This verse is the first instance where the Holy One gives us the purpose for keeping His Torah…Remember, the word Torah simply means the Holy One’s instructions (not laws).  What does Moses mean by saying ‘if a man does [them] he shall live by them?’…it almost sounds like he’s saying, ‘If you listen to me, you will hear me.’….At the Pashat, or literal level of interpretation, he means this:  If you obey my Torah, you will have physical LIFE!.... Those who keep the Torah will have life and remain alive in the Land.  Those who disobey the Torah will not live.”  (*6)

          Now consider this carefully,  especially if you are a Christian.  Is this not also what Jacob / James means when he writes:

          “So speak and so do as those who are to be judged by a Torah of freedom…My brothers what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works:  This belief is unable to save him.  And if a brother or sister is naked and in need of daily food, but one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and be filled,’ but you do not give them the bodily needs, what use is it?  So also belief, if it does not have works, is in itself dead.  Was not Abraham our father declared right by works when he offered Yitshaq his son on the slaughter-place? Do you see that the belief was working with his works, ….You see, then, that a man is declared right by works, and not by belief alone…For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also the belief is dead without the works.”  [James 2:12-26]

In other words, you are not saved by faith and grace alone. Yes, it by the grace of G-d that He gave His only Son for us to die in our stead because “There is none righteous, no not one” [Rom.10:9-10] &  “For there is no man so wholly righteous on earth that he always does good and never sins” [Ecclesiastes 7:20]  “For the wages of sin is death but the favorable gift of Elohim is everlasting life through Messiah our Master” [Rom 6:23]   You have to do G-d’s commandments; that is to walk and Live according to His Way,  and if not,  do teshuva – that is, ask forgiveness for what you have done wrong,  and return back to the right path. [Read again the quote above of Jacob / James].

• Deu 1:26;  1:42, 43.  Here we read how some Israelites did not listen to G-d’s instructions as conveyed by Moses, to not be afraid,  and enter the Promised Land.  And in verses 42 & 43  we read: “Do not ascend and do not do battle, for I am not among you…but you did not listen.  You rebelled against the word of יהוה, and you were willful and climbed the mountain..” and the consequence of that was that the Amorite went out against them and pursued them ‘as bees would do’ !!

What we learn from this historical tale

G-d’s way is not man’s way. [see Deu 2:4-30] If the Holy One helped Edom, Ammon and Moab to displace the giants, and helped Israel to defeat Og, King of Bashan,  surely He will help Am Yisrael now also!.  Moses did not want them to make the same mistake as before when ‘they rejected the Holy Land’ when the ‘spies’ came back and reported on what they saw in the Promised Land.  Note Moses said this at the same place, the Amorite territory, when they were going to enter the Land!

It is so easy for us to forget the miracles that G-d provided, e.g Israel’s conquest after 6 days war 1967 and as also for yourself personally.  One should actually specially keep a diary of one’s prayers and requests,  and then fill in the day or time He answers!   Recently I was so conflicted and stressed with worry what to do.  I ended my prayer to יהוה with:  ‘Good, blessed, Holy Father you have guided me so many, many times.  Please you show me what to do!’  And two days later,  His Holy Spirit gave me the answer!

We learn from an event that is described in Deu 3:18-20 an important lesson.  In Numbers 32 we read that the children of Reuben and Gad had abundant livestock. When they saw the land of Jazer and the land of Gilead, on the East bank of the Jorden river which seemed perfect for their livestock for grazing, they approached Moses and asked him if they may have that land as their inheritance.  Moses berated them and said: “Shall your brothers go out to battle while you settle here?”  Then we read in today’s Parsha Deu 3:18ff

“I commanded you at that time, saying ‘ יהוה your God gave you this Land for a possession, armed shall you cross over before your brethren…..Until  יהוה shall give rest to your brethren like yourselves, and they, too, shall possess the Land that יהוה  your God, gives them on the other side of the Jordan;  then you shall return…”

In other words Moses is stressing to them that they are also part of Israel, of the 12 tribes;  they are part of a community and therefore need to support, help and have fellowship with their community.  They cannot, and must not separate themselves from their brothers. This is in fact an important Jewish principle, for example:  To bear respect and affection for every Jew as for oneself and not to separate oneself from the community;  be one of the community and partake in the affairs and actions of the community.

What we learn from Hebrew words in the Parasha

Bill Bullock always magnificently explain deeper meanings [Sod and Remez information] of the Hebrew text. (*7) Here are some examples in this Parsha:-

Key Phrase #1

         The first key phrase…… comes from a rebuke leveled by Moshe at our ancestors.  Of the Redeemed who accepted the report of the spies, and cried out to be allowed to die in the desert or return to Egypt, Moshe said:

“. . . You did not trust the Holy One your God . . .”

           ” The Hebrew word our English Bibles translate as “trust”, or “believe” in this verse, [what those who received and accepted the report of the spies lacked] is a form of Strong’s Hebrew word #539, ‘aman’[alef, mem, nun sofit, pronounced aw-man’. This word is the Hebrew verb root of the word “Amen!” which is commonly spoken after a prayer. It is a key word for anyone wishing to understand their Hebraic roots.  It is the word usually translated as “believe”.  It is found, for instance, in Genesis 15:6 [its first instance in Scripture], where we are told:

He [Avraham] believed in [Hebrew, aman] the Holy One; and he reckoned it to him for righteousness.

“…… The Hebrew pictograph formed by the combination of consonants which make up this verb root tells the story.  The first consonant, alef, [א ]is the symbolic representation of the Holy One, the ‘alef   and the tav’ [ת][in Greek, alpha and omega]. The second consonant, mem, [מ ]is the symbolic representation of a flowing wave, that which represents movement [as a wave carries an object to the shore].  The third consonant, nun sofit [ ן] , the form the letter nun takes at the end of a word, represents the final, ultimate son or heir of the Holy One – Messiah.  Putting these together, this pictures the Holy One putting the Messiah in something [or, more particularly, someone] who will carry Him to full term and deliver Him.  To flesh this out a little more, consider that the Hebrew word formed by the first two letters, alef, mem, אמ, means ‘mother’.  Add the nun sofit to this, and you get one who serves as a ‘mother’ – i.e., becomes pregnant with, and carries to full term, and delivers — the Messiah [the Word – the Torah made flesh]. ….. [Hebrew letters inserted by me.]

“It is so, so much more than the English word “believe”.  It means to totally yield oneself to The Holy One. It means to allow oneself to be impregnated by the Holy One with the Messiah…..

”Moshe tells us that the generation who accepted the report of the spies did not aman.  In other words, Moshe is saying: your ancestors did not acknowledge, accept and agree with, and become pregnant with, carry to full term, and deliver, the Holy One’s statements of truth….”

Key Phrase #2

“The second key phrase…. comes from Moshe’s description of Kalev, son of Y’funneh…[Deuteronomy 1:36]The word translated as “whole-heartedly” in our English Bibles is Strong’s Hebrew word #4390, male’ [mem, lamed, alef,pronounced maw-lay’], meaning to the fullest, to the utmost; therefore meaning without distraction, without hesitancy, without doubt, and without regret.  It is this kind of single-minded, whole-hearted devotion and steadfastness to which all of us aspire.    Key phrase #1 and #2 are obviously connected.  Only he who truly aman the Divine Bridegroom can love or serve Him wholeheartedly.     And, of course, if one is not at least moving toward loving and serving the Holy One wholeheartedly, one does not truly aman the Holy One – whatever his creed or confession may say.” 

Key Phrase # 3

“The third key phrase…. is found in connection with a prophetic message Moshe received from the Holy One at the time of the chet ha-meraglim [sin of the golden calf] regarding the children under 20 who were then alive.  Of those who were mere children at the time of the chet ha-meraglim, Moshe said:

“they will have possession of [the land of Kena’an, which was promised to Avraham, Yitschak, and Ya’akov]”   [Deuteronomy 1:39]

           ” The Hebrew verb our English Bibles translate as “have possession” is Strong’s Hebrew word #3423, yarash, [yod, resh, shin, pronounced yaw-rash’], meaning to inherit and enjoy the benefits of something which one did not acquire by labor or purchase. “

Key Phrase #4

“The fourth key phrase….. comes from Moshe’s description of the ‘presumptuous ones’, who, after the Holy One said to turn around and go back into the desert, refused to do so, but presumptuously attacked the Emori.  Of those who heard, but refused to sh’ma the instructions of the Holy One to leave K’desh and turn back into the desert, Moshe said:

 “you wouldn’t sh’ma! Instead, you rebelled against Adonai’s order, took matters into your own hands, and went up into the hill country . . .” [Deuteronomy 1:43]

            “The Hebrew word our English Bibles translate with the phrase “took matters in your own hands” or “were presumptuous”, is Strong’s word #2102, zuwd, [zayin, yod, dalet, [pronounced zood],meaning literally “to cook — to make a meal”; by implication, to try to create something by oneself, to act defiantly and arrogantly, in a show of self-sufficiency. ” [For all of the above see (*7)

 I would like to end off with what Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks shared re Parasha Devarim:

“Throughout Devarim Moses is relentless in his criticism of the people: “From the day you left Egypt until you arrived here, you have been rebellious against the Lord… You have been rebellious against the Lord ever since I have known you.” (Deut. 9:7, 24). His critique extends to the future: “If you have been rebellious against the Lord while I am still alive and with you, how much more will you rebel after I die!” (Deut. 31:27). Even the curses in Deuteronomy, delivered by Moses himself, are bleaker than those in Leviticus 26 and lack any note of consolation. Criticism is easy to deliver but hard to bear. It is all too easy for people to close their ears, or even turn the criticism around (“He’s blaming us, but he should be blaming himself. After all, he was in charge”). What does it take for criticism to be heeded? The people have to know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that the leader is always ready to defend them. They have to know that he cares for them, wants the best for them, and is prepared to take personal risks for their sake. Only when people know for certain that you want their good, do they listen to you when you criticize them.” (*8)

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FOOTNOTES

*1  The Torah,  the first 5 books of the Tenach [Old Testament],  was divided into 54 sections;  a section for each week,  including the weeks in a leap year.  The Jews were in exile and the Sages decided that unless the Torah is taught and read regularly – as they were commanded to do!  – the people [by now in their history, Judah & Benjamin & some of the other tribes] will lose this knowledge and G-d’s way.  The Masoretic Text (7^th century CE) of the Tenach as well as the Aleppo Codex (10^th century CE) already had these divisions. We therefore study the Torah weekly according to the week’s Parshat [literal reading] which is named after a key word in the first verse of the Parshat.

*2  The Rabbi’s say there are 613 commandments.  But note some only apply to the High Priest or Priests.  Some apply only to the ceremony of sacrifices;  some only to the Temple or the Land of Israel;  some only to men, and some only to women.

*3  The Hebrew word is ירגלו [ or טיול  ] / walked,  means touring and not spying.

*4  Note that this commandment and principal is part of the ‘Heart of the Torah’ – Lev 17,18,19 & 20

*5  A Shaddow Image, is an example, event, action or person in the Tenach,  that foreshadows something deeper and yet to be or come.

*6  Tony Robinson.  Parshat  Devarim: Parashat HaShavua teaching, Restoration of Torah Ministries.

*7  Bill Bullock. D’varim – The Final Leg of Our Great Torah Journey. rabbbisson@cableone.net

*8  Jonathan Sacks. ‘The Effective Critic’, Devarim, Covenant & Conversation 5778; on Life-Changing Ideas in the Parsha.

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Chapter 9: This is How – “Va’etchanan” (And I begged), Deut 3:23 – 7:11 

“G-d commanded us to perform all these decrees, to fear [have awe of] Yehova our God, for our good, all the days, to give us life…” Deu 6:24

The ninth Chapter of this blog is based on the second Parasha in Devarim/ Deuteronomy named ואתחנן / Va’etchannan meaning ‘And I implored / begged’. [See here below in the section What we learn from the Hebrew] “Devarim 1:5 states that ‘Moses began explaining this Torah… saying’  The reason why the book of Devarim is so critical to understanding the purpose and scope of the Torah is because Moses explicitly stated that he would explain it. In other words, he’s going to help us understand it. He will tell us the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How of the Torah. Therefore, we should expect Devarim to be a gold mine of treasures pertaining to the Torah.” (*1)

Deuteronomy”… is a fundamental theological statement of what Judaism is about.  It is an attempt to integrate law and narrative into a single coherent vision of what it would be like to create a society of law governed liberty under the sovereignty of God: a society of justice, compassion, respect for human dignity and the sanctity of human life.  And it is built around an act of mutual commitment, by a God to a people and by the people to God. The commitment itself is an act of love.  At the heart are the famous words from the Shema in this week’s parsha; ”You shall love the lord your God with all your heart , with all your soul, and with all your might” (Deut. 6:5) The Torah is the fundamental narrative of the fraught, sometimes tempestuous, marriage between God and an often obstinate people.  It is a story of love.” (*2)

We can identify 3 different types of commandments: Mishpatim (judgments / commandments) – these are ethical laws we can understand and that most societies themselves would establish, i.e. do not murder, be kind to your neighbor.

Edot (testimony/witness) Laws that a society would not necessarily have thought of like e.g. keeping the Shabbat, cities of refuge….

And Chukim (decrees/statutes) laws and principles that we do not understand, yet is a commandment from G-d like e.g. not to eat pork and the commandment regarding the Red Heifer. (*3)

The Commandments mentioned in this Parsha

1 Do not add or subtract from the commandments.  Deu4:2

2 Guard your soul. Deu 4:9

3 Remember to teach your children Deu 4:9

4 Establish a place/ city of refuge Deu 4:41

5 Learn the commandments and be careful to preform them Deu 5:1

6 The Ten Commandments:  1.) יהוה /Yehova is your G-d. Deu 5:6-18

7 ( 2) You shall not have any other gods. Make a carved image, and worship them.

8 ( 3) You shall not take the name יהוה in vain.

9 (4) Observe the Shabbat and keep it holy.

10 (5) Honor your Father and Mother

11 (6) You shall not murder

 12 (7) You shall not commit adultery.

13 ( 8) You shall not steal

14 (9) You shall not bear false witness.

15 (10) You shall not covet.

16 You shall not stray to the right or left of the commandments. Deu 5:29

17 Your G-d, the only one G-d, you shall love with all your heart, soul and resources.  Deu 6:4,5

18 Teach the commandments to your children. Deut 6:7

19 Write the commandments on your heart, bind them as a sign on you and your home.  Deu 6:6-9

20 In his name you shall swear Deu 6:13

21 Do not test G-d/ Hashem.  Deu 6:16

22 Do what is fair and good.  Deu 6:18

23  You shall not assimilate with the heathens around you. Deu 7:3

A Brief Discussion of the above Commandments

[1] Deu 4:2:- To add or subtract from the commandments means one thinks it is lacking and not perfect.  In fact even if you think a commandment is antiquated or archaic, and surely do not apply to the 21^st century, the essence and spirit of the commandment still stands! [*4] This we shall see in the following chapters as we discuss the laws stated in Deuteronomy.

“Torah is always the giver of light and we are always the recipients.  In our learning we add nothing to it, we merely strive to uncover what was already there.  But through the mitzvoth (commandments), we, both receive and give light…. Whereas the Torah exists externally in itself, the mitzvoth need the partnership of man…the commandments require physical acts and objects, and they change the fabric of the world.” [34.294]

[2] Deu 4:9:- Moses tells them to be careful to guard their souls, after he told them that the other nations will admire them for their Torah.  Therefore do not become proud and arrogant and think that its they that are so wonderful and forget the miracles that they saw and witnessed; that these commandments were given by G-d; and forget to teach their children.  In Deut 7:7 Moses informs them: ‘ Not because you are more numerous than all the peoples did י-הוה desire you and choose you, for you are the fewest of all the peoples.  Rather because of י-הוה ‘s love for you and because He observes the oath he swore to your forefathers… (my underlinig)

“God does not forget.  The basic question is whether you will remember or forget.” [32.165]  To guard your soul to surely invite G-ds spirit, the Ruach Hakodesh , to live in your heart and soul; to avoid that which is evil and that what is an abomination to G-d; not to have that in your life, not to accept it, no to commune with it. [See also #9 here below]

[3] Deu 4:9:- This commandment in this verse not only from part of the Pesach ritual when at the family table to Pesach Haggada is read, it also forms part of the ‘Shema’ [see also Deu 6:7 #7 here below]  Many years ago I read a little book by Margaret Marshal in which she referred to this Torah principle.  It really struck a cord in me.  I was forever mulling over the fact that the word of G-d would be read at school assembly; people would go to church; at national festivals there would be prayers to the Almighty, and yet there was little evidence of it in the day to day living and actions of individuals.  Reading about that commandment ‘You shall teach them thoroughly to your children and you shall speak of them while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when u arise’ [Deu 6:7],  struck me how this refers to the Hebraic /Jewish way where the teaching of, speaking about and doing (living/ asah) our faith in the Almighty Creator of the earth, starts at home.  It is not enshrined in a special building out there, it’s here in our hearts, in our homes and our daily living and interactions.

[4] Deu 4:1:- One of the first tasks Moses had to perform when they entered the Holy Land, was to establish six Cities of Refuge. The Ten Commandments commanded not to murder, not to kill.  But what if it was an accident?  What should one do about the revenge the family or friends or group would feel?  Causing somebody’s death by accident is an especially horrible thing.  There is an interesting shadow image hidden in this commandment concerning the messiah.  The person who accidentally kills someone, can escape to one of the cities of refuge, and has to stay there till the death of the High Priest in Jerusalem. It is told that the wife of the High Priest was so concerned that the guilty party would pray for the imminent death of the High Priest so that he/she can leave the City of Refuge,  that she would send food to the refugee to keep him happy.

It’s interesting to see where this commandment occurs in the narrative.  In fact this is one of the important factors to consider when studying Torah.  The narrative is not always chronological and there is always a deeper meaning for that. Here we find this law place in between Moses’s exhortation to Israel to do the commandments diligently, and recalling the terrible sins they committed during the 40 years of travelling in the desert, especially their licentious behavior at Ba’al Peor [see Num 25]. He also mentions here the famous verse that is one of the many descriptions of the Holy One ‘For י-הוה, your God- is an all-consuming fire, a jealous G-d’. [Deu 4:24] and then in verse 31 ‘For י-הוה, your God, is a merciful God, He will not abandon you nor destroy you,…’which is the consolation they are told, after telling them that just as they bowed to Idols and followed pagan customs, so will their children’s children.  But God is merciful and ‘…he will not forget the covenant of your forefathers that he swore to them’. [Deu 4:31b]  And then this enigmatic verse follows:  ‘Has there been anything like this great thing or has anything like it been heard’. [Deu 4:32b] Here it refers to the miracle of the Exodus and the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai.  But these words are echoed in Isiah 66:8 ‘Who has heard such as this?  Who has seen such as these?’…- regarding to the Prophecy of the rebirth of Israel in 1948.

From the depths of despair where you [or this refugee or the Jews in the Galut] may find yourself, we read : ‘From there you will seek י-הוה your God and you will find Him, if you search for him with all your heart and and all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have befallen you, at the end of days (*5) you will return to י-הוה, your God and hearken to his voice.’ [Deu 4:29,30]  Is thus hidden here in this commandment, that we are not perfect?  We do sin and not always on purpose.  Yet, our G-d is a merciful G-d and a forgiving G-d that makes provision for the payment due.  There is redemption.  Recall, the death of the High Priest, sets the refugee free.

[5] Deu 5:1:-  Hear [שמע], O Israel, the decrees and the ordinances that I speak in your ears today: Learn them, and be careful to perform them.’ In Deu 4:40 Moses said: ’You shall observe His decrees and His commandments that I command you this day, so that He[G-d] will do good to you and to your children after you, and so that you will prolong your days on the land that י-הוה, your God, gives you, for all the days.’ Remember how I explained in Chapter 8, that this verse refers to the Shadow Image of how we get to Olam Haba [Heaven / the after life].

[6] Deu 5:6-18:- One can write a book about the well-known and famous Ten Commandments, (*6) in Hebrew referred to as Aseret Ha-Dibrot.  Is it not phenomenal that these commandments can be understood by any person on earth and in every century.  The main principle is that it basically teaches relationships. A Rabbi and Pastor, both confessed that what occupies them most concerning their congregants is problems with relationships.

Dr Peter Hammond gave the following succinct framework for the Ten Commandments at a Biblical Worldview Seminar. Each command deals with a specific area;  Each command includes a prohibition;  Each command includes an implicit right and each command includes a call to action.  It touches on the following ten aspects – next to it he gives examples of what it forbids:

G-d –  – polytheism, pantheism, atheism

Worship – idolatry, statues, icons, pictures, films, false religious worship, a person;

Speech – profanity, false prophecies, blasphemy

Time –   – desecration of Sabbath

Authority – disrespect, dishonor, disobedience

Life –   – murder, abortion, euthanasia

Love- adultery, pornography, perversion, homosexuality & disregard for man/woman created in the image of G-d

Property – theft, socialism, laziness, bad stewardship

Truth – perjury, gossip, slander, media bias

Conscience – coveting, greed, selfishness, socialism (and exploitation because of greed, I need to add).

Obiedience to the Ten commandments will result in:

Respect for G-d, respect for people, respect for property

Commandments   1-4 is about our responsibility to G-d

The 5^th  is our responsibly to our parents

6-10 is our responsibility to people

The Ten commandments are the foundation for our rights:

Freedom of worship, the righto know G-d’s will and to do it,

Freedom of speech, the right to work and to rest

Respect for authority, the right to life, sanctity of marriage, private ownership of property,

The right to be protected from slander and freedom of conscious

Now I would like to quote Rabbi Yossy Goldman of Johannesburg’s eloquent discussion of the Ten Commandments, from his book [33.196-198]    that was printed in my synagogue’s weekly schmooze.

“The 10 Commandments – No Multiple Choice”

“Often, I hear people say, “well I’m am not all that religious but I do keep the ten commandments.’ At such times I’m tempted to say, ‘Really? You know that the Ten Commandments are not multiple choice….’ I sometimes wonder if the people who glibly make that claim actually know what the Ten Commandments are…..

1. I am the L-rd Thy G-d.  Basically, this is the commandment to believe in one G-d.  I have every confidence that we all get full marks on this one.
2. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.  O.K. so you don’t make a habit of bowing down to that bust of Buddha in your living room, the question is, should it be there in the first place?  And isn’t it interesting that today we have all these idol competitions being run around the world.  Then, of course, there are all those well-established contemporary idols we tend to ogle and worship.
3. Do not take the name of G-d in vain.  This is not only about taking the oath or swearing in court. What about swearing in the street?  How many choice four letter words are in your vocabulary? And why drag G-d into those graphic expressions?
4. Observe the Shabbat day to keep it holy.  Interestingly the Ten Commandments appear twice in the Torah.  In Exodus, the fourth commandment begins with Zachor – Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.  This week, we read Shamor – observe the Sabbath day.  ‘Remembering’ is achieved through positive acts such a Kiddush and candle lighting, etc.  ‘Observing’ Shabbat is to guard it from any desecration, is the hard part.  It may cramp our current lifestyles.  That is where true commitment comes it. (my underlining)
5. Honor thy Father and thy Mother.  Many people do indeed fulfill this mitzvah in exemplary fashion.  I stand in admiration of sons, and daughters, and often in-laws, who care for and tend to the needs of an aged parent or parent–in-law.  They schlep, they cook, they humor and often tolerate irritable cantankerous elders.  This commandment seems to get more difficult as time progresses.  Yet the Torah makes no distinction based on age.  It is our responsibility to look after our parents when they are dependent on us as they looked after us when we were dependent on them.
6. Thou Shalt Not Murder. Well done. Here’s another easy on to fulfill.  I’m sure not one of you reading this has ever murdered anyone.  You thought of doing it, you almost did it but, in the end, Jews aren’t the murdering type.  We can safely tick another one. [read also Matt. 5:21-25 I need to add]
7. Thou Shalt Not Commit Adultery.  Ummm…Let’s move on to the next one. [Read also Matt. 5:27-29 -added by me]
8. Though Shalt Not Steal.  Strictly speaking this refers to kidnapping in particular.  However, all stealing – including white collar method —apply
9. Thou shalt Not Bear False Witness.  How truthful are we? Even if we are not under oath, our word should be sacred… [Read also Matt.5:33-37- added by me]

10)Thou Shalt Not Covet. Not easy either.  Commentary defines this injunction as a prohibition on badgering someone, or conniving, to acquire- even legally- that which belongs to another.  Go get your own.  Why must it be his spouse, house or car?”

Coveting does not only cause havoc within one’s heart but also can affect a community and even nations.  History is replete with examples. (*7)

• [Commandments numbered 16,17,18 here above] Deu 5:29:-  To not stray to the right or to the left of the commandments means only to follow G-ds way and not to ‘bending the rules’ or finding ‘loopholes’; or as is so popular today, to decide for yourself or according to the ‘group’ that you belong to. Not to follow today’s world views and opinions e.g. same sex marriages and gender fluidity.  See also Deu 6:4 Read how Rabbi Jonathan Sacks explains The Shema: “As I have argued elsewhere, one of the most striking facts about the Torah is that, although it contains 613 commands, it does not contain a word that means “to obey”.  When such a word was needed in Modern Hebrew, the verb Le-tzayet was borrowed from Aramaic.  The verb used by the Torah in place of “to obey” is Sh-m-a.  This is of the highest possible significance.  It means that blind obedience is not a virtue in Judaism. God wants us to to understand the laws he has commanded us.  He wants us to reflect on why this law and not that.  He wants us to listen, to reflect, to seek to understand, to internalize and respond.  He wants us to become a listening people…  The deep truth behind person-centered therapy is that listening is the key virtue of the religious life.  That is what Moses was saying through Devarim.  If we want G-d to listen to us we have to be prepared to listen to him.  And if we learn to listen to him, then we eventually learn to listen to our fellow humans: the silent cry of the lonely, the poor, the weak, the vulnerable, the people in existential pain. …..the very act of listening is a form of respect” (*9) (my underlining)
• [19] This commandment refers to the wearing of Tzitit and attaching a Mezuza to your home.  These two commandments you have to do if you are a Jew or if you convert to Judaism.  If you are a non-Jew, and you want to follow the commandment of wearing  Tzizit, then do it at least according to the custom of Judasim.  The finer details of what the tassels actually look like and are knotted like, is according to the Oral instructions given to Moses by G-d, in other words, the Oral Law.  There are fascinating deeper meanings in the number of strands and knots. Also, if a non-Jew would like to fasten a Mezuzah to his house because he is proud to follow the Holy One’s Way, which he thus openly confess to the world, then this person and his household better follow the commandments with sincerity and commitment and thus not be an embarrassment to Judaism or G-d!  I will always remember how my rabbi told us when he was growing up in Sydney, his father reminded them to be always aware of who and what they represent when going around wearing their kippa /yarmulkes.

• [23] Deu 7:3:- Today, when the promise of blissful multiculturalism is showing cracks in societies all over the world, this commandment needs serious reconsideration.  It’s not just a warning to Jews, but all, listed in Deu 7:2-4 with the famous admonition: Do not become unevenly yoked with unbelievers.  For what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness?  And what fellowship has light with darkness…For you are a Dwelling place of the living Elohim as Elohim has said, ‘I shall dwell in them and walk among them, and I shall be their Elohim, and they shall be My people…And I shall be a father to you, and you shall be sons and daughter to me says י-הוה the almighty. [2 Cor 6:14-18]

“The unmistakable concern of the Bible is correct behavior.  This point to the profound difference between the Jewish outlook and the philosophical worldviews of Plato and Aristotle:  Whereas the philosophers were mostly interested in correct thought…Judaism is primarily interested with moral action.”[35.306] ‘so does G-d say, ‘Let the wise not be praised for his wisdom, let the strongman not be praised for his strength, let the rich man not be praised for his riches.  Only in this regard shall one be praised: Be wise and know Me, for I am the Lord who does loving-kindness, moral justice and righteous compassion in the land, because these are what I desire, says the Lord,’ (Jer. 9:22-23)

What we learn from the Historical narrative

In the opening verses (Deu 3:23-25) of this Parsha we actually learn how to pray because of how Moses structured his prayer.  He starts by praising G-d and acknowledging His greatness, before he utters his own request.  We also note that he pleads with G-d.  Yet, G-does not grant him his wish and Moses accepts that, for ‘For My (G-d) thoughts are not your thought and your ways are not My ways.’(Is 55:8)

Moses in recalling their past, what they have experienced since their miraculous exodus from Egypt and all through the past 40 years in the desert, clearly emphasize- what is a consolation to us too – that the Almighty Creator of this world is deeply involved in the life of every one of them (and us) [Read Deu 4:31,32]

We read an almost poignant aside said by G-d to Moses, when he remarks on the fact that Israel said: ושמענו ועשינו  (we hear and we will do) before they even heard all of the commandments; ‘…they did well in all that they spoke.  Who can assure that this heart should remain theirs…’ G-d says to Moses.  [see Deu 5:25-26] And then they are actually told by Moses prophesizing that they will go astray, they will sin, they will bow down to idols, yet he assures them: ‘He is the God, the faithful God, who safeguards the covenant and the kindness for those who love him and for those who observe his commandments, for a thousand generations.’ [Deu7:9]  Thereafter, the following verse clearly states: And He repays His enemies.  Therefore, reading the text carefully we are told: G-d is faithful and kind but also just.  He will repay them; they will be punished.  The Promised Land is for those that do Teshuva – that is repent: ask for forgiveness and return to the right way.

What we learn from the Hebrew Words

“…men develop routines and practices, which over time crystallize into halakah – a ‘work of the flesh’ – in the form of a man-conceived pattern or routine as to how the mitzvah should be done.  Hence, we have the ‘laws of mezuzah’ – a set of rules, not found in the Holy One’s Torah – about where to place and how to position a little box with a miniature scroll inside, on what doors while saying what blessings.  There is nothing inherently wrong with this halakah.  The fact that it is a work of the flesh does not, ipso facto, make it evil – it just means it has no power of itself.  As long as the halakah does not nullify or distract from – the Spiritual reality behind the mitzvah of Torah to which it relates, and is recognized for the work of the flesh that it is, it does no harm, and can greatly assist in enjoyment and teaching of the mitzvah.  But if the halakah ever is used as a standard by which to judge another – or is thought of as a means of ‘pleasing God’ – it has been misused.” (*8)

יראה / Yirat – Fear, Awe

“Yirat Adonai is to be the first and most basic element of our lives.  It is the key that unlocks all the spiritual potential the Holy one has hidden within us.  Without yirat Adonai we will very quickly veer to the right or to the left of the path the Holy One has chosen for us, becoming either lawless or legalistic.  What does yirat Adonai mean?  It does not mean that we think He is angry at us, or to be afraid He will squash us like a bug.  The Hebrew word our English bibles translate “fear’ is a form of the Hebrew verb Yare, meaning to feel awe in the Presence of, and to respect and reverence as totally transcendent in power, beauty, and holiness” (*8)

שמע / Sh’mah – Listen

“The Hebrew word for this is the verb root sh’ma, which is sometimes translated as listen, sometimes as hear, and sometimes as obey.  The word means all of these things, and much more.  We are not just to listen for and to what the holy One is saying, Beloved.  We are to adopt His directives as the center of gravity of our thought-life, our self-talk, our conversations, our reactions and our behaviors. We are to intensely focus our attention and energy on the Holy One’s pronouncements.  As a plant stretches out in the direction of the sun to receive its life giving rays, so our necks and spiritual ears are to be continually stretching toward the Divine Bridegroom’s Words, endeavoring to hear every word and receive every life-giving instruction for living exactly as the Lover of our soul spoke it.  The study of Torah is not an academic exercise.  Neither is Torah submission a ‘work of the flesh’.  Both Torah study and observance are natural responses to the prophetically empowering Voice of the Holy One” (*8)

דברת בם / dibarta bam – you are to speak to them

“Torah, you will find, speaks over and over again about the transmission of Torah from fathers and mothers to their children…Successful Torah teaching does not come from lesson plans.  It comes, instead, from life.  A parent whose heart is submitted to the Holy One and whose life is submitted to his Torah teaches Torah 24/7/365 by how he/she lives, by how he/she communicates, by how he/she deals with life’s challenges, and by how he/she responds to good -and bad- circumstances. Torah is taught by modeling the Torah lifestyle.  The Holy One contemplated that we would teach our children His mitzvot by letting them see us day in and day out, setting the Holy One’s words constantly before us – before our eyes, on our doors and our gates.  The Holy One contemplated that we would teach our children His mitzvot by having them watch us struggle to make and keep the Holy One’s Torah the most pervasive influence in our lives.” (*8)

עשה / asah – to do

“The meaning of ‘asah’ is to take the Torah/  Scripture / your faith, from the realm of theory and words into the realm of concrete, functional reality, i.e. as a potter takes a lump of clay and makes a jug, To asahG-d’s instructions/ commands, means more than to ‘do’.  It means to interact with material the way a potter interacts with clay.  It means to make visible and tangible that which was only spoken or thought or believed.  To asah G-d’s instructions/commands,  means to build them into something visible, tangible, for all to see.  To do the commandment makes it so much greater, fuller, then just the peshat meaning of the words. ” (*8)

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FOOTNOTES

*1 Robinson, Tony, https://irpcdn.multiscreensite.com/0da55621/files/uploaded/Vaetchannan_9A2qzLDR3qeQYJYEIWw.pdf

*2 Sacks, Rabbi Jonathan, Making Love Last  Va’etchanan 2018/5778, https://gallery.mailchimp.com/2a91b54e856e0e4ee78b585d2/files/5036cb12-f2b5-4645-afcd-c4eb779e32b8/C_C_5778_Making_Love_Last_Va_etchanan.pdf

*3 A Christian will understand the shadow images of this commandment

*4 Remember what Yeshua ben Joseph [Jesus] said: “ Do not think I came to destroy Torah or the prophets.  I did not come to destroy but to complete.  For truly, I say to you, till the heaven and earth pass away, one yod or one tittle shall by no means pass from the Torah till all be done.” [Matt 5:17,18]

And to illustrate and explain what he means with to complete or fulfill them, – what the actual essence of the law is – he gave 8 examples: for instance ‘You shall not murder, ‘and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.  But I say to you that whoever is wroth [angry] with his brother without a cause shall be liable to judgment, And whoever says to his brother ‘Raka!” shall be liable to the Sanhedrin, But whoever says,’ You fool! Be liable to the fires of GeHinnom” [Matt 5:21,22] Note: a Yod and a Tittle are of the smallest letters and markings in the Hebrew manuscript.

*5 This is the Biblical and Hebraic way of saying The End Times , when the Messiah will appear

*6 Again I need to remind the reader that the Ten Commandments does not appear in the Koran, Hadith or Sura

*7 read also: http://www.aish.com/jw/s/The-10-Commandments-Today.html

*8 Bill Bullock. Studies for Parshot Va’etchanan http://mail.google.com/u/0/?tab=wm#label/Bill+Bullock/164dd36db46782e1

*9 Johnathan Sacks. His discussion concerning Parasha Va’etchanan: First you must listen, Covenant and Conversation, 14 Aug.2014.

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Chapter 10: Cut away the barrier of your heart – 46 Eikev / on heels of / footprint – Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25

“Cast off from upon yourselves all your transgressions through which you have transgressed and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit.” Ezekiel 18:31

The Commandments

In this parsha Eikev [Deu 7:12-11:25] commandments are given that Jews specifically have to do as well as some that are applicable only in Israel, therefore, I will not list these

“What Moses is telling us throughout Devarim is that God does not seek blind obedience.  The fact that there is no word for obedience in biblical Hebrew, in a religion of 613 commands, is stunning in itself (modern Hebrew had to borrow a verb, letzayet, from Aramaic).  He wants us to listen, not just with our ears but with the deepest resources of our minds.  If God had simply sought obedience, he would have created robots, not human beings with a will of their own. (*1)

1.  Deu 7:16:-  You shall not worship other gods but י-הוה other gods will be a snare for you. (note this is again repeated in Deu 11:16) Do not let your heart be seduced by other gods and go astray and prostrate yourselves before them.  G-d will then withhold the blessing of rain for your land.
2. Deu 8:10:-  When you have eaten and be satisfied, thank and bless G-d.
3.  Deu 8:11,18; 9:4:-  You shall remember י-הוה G-d: that it was he who gives you strength to make your wealth,  Take care lest you forget י-הוה your G-d.., lest you eat and be satisfied and build good homes and settle… and everything that you have will increase – and your heart will become haughty and you will forget י-הוה your G-d… Do not say in your heart… Because of my righteousness did י-הוה bring me to possess this land?
4. Deu 10:12, 16:-  What does י-הוה your G-d asks of you?  You shall cut away the barrier of your heart and no longer stiffen your neck.  Fear G-d, go in all His ways, love him, serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.  Deu 8:5 notes you will be chastised, you will perish if you do not go according to G-d’s ways and fear him.  Be grateful, for he is bringing you to a beautiful bountiful land.
5. Deu 10:18:-  Consider the widow and the orphan because G-d cares about them.
6. Deu 10:19:- You shall love the proselyte (convert) for you were stranger in the land of Egypt.
7. Deu 11:1-8 – Do not forget the miracles that G-d did since taking you out of Egypt with a strong hand, as well as His chastisements when you sinned.  Once you are in the land, don’t make the excuse that you did not experience all that, and lie and forget.
8.  Deu 11:8,9, 22 Observe ALL of G-d’s commandments in the Promised Land.  That, will make you strong and your days will be prolonged to enjoy the land flowing with milk and honey; and then the land will be blessed with rain:  the early rains and the late rains, to provide food for you and your animals
9. Deu 11:18 Place the words of G-d upon you heart and upon your soul.
10.  Deu 11:20 Attach a Mezuzah with these words Deu 6:4-9 & 11:13-21, written on the parchment inserted in the Mezuzah, on your doorpost of your house and gates.
11. Deu 11:19 You shall teach this Torah to your children, to discuss them, while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise

A few comments regarding the above commandments

[1] Deu 7:16- This commandment is the second commandment of the Ten Commandments [see Ex 20:3]- mentioned straight after the first that states: I am י-הוה your G-d, and mentioned again and again in the Torah.  We know from history that the pagans that lived in the Promised Land and those that surrounded Israel, had many gods as also had Greece and Rome that ruled Israel for periods.  Even today there are many cultures and nations that worship many gods.  Now, before you think, ‘well that doesn’t apply to me, ‘do you worship a famous star [film or singer]?  Do you worship status, wealth, prestige, sport of a kind? What do you idolize?  What or who takes up all your money, energy, time and mind?  “..the idealistic attraction to idolatry ..is not that one feels he is being drawn into another religion, but it is the desire to associate with another culture which just happens to have another god.  It is the need to merge into the cultural expressions of another friendly group.” (*2)

[2]  Deu 8:10 – There is a well-known painting by the famous American artist Norman Rockwell that shows a grandmother sitting at table in a café with her grandson, with bowed heads, thanking G-d for the food in front of them,  Two young boys to their left that share their table, look on quizzically.  Rabbi David Aaron wrote concerning this parashat Eikev: “Imagine a man who observes Sabbath but it has no meaning to him – no taste, The only thing that keeps him doing it is guilt, or respect for the tradition, or simply habit. Without his understanding the meaning behind his observance, it will eventually stop sooner or later, in this generation or the next…getting excited about the commandments driven life requires having a reason.  We’re missing the real reason behind it all.  And without meaning, tradition becomes stale, and commandments become heavy burdens.” (*3)

Blessing the food we eat and thanking G-d is probably the easiest Mitzvah/Commandment that we do most regularly.  It is therefore one of the many ‘connections and acknowledgements’ of G-ds existence and presence in our lives, that we can make on a daily basis.

Think about it, G-d is the creator of everything. It is because of Him giving the blessing of rain and man’s foresight and ability instilled in us by the creator, that we have food on our table.  Apart from thanking G-d for the miracles of food, our blessing for what we drink and eat, lift it to a higher and spiritual level.  It obviates us being gluttons eating rapaciously (*4)

“Man doesn’t not live by bread alone.” [Deu 8:3] a famous line but what does it mean? The verse comes from this week’s Torah reading [see also Matt.4:4] and is a reference to the miraculous manna, which fell from heaven daily in the wilderness.  The conclusion of the verse is that man lives by the word of G-d. `Thus, it is reminding us about the true source of human sustenance. Contrary to popular belief, it is neither our earthly toil nor sweat of our brow nor all those conferences, meetings, and sales seminars that ensure our success.  The reality is that it is G-d who sustains us and looks after us.” [33.201] (NT reference added by me)

[3] Deu  8:11, 18; 9:4 – This commandment so aptly describes the well-heeled and prosperous people in the US, Canada, South Africa and Australia et al that have fallen victim to the good life. (*5)  Too easily when we eat and are satisfied, have good houses, and a holiday home and two cars in the garage, we forget G-d.  We become proud, haughty, and arrogant and would even refer to the Bible as those ’ancient tales of no use to me’.  Deu 7:25 says:’… you shall not covet and take for yourself the silver and gold that is on them(carved images of gods) lest you be ensnared by it’ And when things go bad, we suddenly run to G-d and fellow men would tease us, saying we are grabbing at a crutch.

Faith is a daily walk and relationship with the Almighty father,  such an intimate relationship only comes from knowing Him, through his word and communicating with G-d with Thanksgiving and praise on your lips, in your heart and soul on a daily basis.

[4]  Deu 10:12,16 – The fourth commandment listed here above is the antidote to the third.  In the wink of an eye one can lose everything:  your life, health, wealth or status.  That is when one realizes only one’s soul, one can hold onto and keep pure and holy as Jews realized in the Concentration Camps.  Rabbi Jonathan sacks wrote: ‘the moral voice itself comes to seem like an un warranted intrusion into personal freedom… other civilizations failed because they forgot these difficult truths, so easily lost in affluent times,  Jews have never forgotten.  They made memory a religious obligation… Today a view prevails that all ways of life, all lifestyles, are equally valid.  Judgment itself is held to be morally wrong because it assaults the principle that each of us should be free to live as we choose…each of us is unique, and there are many different ways of living well…Some ways of life lead on to happiness, others to frustration, loneliness, disappointment and quiet despair.  The truth is that we discover what doesn’t work when It is already too late.’ [1.178] [my bold emphasis]

[5] Deu 10:18 – European countries have as of late discovered that their welfare state policies do not work and are headed for total collapse because of the hundreds and thousands of so called refugees from the Middle East and Africa that are flooding their countries.  (A Spanish parliamentary actually stated this during Aug. 2018).  The Torah teaches us to care for our fellow man in ever growing wider concentric circles.  First in the home, the family that forms the basis of society, the extended family and then the immediate community, and so in ever larger groups.  What a difference this would make if only we lived like this!  More and more governments are experiencing problems to keep up with the costs of social demands their welfare policies create for them.

‘The directive to be holy was given to the entire assembly of the children of Israel…G-d commanded Moshe to gather all of the Jewish people… This teaches us the [parshas Kedoshim] was said before the entire assembly because the majority of the Torah’s fundamental principles are contingent upon it….holiness can be attained only when one is part of a community and not in isolation…and treating all people with respect and genuine fraternity” [36.51] And this has very much been the Jewish tradition through the ages.  (my underlining)

[6] Deu 10:19 – A society or community often find it difficult to practice this commandment when new converts are from a different culture or are a different race or skin colour.  The commandment to ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ should go hand in hand with this commandment.

[7] Deu 11:1-8 – Believers today also experience daily miracles – big and small.  Often you think it was  just ‘per chance’ or a fluke – yet usually it is a miracle from G-d.  Remember what G-d did for you; remember those small daily miracles.  It’s a good habit to diarize these: e.g. ‘today I un-expectantly bumped into X and happen to mention to Y which led to the right information to solve my problem.’  And when we look back over our lives, we can clearly identify the big or small miracles that lead us on in our path of life.

[8] Deu 11:8,9,22 – We read the following comment in the Chumash regarding these verses:  “G-d is aware of and concerned with human activity” [11.995] And on the same page we read the beautiful… Verse: ‘the eyes of Hashem [G-d], your G-d are always upon it [the land of Israel] from the beginning of the year , to the years end.’ [Deu 11:12]

[10] Deu 11:20 refers to the Mezuza is the container affixed on the right side of the gate or door of one’s house, that contains a hand-written parchment on which is written the Shema. It is a “reminder of God’s eternal Presence, in this case in the Jewish home…Upon entering and leaving the home, or any room therein, the Jew is reminded of the potential for sanctity in all aspects of life, and of the relationship one must have with God to achieve a saintly life. In that way the love of God and the positive consequences of our relationship with God will be our central interest and goal in life.” [21.232] (See also Chapter 17)

Commandments 9, 10,&11 mentioned here above are repetitions of what was mentioned in the previous discussion, Parshat 45 Va’etchanan.  These commandments are part of the Shema (*6).  The first paragraph of the Shema is found in Va’etchanan…And the second in Eikev…They are clearly related.  They have many ideas in common, but they also diverge at a number of points.  “If one examines the text closely, a significant distinction between the two chapters becomes immediately discernable.  The first chapter is in the singular; and the second is in the plural.  Teach Torah to your son in the first and to your children in the second… one important answer is that G-d speaks to the individual but G-d also speaks to the community” [33.204]

“The first parasha of the Shema is an expression of “Torah for its own sake,”  that being the love of God without instrumental significance, and it’s aim its contained within itself.  Therefore no reason is given and there are no sanctions.  Had one been able to able to give a reason for it, it would have lost its significances a categorical command, as something a person accepts because he sees its value in itself.  But not every person is capable of that.  We know the saying of Maimonides that the Torah permitted man to serve God and to observe the mitzvoth with the hope of being awarded, and to refrain from sin because of his fear of punishments. It is to these people that the second paragraph of the Shema is addressed.  But the purpose of faith isn’t not the results which stem from the fact that there is faith, but the faith itself… The love of God, the fear of God, and the worship of God are all intermingled, and cannot be separated..” [32.170]

Now again consider the above.  Is there a commandment or principle that you as a believer or Christian need not do?

What we learn from the narrative

In Deu 7:12-15 and 8:1-10 Moses tells Israel of all the blessings they will receive if they hearken to, observe & perform the ordinances.  Then again in Deu 11:13 he again says: ‘if you indeed heed…’ which means “ if you listen – and I mean really listen”  Jonathan Sacks furthermore writes:  ‘Listening to another human being, let alone G-d, is an act of opening ourselves up to a mind radically other than our own.  This takes courage… My deepest certainties may be shaken by entering into the mind of one who thinks quite differently about the world…. It is the antidote to narcissism: the belief that we are the center of the universe.  It is also the antidote to the fundamentalist mindset characterized by the late Professor Bernard Lewis as ,’I’m right; your wrong; go to hell.” (*1)

It is said that the world that you live in is a product of your perception of reality.  If Israel kept the commandments, G-d said he would safeguard the covenant and loving kindness (Chessed) He swore to their forefathers.  They will be blessed and loved by G-d; they will have many children, the land will be blessed to be fruitful.  Verse 14 states ‘you will be most blessed of all peoples’  Any believer and follower of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that keeps his commandments will also experience bountiful blessings.  But it can depend on your perception of your circumstances.  Rabbi David Aaron gives a striking example;’ Imagine three people sitting right next to each other in a doctors waiting room…Let’s say the first person walked in and complained, ’Oh, how small this room is.’  The second person enters and exclaims, ‘Look, how bright this room is’.  The third person comes in and thinks ‘Ugh, what a messy room.’  Now they are sitting inches apart, but they are not in the same room.  The first person is sitting in a small room feeling really cramped.  The second person is sitting in a light room, feeling cheerful.  The third person is sitting in a messy room feeling disgusted…Your consciousness of G-d determines how much of the light and truth [and blessings] will be allowed into your world.  To the extent that you acknowledge G-d, to that extent G-d will be in your life.  This is a very crucial idea.  Although G-d is, G-d is not revealed in your perceptual world unless you actively acknowledge and invite G-d in,’ (*7)

Deu 7:18-21  Moses said to Israel, who was about to enter the Promised Land knew it had giants that made them feel like grasshoppers, ‘Do not fear!…for  י-הוה, your God is among you, a great and awesome God’  Later we read G-d saying to Joshua as they were about to enter the land: Jos 1:5…’as I was with Moses so will I be with you; I will not release you nor will I foresake you.  Be strong and courageous.’ (this last phrase is repeated in verse 7&9) We too often have to remind ourselves of G-ds nearness, not to fear, but to hold on to him for ‘The name of י-הוה is a strong tower; The righteous run into it and are safe’ [Proverbs 18:10] 

Is it not amazing that the Israelites ‘ garments and sandals did not wear out all of the forty years, and their feet did not swell. Read Deu 8:4  Such was G-d’s safeguarding!

From Deu 8:2 we learned that G-d tested them. ‘י-הוה your God led you these forty years in the Wilderness so as to afflict you, to test you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would observe his commandments or not’ The message to us is to be faithful, trust G-d and perservere.  Do not give up!

Deu 9:4 ‘…Because of the wickedness of these nations did Hashem (G-d) drive them away from before you.’ Often the fact that israel had to destroy all the pagan nations, men women and children included, is questioned and seen as being cruel and without mercy.  We are not given details of their sinful life style; rather not to fill our memory banks with the awful misdeeds and disgusting behaviors of the heathens.  We can be sure that it was because of their unacceptable behavior and wickedness according to G-d. that they have to be destroyed.  We never need to doubt the long suffering and mercifulness of י-הוה our God ‘for very great are His mercies’ [1Ch 21:13] [see also Ex34:6, Deu4:31] In verse 5 Moses reiterates that the Israelites should not think their righteousness is sufficient, but that G-d is a faithful and G-d honors his convenant with their forefathers.

Deu 9:17 Moses broke the two tablets on which G-d wrote the Ten commandments because they were the Ketuba (marriage contract) so to say and had Israel read them, they would have been guilty of unfaithfullness; he therefore interceded for them.  (Read Jeremiah 31:31).

Deu 9:19 and :25-29  We read here how Moses pleads to G-d and reasons with him just as Abraham did – see Genesis 18:22-33. יהוה is a G-d that one can talk to;  He is a loving Father.  Even though we read ‘For י-הוה your  God – he is the G-d of the powers and the Lord of Lords, the great, mighty and awesome G-d, who does not show favor and who does not accept a bribe’. [Deu 10:17]

“At the heart of Judaism is a convenant of love.  Judaism has often been seen –  notoriously by Christianity – as a religion of law and justice rather then love and compassion.   To be sure, Judaism is a religion of law and justice between human beings, because only where there is law can there be a just society, and Judaism is nothing if not a religion of society.  But between God and man there is a bond of love….

“ ‘In that day, declares the Lord, You will call Me “my husband” (ishi); You will no longer call Me, “my master” (Baali) [Hosea 2:18]

“For Hosea, at the core of Baal worship is the primitive idea that God rules the world by force, as husbands rule families in societies where power determines the structure of relationships….The God to whom we speak in prayer is not the ultimate power but the ultimate person, the Other in whom I find myself.” [1.86]

We can even say that Moses cared for the reputation of G-d.  In fact there is an expression where we say Kiddush Ha-shem, when something is said or done that is to the glory of G-d.  The converse is Hillul HaShem, which refers to an utterence or action that profanes the name of G-d, or even any actions that brings disgrace to Israel or Jews.

What we learn from the Hebrew

Not only the actual Hebrew language teaches us so much more, but also the stylistic structure of the Torah.  The fact that the narrative is not always in a chronological order has meaning, and often chiastic structures appears.  Repetition of words in a section is also noteworthy.  Note for instance how often the word ‘remember’ appears, and how many times the word ‘love’ is used in this Parshas Eikev.

“The true meaning of the word ‘ love’, ahav, in Hebrew: “The first biblical usage of this verb is in Genesis 22:2, where it refers to the relationship between Avraham and Yitzchak.  To ahav means to consciously choose as a favourite, to pursue time with and communion/fellowship and constant interaction with, and to thereby bond with, someone, prefering that person’s company, ways, opinions, and values over any other.”(*8)

“ The word our English Bibles translate as “bless” is  Barach, means to release from restrictions and limitations.  To barach someone or something means to infuse the object of blessing with unlimited potential and empowerment.

“The Holy One will do that with us.  He will release us from restrictions,  He will release us from limitations.  He will infuse us with unlimited potential and empowerment.

“ The word our English Bibles translate as “rain” in this passage is Matar,… Strong’s Hebrew #4306 , pronounced maw-tawr’.  Matar does not, However, mean only ‘rain’ in the sense of precipitation.  Rather, it refers Hebraically to anything that that falls or is dispatched from heaven to earth. (*8)

“ In Eretz Yisroel, we are dependant upon the former and the latter rains.  If the former rain [ yoreh] does not fall in October through December [beginning immediately after sukkot, and continuing intermittently through Chanuka], our land will be too dry in the Spring.  If the latter rain [mal’kosh] does not fall in March and April [ between Purim and Pesach & Feast of Matzah], our crops will wither on the vine and stalk, and yield no harvest.

“We must have the rains.  We must trust the Holy One for the rains.

“And the Holy One will discipline us, by depriving us of the rains we need, if we lo sh’ma [not listen, hear, heed, and walk in] His instructions for living. (*8)

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FOOTNOTES

*1 Sacks, Jonathan. Listen, Really Listen. Eikev. Covernant and Conversation.  2018/5778

*2 Va-etchanan, 2009. www.yourlivingwatrers.com  Ardelle brody.

*3 You get Back What You Put In.  The Joys of a Commandment- Driven Life. Rabbi David Aaron, Isralight, 2018

*4 The Torah way of honoring the food that we eat as being a gift from G-d, and treating animals humanely, is in stark contrast to the horrifying news and video showing black Africans cutting meat from a horse they kept tied up alive and a mob in Africa hacking at a live elephant lying squirming in agony while they hack away at him.  No wonder the Torah forbids us to tear a limb off a live animal [ see Leviticus 17] see also Dallen [12.97-121] In Psalm 50:10 we read: For mine is every beast of the forest; the Behemoth upon a thousand hills.

*5 “I think we sometimes forget the real Galut mentality is not necessarily living in a ghetto, but considering the non-Jewish world to be so great.  The real exile within, the exile inside our own heads and hearts,” [32.203]

*6 The Shema is the closest Judaism gets to a ‘confession of faith’.  It does not have a confession of faith as other religions have.  The first pharagraph of the Shema is in Deu 6:4-9 and the second paragraph is in Deu 11:13-21 and therefore appear in this parshat that I discussed.  Miamonides, also known as the Rambam, listed 13 priciples of faith that are also regarded as the basic faith principles that a Jew adheres to., “the fundamental truths of our religion and its very foundations.”:–

1. Belief in the existence of the creator, who is perfect in every manner of existence and is the Primary Cause of all that exists.
2. The belief in G-ds absolute and unparalleled unity.
3. The belief in G-ds’s non-corporeality, nor that he will be affected by any physical occurrences, such as movement, or rest, or dwelling.
4. The belief in G-ds eternity
5. The imperative to worship G-d exclusively and no foreign false gods.
6. The belief that G-d communicates with man through prophecy.
7. The belief in the primacy of the prophecy of Moses our teacher
8. The belief of the divine origin of the Torah.
9. The belief of the immutability of the Torah.
10. The Belief in G-d’s omniscience and providence.
11. The belief in divine reward and retribution
12. The belief in the arrival of the Messia and the Messianic era
13. The belief of the ressurection of the dead.

It is the custom of many congregations to recite the Thirteen Articles, In a slighly more poetic form, beginning with the words Ani Maamin—“I believe”—everyday after the morning prayers in the synagogue. [See Chabad.org or page 179 of the Artscroll Siddur.]

—The word Shema/ shamoa tishme’u,  appears 92 times In Deutronomy.

*7 Rabbi David Aaron. What you see is what you get. Sparks, Isralight, Dec 2010

*8 Bill Bullock. Ekev. Rabbisson@cableone.net

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Chapter 11: You Shall Rejoice Parashat 47 Re’eh, Deuteronomy 11:26-16:1

“There is a way that seems right to a man, but at its end are the ways of death.” Proverbs. 14:12

The Gutnick edition of the Chumash’s insights into the Hebrew word for ‘see; could fall into one of three categories: Plain obedience, Intellectual appreciation or Vision. The latter, “At this level, one does not merely appreciate the value of keeping the Torah’s precepts, one sees (re’eh) it.  That is the necessity and positive results of observing the mitzvos becomes as clear and self-evident as seeing a physical object with one’s eyes,” (*1)

This parashat opens with Moses saying to Israel: ‘See, I present before you today a blessing and a curse,’ [Deu 11:26] This should remind us of what we already learn in Genesis chapter 2, especially verses 16 and 17.  Man was given free will. ‘God said, Behold. I have given to you all herbage yielding seed that is on the surface of the entire earth, and every tree that has seed yielding fruit; it shall be yours for food”…. And יהוה God commanded the man saying, “of every tree of the garden you may freely eat; but the tree of knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat thereof; …” [Gen 1:29 &Gen 2:16,17]

I maintain that we too often forget the above primordial history of mankind and this commandment [the fourth] given to man.  It spells out our choice; our free will.  It underlines the fact that we are neither robots nor puppets whose master pulls the strings.  So often we contemplate the eternal question of evil; of bad things that happen, and we forever ask why?  Let’s take an example of a contemporary problem in Europe.  Europe is facing death of its culture and morals.  They are trying to mix oil and water and turning a blind eye to the principle that we learn from the previous parashat: You shall not worship other Gods/cultures.  They will be a snare for you. [Deu 7:16] the so called ‘honour killing’ of girls and women, and the female genital mutilation’ that lifelong robs the woman of any pleasure during the G-d sanctioned physical act, are being turned a blind eye to for the sake of so called political correctness.  The west has fallen hook and sinker into the death trap of a foreign culture.  Now, we you, have a choice, remember?  Should you sanction or keep quiet regarding such barbaric acts that occur in your neighborhood/city/country? [See also Chapter 10 (*4)]  In fact there is a lesson from history in the parashat Re’eh under discussion!  Read the whole of chapter 13 in Deuteronomy! (*2)  It also teaches us that an individual’s action can affect a whole community.

As before , I will not list or discuss the commandments that the Jews specifically had to do in Israel, i.e. the korbanot. (*3) I also do not list those that repeat some that has been commanded in previous Parshot of Deuteronomy.

The Comandments

1. Deu 12:12 & 18; You shall rejoice before י-הוה you God, in your every undertaking.
2. Deu 12:23, 15:23 Do not consume blood – for the blood, it is the life
3. Deu 12:28 Safeguard and hearken all these words, in order that it will be well with you and your children after you forever.
4. Deu 12:30-31b Do not burn your sons and daughters in the fire as heathens do, it is an abomination to יהוה your God. Abortion of babies that is so common today, is applicable here.
5. Deu 14:1 & 2 You shall not cut yourselves and you shall not make a bald spot between your eyes for a dead person,
6. Deu 14:3-21 You shall only eat kosher animals, fowls and fish
7. Deu 15:7 You shall not harden your heart or close your hand against your destitute brother. Rather you shall open your hand to him; you shall lend him his requirement, whatever is lacking to him.
8. Deu 15:12-18 & Exodus 21:1-6  Teach us regarding the proper and humane treatment of servants.
9. Deu16:1-15 You shall keep G-d’s festivals: Pesach, Shavuot, Yom Teruha, Yom Kippur and Sukkot.

Comments regarding the above Commandments

[1] Deu 12:12 & 18 – Note how this commandment says ‘You shall rejoice before G-d – you, your sons, daughters, slaves and the Levite who is your cities.  This obviously implies that יהוה our God should be known and worshipped by all in the community.  That your belief in, love for and relationship with G-d is not just a private matter but should also be shared by your family and the community.  Mentioning specifically also the Levite, adds a further dimension to this commandment.  The Levites did not receive land in Israel.  Their sole occupation was to serve G-d and the community had to care for their needs. (More details are to be found in Numbers and Leviticus) (*4) This paints quite an ideal picture of a community.  How does one achieve this?

“The purest tzadikim (righteous individuals) do not complain about evil but instead increase righteousness.  They do not complain about atheism but instead increase faith. They do not complain about ignorance but instead increase wisdom” [42.193]

       “Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will He teach sinners in the way. The meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach his way. All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies”. Psalm 25:8-10

“To be good is to do good. God created the world so that others could enjoy it.  Goodness is not an attribute of the soul but a way of acting and creating, creating happiness for other people, mitigating their distress, removing even a fraction of the world’s pain. We worship God spiritually by helping his creations physically.”  [47.40]

To be able to “rejoice’ one needs to be happy and joyful.  But is one always?  No, we all experience times when we are down, sad or even fearful. But then G-d’s word teaches us not to be afraid, not to lose resolve and to trust G-d. [See Deu 2:34; 3:2; 3:22] The Israelites travelling through the wilderness had to lift their eyes and follow G-d’s pillar of cloud or fire.  In Psalm 121:1,2 we read: I raise my eyes upon the mountains;  whence will come my help? My help is from יהוה, Maker of heaven and earth,’ G-d’s word tells us that He is the Creator of everything.  By being aware of His presence always and everywhere and admiring the beauty and marvels in creation:  The light reflecting off the leaves; the cool breeze blowing through the trees; a dog lapping up water left by the rain and children playing and laughing.  All this beauty and marvels lifts one’s spirit and help us to feel the nearness of G-d.

Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is especially known by most people for his love and joy.  He showed love for all people;  young or old,  believers and non-believers. Greeting someone “Shlomo’s face would pulsate with beaming joy, a gasp of delight would emerge from his mouth, and the person would be greeted, usually by name with “Holy brother/sister….Reb Shlomo’s decision to emphasize joy in his teachings and concerts drew directly upon the teachings of the Ba’al Shem Tov….’s emphasis on serving God with joy and living life joyously was both refreshing and revolutionary”. [49:48,75] (*5)

[2] Deu 12:23, 15:23- Not to eat blood is a commandment that is also important for Christians and new believers to adhere to.  See Acts 15:20-21 where Shaul (Paul) clearly points out the important commandments that they, the new believers in the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and His word must keep from the outset is:  “But that we write unto them, that they abstain from pollutions of idols, and from fornication, and from things strangled, and from blood. For Moses of old time hath in every city them that preach him, being read in the synagogues every sabbath day.” (See also Chapter 5)

[3] Deu 12:28  ‘Moses taught the people the process for spiritual accomplishment.  First one must safeguard what one has learned, meaning that people must review the laws[משנה] so that the Torah becomes  a part of them, and they do not stumble when questions arise.  With that done they can hearken, I.e. perform the commandments properly. (Rashi)’ [11.1005] The fact that it is said: in order that it will be well with you and your children after you forever, clearly infers that by walking and living according to G-d’s way, and teaching our children to follow the Biblical way, will assure a good and secure future for them.  One can think of many examples from history that confirm the truth and wisdom of this commandment. Just one example is how Europeans have treated non-Europeans.  The fruits of which that we witness today.

[4] Deu 12:30-31b  The Muslim Culture praises the sacrifice of their children because of some or other terrorist action or so called honour killing. This is because of the dreadful fanaticism of their Islamic belief.  For them it may be right in the ‘eyes’ of their Allah, but it definitely is an abomination to י-הוה our God.  They have a totally different view of the Biblical belief regarding the sanctity of life. Remember, the Ten Commandments does not appear in the Koran or any of their other writings.

Another example of their attitude towards people and cultures other than theirs is illustrated by the fact that after the fall of Rome it was especially Islam that practiced and used slavery as a form of Jihad; they were the main traders of Black Africans to the USA, and practice Slavery till today.   “The legends of European slave raiders venturing into the jungles of Africa to capture free peoples are generally just that: myths….the far greater and longer-running Islamic slave trade into the Middle East has been so ignored as to make it one of history’s best-kept secrets….. One reason that very little has been written about the Arab involvement in slavery is that traditional Islamic culture still condones slavery” [24:10,11, see also p.5-45]

Is aborting our children any different when it’s done for idolizing modern society and its ways?  Sadly and shockingly, news about the abduction of children and women is widely reported today.  (*6)

[5] Deu 14:1 & 2 -The heathens and pagans cut and or pierce their skin and tattoo their bodies. The Torah here clearly says to us as believers of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob ‘For sure you are a holy people to  יהוה your God,’ and then specifically to Israel: ’Hashem has chosen you for Himself to be a treasured people, from among all the peoples, on the face of the earth.” Just as Israel had to be different from other peoples to be a light onto the nations, in the same way, you as a non-Jew following the way, the Torah of יהוה your God, need to in adhering to this commandment, show who your G-d is by not following this latest trend of tattooing and piercing your body which is a temple for G-d’s holy spirit.  Compare for example Maoris, Africans, Egyptians and American Indians.

[6]  That which made Jews definitely different from the surrounding heathen nations and later, European culture, is the keeping of Kosher.  “Animal fat is also forbidden…We know that not eating blood pertains to eating only…a kosher animal whose blood has been properly drained.  We also know that the phrase, ‘so that it will go well with you,’ is simply another way of saying ‘so that you will be blessed and experience an abundance of physical LIFE,’… They aren’t a matter of salvation; however, they are a matter of LIFE and Death. Its not a coincidence that many of today’s sicknesses and diseases are medically related to eating.” (*6)

Some time ago I watched a program about the restaurants in Venice that are famous for their mussel dishes.  It also showed the huge market halls where these hundreds of bags of different colored mussels were sold.  They said that vetting the acceptability of mussels for human consumption has become problematic because dishonest fishers go and catch mussels in the industrial areas which is forbidden. Mussels are not Kosher. Mussels act as filters for the ocean. All substances, bad and rotten, and heavy metals present in the sea, are consumed and filtered by mussels.  This just once again underlined the wisdom of G-d.  Another notable fact I recall was when Rabbi Osher Feldman told us during one of his classes,  that throughout the thousands of years of history, no fish with scales but no fins, has ever been found. ( There are many amazing scientific facts recorded in the Bible, thousands of years before scientists discovered them).

Another amazing and interesting fact is the rout of the flow of blood: “In Kosher animals…the blood flowing in the vertebral artery joins with blood flowing in the front (carotid) artery.  This results in absolutely no pain during ritual slaughter. In animals that the Torah forbids Jews to eat [i.e. pig, horse, rabbit] the blood flows directly from the vertebral artery to the brain. [ 37.154] Some European countries that are considering banning the Kosher slaughtering of animals,  demonstrate their lack of knowledge of the Bible, the science of the process as explained here above as well as makes one suspect anti-Semitism may be also a motivation.

Read Leviticus 11:1-46 and Deu 14:3-21 for details of what are kosher animals.

[7] In Deu 15:11 it clearly states: ‘For destitute people will not cease to exist within the Land’ which Yeshua confirmed: ‘for you always have the poor with you’ [Matt 26:11] The Hebrew word Chesed encapsulates the meaning of caring for the poor very well.  It means ‘loving kindness’, that what we associate with the heart of G-d.  By caring and giving to the less privileged, we make this a better world and reflect G-d’s love and care.

[8] Deu 15:12-18 & Exodus 21:1-6   One obviously take in consideration all of Torah regarding the treatment of people that work for one.  The Commandments commands that servants shall also rest on Shabbat; to love your neighbor as yourself. Treating a person with consideration, respect and kindness, is the Torah way.  Unfortunately, even today there are people held as slaves in countries that do not worship the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  All throughout history, the bad, unfair and inhumane treatment of people, be they servants or employees, can be ascribed to the fact that Torah values were never applied.  The fruit of which that we consequently have to deal with especially today.

[9] Deu16:1-15  Note these Festivals are called “G-d/-יהוה’s appointed festivals… holy convocations .. these are My appointed festivals’ (Lev 23:1,2).  Two thousand years ago when the anti-Semitic Church referred to them as Jewish festivals, and incorporated the Pagan festival of queen Asherah/Ishtar as Easter, and the Pagan festival of the sun god and Tammuz and called it Christmas, the shadow images and true deeper meaning of these festivals were lost and forgotten. [See also Chapter 5 & 16]

Just as you, as believer in and follower of יהוה, the Creator and our G-d, need to keep the seventh day as a Shabbat, likewise you are supposed to keep his Festivals. Details of which can be found in Ex 12:1 and Lev 23:1-44.  My contention is, rather than make up your own customs and rituals, learn from the Jews how to keep these ‘holy convocations’.  The following is a significant verse: “it shall be that all who are left over from all the nations who had invaded Jerusalem, will come up every year to worship the king יהוה, Master of Legions, and to celebrate the festival of Succos.  And it shall be that whichever of the families of the land does not go up to Jerusalem to bow down before the king, יהוה, Master of the Legions there will be no rain upon them…” [Zech 14:16,17]

In Deu 16:14 we are instructed ‘You shall rejoice on your festival’ having a festival together with the community, enhances a spirit of joy and gladness.  It reminds one of Psalm 100  A Psalm of praise. “Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing. Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name. For the LORD is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations.”  (see also Chapter 16)

What we learn from the narrative

In Deu 12:2 we read that Israel was commanded ‘You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations that you shall possess worshipped their gods..’ They unfortunately did not do this.  Throughout their history that we read of in the books of Judges, Samuel, Kings and Chronicles, we see how again and again they veered off the path, and we read again and again how this or that king did what was bad in the eyes of G-d.  We do the same when we allow a house of prostitution, cults and for example public display and honoring of what is an abomination to G-d be paraded down town.  I then have an image of G-d crying, seeing what His people that are supposed to be holy unto Him, allow.

Multiple times it is mentioned in this parshat that the land , Israel , is their inheritance as was promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: Deu 11:31  It makes it so obvious that the UN and the international community do not know or respect the Bible!

Just as important is the repetition of ‘at the place that יהוה, Your God, will choose from among all your tribes, to place His name there, shall you seek out His Presence and come there.’ Deu 12;5&; 12:4,11; 12:21; 14:23-16:2,11; 15:20, 16:6.  This is referred to as HaMakom, The Place and this is of course Jerusalem.  How could there be any argument about this?

Keeping the 7th year as a Shmitta, the remission of debt, and the three yearly tithes and males going up to Jerusalem three times a year, are all commandments that Israelites are bound by.  Yet farmers all over the world have learned the benefit of letting the land rest for a season.  Interestingly recently an economist in New York stated that practicing the law of ‘remission of debt’ could greatly benefit the debt ridden American economy.

What we learn from the Hebrew

We are G-d’s trustees and therefore our obligation is to give charity and kindness.  The more often you give, the more it becomes second nature.  The fact that it will have a positive effect on you is hidden in the gematria of the Hebrew word.  Giving charity is צדקה   The root צדק is related to words that means: objective justice, being righteous, being dutiful, clemency and satisfy the rightful need. ק=100 and צ = 90 + ה = 5 + ד = 4.  Therefore, giving guarantees getting plentiful in return.  As Deu 15:10 says: ‘You shall surely give him, and let your heart not feel bad when you give him, for in return for this matter, Hashem, your G-d, will bless you in all your deeds and in your every undertaking’. (*7)

            ******************************

This Parashah Re’eh, ‘See’, “is a perennial reminder to all of us that even our vision alone can bring virtue or vice. Let us look at the world correctly and invite the blessings of G-d into our lives… The Talmud states categorically ‘the reward for Mitzvot is not in this world at all’ Ultimate accountability is reserved for the world to come… the G-dly way of life is not only a pathway to Paradise in the hereafter, but is in itself a blessing for us in the here and now.”[33.207,209]

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FOOTNOTES

*1 Re’eh/See. Livingwaters.com. Ardelle Brody

*2 After an initial reading of Chapter 13 in this Parshat, it sounded like ancient history that befell Israel, and I kept asking myself if it applies today.  And then as I started writing this chapter, contemplating Moses’s opening words, it suddenly struck me that we in the West are experiencing exactly what Israel is warned about and to which most of chapter 13 is devoted to.

*3 Karbanot (plural)refers to the various offerings, incorrectly translated as ‘sacrifices,’ that were offered up at the Temple.  The word korban means ‘to draw closer.’ Therefore, it is in fact an act of drawing closer to G-d.

*4  Note, in the Chumash we learn that there is no special obligation to support the Levites in the diaspora.

*5  Baal Shem Tov lived 1698 to 1760.

*6  See ‘Navy Seal exposes Trafficking’ at Michael@michaelrood.tv

*7   Robinson, Tony. Re’eh, Parshat HaShuvua, Restoration of Torah Ministries.  

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Chapter 12: Justice – Parashat #48 – Shoftim    Deu 16:18-21:9

“Righteousness, righteousness shall you pursue” – Deu 16:20

“It is not enough to seek righteousness; it must be done through honest means;  the Torah does not condone the pursuit of a holy end through improper means.” [11.1025]

It is a Hebraic literary construct to repeat a verb to place emphasis and express importance.  “If one believes in a God who is all-powerful and all-just, one cannot believe that this world, in which evil far too often triumphs, is the only arena in which human life exists. For if this existence were the final word, and God permits evil to win, then it cannot be that God is good.  Thus, when someone says he or she believes in God but not in afterlife, it would seem that either they have not thought the issue through, or that they don’t believe in God, or the divine being in whom they believe is amoral or immoral” [Joseph Telushkin quoted in 21.252]

“Pursuing justice is a positive commandment, requiring positive action. It is not enough to refrain from doing harm or wronging others.  Rather, God commands us to actively pursue justice, to engage in social work, to give charity, to go out of our way to help those in our communities…The Jewish love of law, love of justice, is thus rooted in love of God…the pursuit of justice does not exist for its own sake, but rather stems from love of God and of the Law God commanded.” [21.262 & 265]

As Rabbi Jonathan Sacks said: ‘It’s not power that matters, but the fight for justice and freedom.’ (*1) “Justice and Mercy are not opposites in Hebrew but are bonded together in a singe word tzedek or tzedakah….Why then is justice so central to Judaism?  Because it is impartial.  Law as envisaged by the Torah makes no distinction between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, home born or stranger.  Equality before the law is the translation into human terms of equality before G-d.  Time and again the Torah insists that justice is not a human artifact. ‘Fear no one, for judgment belongs to G-d.’ Because it belongs to G-d, it must never be compromised – by fear, bribery, or favoritism.  It is an inescapable duty, an inalienable right.”(*2)  “The law, as it were, lays down a minimum threshold;  this we must do. But the moral life aspires to more than simply doing what we must.” (*3)

Commandments

1    Deu 16:18  Appoint judges in all your cities.

2   Deu 17:6 & Deu 19:15  By the testimony of two or three witnesses shall a matter be  judged

3   Deu 17:12  Do not be willful.

4   Deu 18:1-8  Care for those that serve G-d and the congregation, i.e according to the Torah and the unadulterated Word of G-d.

5   Deu 18:9   You shall not plant for yourselves an idolatrous tree or pillar.  Do not commit what is evil in the eyes of G-d:  you shall not pass your son or daughter through the fire;  do not consult a sangoma –those that practice divination – an astrologer, one who reads omens, a sorcerer;  an animal charmer; one who consults the dead, witchdoctors, or oji board, etc.

6   Deu 18:9  A murderer shall be punished.

7   Deu 19:14  You shall not move a boundary of your fellow.

8   Deu 20:19   When at war, you shall not destroy trees;  especially fruit trees.

9   Deu 21:1-9  An unsolved murder must be investigated,  &

10 Deu 21:1-9  Be hospital to strangers.

Comments regarding the above commandments

[1] Deu 16:18   The Hebrew word used in this verse is not ‘cities’ but ‘gates’  As the Sages said: a verse can have 70 meanings.  Here the word ‘gates’ can also refer to ‘our gates’:  eyes, ears, heart and even gonads.  Therefore,  guard your eyes from what they should not observe;   guard your ears from what is not according to Torah principles.  Therefore, keep your heart pure – as we are instructed in parashat Kodoshim: ‘You shall be holy, for holy am I, יהוה  your God.” [Leviticus 19:2, repeated in 20:7 & 20:26]

[2] Deu 17:6 & Deu 19:15  This principle in fact also applies to the Scriptures.   One must be careful not to base a Biblical principle on just one verse or phrase.  

[3]  Deu 17:12  Do not be willful.    It is interesting to see which words are synonyms for willfulness:  obstinacy, unyielding temper, stubbornness, obduracy, hardness,  intransigent, stiff neck, no compromise;   zealotry, intolerance & fanaticism.  But, do not make the mistake to think that Judaism or a Jew cannot have spiritual and intellectual courage  or that Judaism is static.  As the Midrash Tanhuma states: To rebuild a shattered world, Heaven is telling you to go ahead.  You do not wait for permission.

     “Most Talmudic scholars don’t realize that the authors whose ideas they teach would turn in their graves if they knew their opinions were being taught as dogmas that cannot be challenged. They wanted their ideas tested, discussed, thought through, reformulated and even rejected, with the understanding that no final conclusions have ever been reached, could be reached or even should be reached. They realized that matters of faith should remain fluid, not static. Halacha is the practical upshot of living by unfinalized beliefs while remaining in theological suspense. Only in this way can Judaism avoid becoming paralyzed by its awe of a rigid tradition or, conversely, evaporate into a utopian reverie…… What today’s Judaism desperately needs is verbal critics who could spread and energize its great message. It needs spiritual Einsteins, Freuds and Pasteurs who can demonstrate its untapped possibilities and undeveloped grandeur. Judaism should be challenged by new Spinozas and Nietzsches; by remorseless atheists who would scare the hell out of our rabbis, who would in turn be forced into thinking bold ideas.

“The time has come to deal with the real issues and not hide behind excuses that ultimately will turn Judaism into a sham. Our thinking is behind the times, and that is something we can no longer afford. Judaism is about bold ideas. Its goal is not to find the truth, but to inspire us to honestly search for it.” (*4) 

“The Rebbe [Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson 1902-1994] wanted us to see the unity that lies behind the apparent diversity of existence.  Listening to his expositions, we move beneath the surface of conflict and come to see that disagreement between the great sages is no more and no less than a difference of perspectives on a single Divine reality.” [34.XI]

[4] Deu 18:1-8    It is necessary here to add “, i.e according to the Torah and the unadulterated Word of G-d.” especially because of those mega churches that are so fashionable in the US whose pastors solicit large contributions and even insist on having Jet airplanes for their needs.  The ‘word’ that are preached in very many churches today distort not even the message of Yeshua, but totally ignore the Hebrew roots of the faith and worse still, totally negate the application of Torah.  

[5] Deu 18:9   Today even it is especially necessary to mention these idolatrous habits that are again so much in fashion.  There are also all over the world primitive nations that have and keep these ancient practices. Likewise is the horrific Islamic tradition of sacrificing and abuse of children to wear explosive belts & jackets.

      Communicating with the dead by going to the graves of great Rabbi’s leaves a big question mark to this practice.    Is the fact that we do not know the burial place of Moses an important message to us regarding revering the graves of great Sages? (*5)

[6] Deu 18:9  “ Tzedek (justice) is a key word in the book of Devarim ….The distribution of the word tzedek and its derivate, tzedakah, in the Five Books of Moses is anything but random. It is overwhelmingly concentrated on the first and last books – Genesis (where it appears 16 times) and Deuteronomy (18 times). In Exodus it occurs only four times, and in Leviticus five. All but one of these are concentrated in two chapters: Exodus 23 (where three of the four occurrences are in two verses, 23:7-8), and Leviticus 19 (where all five incidences are in chapter 19). In Numbers, the word does not appear at all.

    “ This distribution is one of many indications that the Chumash is constructed as a chiasmus, a literary unit of the form ABCBA. Here’s (an example of) the structure:

 “A: Genesis – the pre-history of Israel (the distant past). B: Exodus – the journey from Egypt to Mount Sinai. C: Leviticus – the code of holiness. B: Numbers – the journey from Mount Sinai to the banks of the Jordan. A: Deuteronomy – the post-history of Israel (the distant future)…..

“What does it mean? Tzedek/tzedakah is almost impossible to translate, because of its many shadings of meaning: justice, charity, righteousness, integrity, equity, fairness, and innocence. It certainly means more than strictly legal justice, for which the Bible uses words like mishpat and din. …..The late Aryeh Kaplan translated tzedakah in Deuteronomy 24 as “charitable merit.” It is best rendered as “the right and decent thing to do” or “justice tempered by compassion.”…

“Why then is justice so central to Judaism? Because it is impartial. Law as envisaged by the Torah makes no distinction between rich and poor, powerful and powerless, home born or stranger. Equality before the law is the translation into human terms of equality before G-d. Time and again the Torah insists that justice is not a human artifact. “Fear no one, for judgment belongs to G-d.” Because it belongs to G-d, it must never be compromised – by fear, bribery, or favoritism. It is an inescapable duty, an inalienable right.

“Judaism is a religion of love: “You shall love the Lord your G-d”; “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”; “You shall love the stranger.” But it is also a religion of justice, for without justice, love corrupts. (Who would not bend the rules, if he could, to favor those he loves?)

“It is also a religion of compassion, for without compassion law itself can generate inequity. Justice plus compassion equals tzedek, the first precondition of a decent society.”  (*6)

“the Holy One’s purpose in calling Abraham was to establish through him a nation characterized by righteousness and justice.  In fact, Genesis 18:19 clearly states that it is through these two virtues that the Holy One will be able to cause Am Yisrael to be a blessing to all the nations of the earth!” (*7)

[7] Deu 19:14   Again, we are not to just take this commandment on the peshat – literal– level i.e just regarding boundaries between properties.  “Let’s spend a moment…looking at some of the boundaries and borders of Jewish life. We too, have neighbors.   Some are friends and some are foreign…Many are exposed to cultures, lifestyles, business environments that are very different to our own….The answer is that we need landmarks.  We, too, [all believers] require boundaries and borders to help us draw the lines between being good neighbors, sociable colleagues and losing our own traditions.  Otherwise, we become the same as everyone else on the block or at work.” [33.213]  We run the risk then of not being the light to others that G-d expects us to be.

“In spiritual application, the sages also consider the phrase ‘she’archa’ [i.e. translated here as “your gates” (second person singular)], to refer to an individual’s sensory organs – his or her eyes, ears, nose and mouth. These organs, after all, serve as the “gates” through which we take in information from the outside environment and respond to it. Hence, this directive is applied spiritually by the sages to mean that every person should consider himself or herself “a city in microcosm,” and should appoint forces of moderation, self-restraint, and to control what his/her eyes look at, what voices his/her ears hear, and what goes into, as well as what issues forth from, one’s mouth.” (*8)

[9 & 10] Deu 21:1-9  In a previous chapter, Chapter 3, I wrote about the eglah arufah commandment  and ceremony.  Another example where one needs to understand the historical and cultural context as well as keeping in mind the overall tone and principles of Torah,  is the law concerning the ‘unsolved murder of a stranger’. [Read Deuteronomy 21:1-9] A stranger is found murdered in a field.  The elders and judges of the closest towns then have to measure the distance to each town to see which is nearest. The elders of the latter town “shall take a heifer, with which no work has been done, which has not pulled with a yoke…” and sacrifice it in a valley which cannot be worked or sown.  The meaning of this strange ancient ceremony is to repent for the inhospitality of the inhabitants of the town that obviously did not offer the stranger a place to stay or food, nor accompanied him on his way.  The mitzvah is therefore to be hospitable to strangers.  A commentary also noted that this ceremony will attract a crowd and possibly lead to the murderer’s identity.

What we learn from the narrative

If you know, really know the Bible, you will know that G-d is a G-d of Justice.  Even though, because of His enduring loving kindness (Chesed) and grace (Chanan – see Gen 6:8; Ex 33:19; Ps 9:14; Ps 86:6;), He is a G-d of righteousness and will not leave those that have sinned and not have made teshuvah unpunished.  When the Messiah comes, he will not be a ‘kind uncle handing out sweets’,  He will come with a sword to judge for G-d. (*9).  G-d will keep His promises as is referred to numerous times in these parshot:  He will keep his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and keep His promise to Israel to return the Jews to their land. “יהוה your God, will bring back your captivity and have mercy upon you, and He will return and gather you in from all the peoples to which יהוה your God, has scattered you. “ [see Deu 30:1-6] as we saw happened 1948!

The fact that Israel was not allowed to slaughter a kosher animal with a blemish, is not just underlining the principle of giving G-d our King the best, but is also a shadow image of the sacrifice of Yeshua ben Josef.  These commandments also only apply to the land of Israel and when the Temple stood.

“By describing the death penalty as destruction of evil from the midst of the nation, the Torah clarifies its purpose:  The death penalty is not revenge against a criminal;  it is needed to purge the national psyche of an evil that can infect others if it is left unchecked.” [11.1027]   By using the tern dead man, in Deu 17:6 the Torah implies that even if the court cannot act because the guilty party was not properly warned or his sin was not witnessed, he is still considered a dead man because God will punish him.  [11.1026]  In Proverbs 21:3 we read: To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to יהוה than sacrifice.

A lesson that one would wish all leaders of countries would take to heart we read in Deu17:15-20.  This is that the King or President or Prime Minister is to write two copies of the Torah for himself, and he or she is to read from it “all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear יהוה, his God, to observe all the words of this Torah and these decrees, to perform them, so that his heart does not become haughty over his brethren and not turn from the commandment right or left”!   The king is warned not to let his heart go astray because of women and riches.  Unfortunately history records that exactly the opposite has been the case.  For example, after Ceausescu, the communist Romanian president’s murder by his countrymen in 1989, it was discovered that his bathroom’s utilities were made of gold.  This was also discovered in some African countries after the overthrow of their despotic heads of state. (*10)

In Deu 18:15 we read:  “A prophet from your midst, from your brethren, like me, shall HASHEM, your God, establish for you – to him shall you hearken.”  Therefore one need to ask which prophet shared the following experiences or incidents and associations:  As a young child had to be hidden from oppressing authorities;  after his birth young boys under the age of two, were killed; was a shepherd;  sat by a well where woman came to draw water; he left his abode and returned; came out of Egypt;  what he spoke he said was told to him by G-d;  a miracle concerning leprosy is associated with him;  the number 3 is associated with him and a sign. The gematria of the soresh of Moses’s wife’s name Ziporah /צפר  ‘s equals 370 and this number also is the same as that for: ‘this is messiah’;  he rode on a donkey;  witnessed the suffering of his fellow countrymen;  first public miracle of water turned to red colour;  moved the waters of the sea;  was referred to as being a snare;  was a priest;  selected 70 men to be spoke persons;  sent out 12 men;  promised miraculous water;  his authority was challenged by his fellowmen;  pleaded for Israel and blessed people;  ascended and was expected to descended;  immersed his brother and others in water; numerous miracles are associated with him; etc. [Read also the so called’Jewish Riddle’ in Prov 30:4]

Deu 20:1 instructs the soldiers of Israel when they go out to fight, and see a mighty army,  more numerous than them, to trust G-d and not to fear:  ‘you shall not fear them, for יהוה your God, is with you’ and the Kohen shall speak to them.  I remember clearly how during the 2014 war with Gaza, the soldiers asked the Rabbi’s to pray for them and bless them before they go in to battle.  As verse 4 reads: ‘For  יהוה your God, is the One Who goes with you, to fight for you with your enemies, to save you’ (*11) 

Israel is also instructed  to first ask for peace, before they go into battle.  We also read in Deuteronomy that a soldier that has just gotten married, built a house or planted a vineyard need not go into battle, as well as those that are fearful and fainthearted.  Notice also that they were instructed not to cut down fruit trees – a law that still applies today in Israel.

Israel was told to eradicate their enemies so that they ‘they will not teach [them] to act according to all their abominations that they performed for their gods’ [Deu 20:18]  We know that they unfortunately did not do this and this is one of the reasons that they  were eventually exiled from the land.

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FOOTNOTES

*1  Quoted in The Gardens Shmooze, Cape Town Hebrew Congregation, 10 Ja 1015.

*2  Jonathan Sacks. Pursuing Justice. The Jewish Press .com.  27 Aug 2014.

*3  Jonathan Sacks.  The Right and the Good. Covenant & Conversation 5775. 30 July 2015.

*4  Rabbi Dr Nathan Lopes Cardozo.  Judaism: Thinking Big. The Times of Israel. 3-5-2015

*5  Read for example the following article regarding the ostentatious veneration of Rabbi Simon ben Yochai’s  grave site, which maintains that all is based on a scribal error: Jameel@Muqata, LafgBaOmer-One Big Mistake, Jewish Press.com. 27 April 2013; As well as:  Donny Fuchs. The Cult of Uman. Jewish Press.com.  8 Sep 2014;  Donny Fuchs. Talking to the Dead. Jewish Press.com 17 Aug 2014.

*6  Jonathan Sacks.  Pursuing Justice.  Jewish Press.com. 27 August 2014.

*7  Tony Robinson. Shoftim. Parshat HaShuvua. Restoration of Torah Ministries.

*8  Bill Bullock. Responsible Kingdom Administration. Rabisson@cableone.net

*9  Read Malachi 3:1-6

*10  The previous despicable and contemptible president of the Republic of South Africa, Zuma, built himself and his numerous wives a palatial homestead in Zululand at the estimated cost of more than the millions the UK annually give South Africa.  Its estimated that Zuma’s rule cost the country R1 trillion; and much more was defrauded under his rule.

*11  Google ‘miracles during Israel’s wars’ to read of many miraculous occurrences that are told, and available to watch on the internet.

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Chapter 13:   Parashat 49 Ki Teitzei – When you will go out. Deu 21:10-25:19

Turn away from evil and do good; and dwell [in security] forever.

For יהוה loves justice and will not forsake His devoted ones.

Ps 37:27-28

In this parshat we learn significant principles of what it means to live in a just and righteous society.  “As we begin today’s study, let us commit ourselves to look at our Bridegroom’s Torah not as a history book or a ‘book of law’, but as a mirror into our souls.  As we read it, let us compare what is written there – the description of the Creator’s Bride — to the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts, and see where, and to what degree, our thoughts and attitudes and approaches to life and to the Holy One’s creation have strayed from His design, and are in need of adjustment.     Let us consent to let the Torah be for us a guidebook for ‘in flight corrections’ (*1)

Commandments

1.  Deu 21:10-14  In time of war, a soldier may not abuse women.
2. Deu 21:15-17  You have to act responsibly and fair when drawing up your will.
3. Deu 22:1&4   Help an animal in distress. You shall not see the donkey of your brother or his ox falling on the road…you shall surely stand them up, helping him.

            Deu 22:10 You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.

            Deu 25:4  Do not muzzle an ox in its threshing.

            Deu 22:6  When a mother bird is roosting on young birds or eggs, you need to send her away before you take the chicks or eggs.

4.   Deu 22:8  Take care that no person can come to harm on your property.  For example: You shall make a fence (railing) for your roof.

5.    Deu 22:9   Do not plant mix seeds.  “What the Creator has established as separate and distinct aspects of humanity are not to be mixed, mingled, confused, and diluted.  It is so with seeds.  It is so with animals.  It is so with mankind.” (*1) 

6.      Deu 22:20  A young unmarried girl or woman need to protect and guard her reputation.

7.     Deu 23:18  There shall be no promiscuous woman in Israel / among believers.

8.    Deu 23: 15  You shall act with decorum, proper hygiene and cleanliness when you need to go to the toilet and regarding your sanitation.

9.    Deu 23:16 You shall not turn over to his master a slave that has escaped.

10.   Deu 23:22 & 24 Your word should be your word.  One must be able to rely on a follower of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  When you make a vow to יהוה you should not be late in paying it…You shall observe and carry out what emerges from your lips.

11   Deu 23:25,26  A worker has a right to receive for him or herself from the produce that they work with.

12  Deu 24:6 & 10  In a dispute with someone do not harm his lively hood.

13  Deu 24:7  You may not kidnap a person.  It is evil to do so.

14  Deu 24:8  Do not gossip or commit slander.  It is called Lashon HaRa.

15  Deu 24:14  Pay a worker when he finished his work for you.  If he/she is employed for the day, payment must be made at the end of the day.

16  Deu 24:16  A father may not be punished for the sins of his son, and a son may not be punished for the sins of a father. [This also applies to females]

17  Deu 24:17, 19 & 20.  Do not pervert justice for a widow or an orphan.

18  Deu 24:19,20  Leave some of your harvest for the poor;  Leave the corner of your field for the poor   [Lev.19:9  ]  Leave the gleanings in your field for the poor.

19  Deu 25:3  Do not degrade the person in his punishment.

20  Deu 25:11  Do not embarrass a person in public.

21  Deu 25: 13   Be honest in all your business dealings. v.16 “For an abomination of Hashem, your God,….all who act corruptly”

Comments regarding some of the above commandments.

[1] Deu 21:10-14    “In this passage the Torah responds to the often inflamed passion of a soldier in battle…the Torah provides an avenue for the lustful soldier…so that [his desire]  will cool before it causes more harm. [There is an obligated waiting period]…The juxtaposition of the first three passages of the sidrah (part)are in themselves an implicit argument against this sort of liaison, for after giving the laws of the captive woman, the Torah speak of a hated wife, and then an incorrigibly rebellious child.  The implication is that there is a chain reaction; This improper infatuation with a captive woman will lead to one family tragedy after another. (Rashi)” [11.1046]

[2] Deu 21:15-17  A child may not be deprived of his rightful share in his father’s inheritance.  “By implication this passage shows that parents must beware not to permit rights and relationships to be disrupted by rivalries and even animosities that are not uncommon in family life.” [11.1047]

[3] Deu 22:1&4, 6 &10; Deu25:4  By extension it also applies to every case where one’s physical or verbal intervention can help someone avoid a loss.

The Torah, Bible, is full of commandments and examples or being considerate and caring to animals: –

If you cannot immediately find or identify the owner of a lost animal, you either have to take the animal to your home, or to a secure place like a kennel for example, for a lost dog.   To plow with an ox and a donkey together sounds absurd.  They obviously do not possess the same degree of strength.  Apart from being foolish, it would be cruel.

The ox chews a cud which a donkey does not, therefore a donkey would wonder why the ox may eat and he not.  Similarly,  it’s cruel to muzzle an ox that’s threshing because he’s surrounded by his food, yet he cannot eat.

Sending the mother bird away also implies being kind and compassionate to the animal; so that she may not witness the taking of her young.  It also infers being mindful of how one consumes the animals of the earth.  Irresponsible use of and consuming of animals could lead to their extinction.  We are to be guardians and stewards of the earth – in fact this was the first task given to man [Genesis 1:26–27] and the earth and all of it belongs to the Creator G-d. “For mine is every beast of the forest, the cattle of a thousand mountains.  I know every bird of the mountains and what creeps upon My fields is with Me.” [Ps 50:10-13]

One therefore also may not slaughter the mother and her calf / lamb or kid on the same day. [Lev 22:28]

“A man who strikes mortally an animal life shall make restitution, a life for a life.” [Lev24:18]

“..the seventh day is Shabbat to יהוה, your G-d;  you shall not do any work – [nor]…your ox, your donkey, and your every animal” [Ex 20:10 & Deu 5:14]

“If you see the donkey of someone you hate crouching under its burden would you refrain from helping him? – you shall help repeatedly with him” [Ex 23:5]

“You shall bring forth for them water from the rock and give drink to the assembly and to their animals……Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock with his staff twice; abundant water came forth and the assembly and their animals drank” [Num 20:8,11]

“And I (said G-d)– shall I not take pity upon Nineveh the great city, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and many animals as well?” [Jonah 4:11]

“The righteous one knows [the needs of ] his animal’s soul, but the mercies of the wicked are cruel.” [Prov. 12:10]

See also for instance how Jacob viewed his animals:  Gen.33:13,14 & 17: “But he (Jacob) said to him (Esau), ‘My lord knows that the children are tender, and the nursing flocks and cattle are upon me; if they will be driven hard for a single day, then all the flocks will die…I will make my way at my slow pace according to the gait of the drove before me and the gait of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir….But Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house, and for his livestock he made shelters..”  Notice how Jacob displays the same consideration and understanding he has for the little children as also for his animals.  Read also the parable Nathan told King David regarding ‘one small ewe’ of a poor man: “He raised it and it grew up together with him and his children. It ate from his bread and drank from his cup and lay in his bosom” [2 Sam.12:1-3]

This commandment ‘Not to muzzle an ox…’ is referred to in 1 Timothy 5: 17-18  in connection with ‘those who labour in the word and teaching…’The labourer is worthy of his wages’ (quoting Deu 25:4 & Leviticus 19:13)  Remember as we say, There could be 70 interpretations of a verse in the Bible, and therefore G-d’s word is a ‘Living Word’.  Applicable for all people everywhere and for all time.

[4] Deu22:8   Of course it entails more than just a railing around your roof.  [In Israel the houses usually have flat roofs, so that one can go up on the roof in the cool of the evening]  Just recently the news reported a case of a four year old boy who fell down a hole on a farmer’s land which led to a big effort to free him.  Barbed wire and glass lying around may not only injure children but also animals.

[5] Deu22:9  One can also apply this principle to the commandments in the Torah which entails not to take away or add to a commandment or not to mix the basic essence of one commandment with another.

[6] & [7] Deu 22:13-23:1 is all about traditional commandments concerning sexual purity, in fact the Torah repeatedly uses the expression:  You shall remove the evil from your midst.

(Read again Leviticus 18 & 19)  Never before in recent history as far as our memories stretches, up till the time of our great-grandmothers, has there been such a flagrant unashamed display of flesh in public. Be it night or especially during the day.  It is not only a lack of taste or upbringing, but clearly shows the absence of Biblical or Torah education and underpinning.  “You shall be holy, for holy am I, יהוה  your God” we are instructed in Leviticus 19:2.  Women and men should be modest in their dress. Not to be on display or overly attract attention as Paul admonishes those sitting in the Synagogue in 1 Timothy 1:9-10 “…that the women dress themselves becomingly, with decency and sensibleness, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or costly garments, but with good works, which is becoming for women undertaking worship of Elohim.”

[8] Deu 23:15    In many countries it is against the law for a man to relieve himself in public.  Note the instruction in the Torah for the Israelites over 3000 years ago:  “You shall have a place outside the camp, and to there you shall go out, outside.   You shall have a shovel in addition to your weapons,  and it will be that when you sit outside, you shall dig with it;  you shall go back and cover your excrement.  Forיהוה  your God walks in the midst of your camp…”  Note even today the soldiers are expected to follow this hygiene. Note the fact that G-d is in our city (camp) and this in itself should cause us to be concerned about the cleanliness and beauty of our city.

I would like to propose that it includes the picking up and discarding or your domestic pets’ droppings, especially in the cities and residential areas.  (Nearby where I lived was a large sports field that was frequented by dog owners.  Before the players could use the field, someone had to go around and first pick up the doggie do’s!  Such behavior is what one calls according to Torah language: inconsiderate & not being mindful of your neighbor.  In plain language: uncivil.)

[9] Deu 23:16  At first I was not going to include this command but unfortunately because of news reports it is clear that slavery did not end in the 19^th century. Slavery is a reality to deal with today and should be done in a Biblical way. [See also Chapter 11, (*6) ]

[11] & [18] Deu 23:25,26 – Deu 24:19 &20  ‘But why does the Torah need to repeat this lesson twice? Once regarding a vineyard and once regarding standing grain?…The closing lessons of isrelationship with Hashem to that of an employee…it follows that Hashem as a responsible employer,  surely provides us not only with wages owed, i.e. reward in the world to come, but He also provides us with what we need while we’re doing the job,  ensuring that our material needs are met on a daily basis.’ (*2)  

This ancient custom of leaving the corner of your field of e.g. wheat for the poor was clearly an automatic and built in system for caring for the less fortunate and hungry in a community. Therefore, it should be part of the culture of a government.  Unfortunately, usually it depends on individuals to campaign or start a movement to help the disadvantaged. [Do not for a moment think that I am supporting socialism!  History has proven it does not work.]

[12] Deu 24:6 & 10 ‘ Taking the lower or upper millstone as a pledge’ means that one’s actions should not, because someone owes you something, impact him in such a way that it is detrimental to his daily existence.  Also, when someone owes you something you may not barge into his house and enter without his permission. The Bible actually stipulates one should wait outside.  Note also how considerate one should be towards a poor person.

Currently we too often see extreme vandalism committed by protesters. Their unrestraint in venting their anger and frustration causes not only a severe financial burden to a community but can lead to disastrous consequences for an individual. This is clearly not the righteous way for an individual or group to resolve problems and differences.

[14] Deu 24:8  The Sages regard gossip as a very severe sin in fact as bad as murder.  It not only harms the person of whom is spoken, but also the person to whom it is told as well as the person that gossips or commits the slander.  [The example given in the Bible is that of Miriam, Moses’ sister who spoke badly about his wife.  Miriam as a consequence contracted what is called Tzaras. This is not leprosy as it is usually translated as.  It was a spiritual affliction that only could be healed by the special ceremony conducted by a priest. See Leviticus 14:1ff]

The brother of Yeshua ben Yoseph wrote in his book Yacob, today called James 3:2-12:-

“For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 

 “Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listel. 

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boast great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindle! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defile the whole body, and set on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” 

“Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speak evil of his brother, and judge his brother, speak evil of the Torah, and judge the law: but if thou judge the Torah, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one Lawgiver and Judge, who is able to save and to destroy: who art thou that judge another? “ James 4:11-12.

[19] Deu 25:3 & [20] Deu 25:11 The beauty of the Shabbat meal’s tradition to not talk politics, business, or contentious matters or gossip, but rather talk about the beauty and marvels of the world and miracles in G-d’s word, makes it so special.  This is so very different from the common discourse found in public and often reported in the mass media where people are often degraded and embarrassed in public.

To mind also comes what have been seen reported and shown on air of the way men and women are debased and degraded when they are punished in public in Islamic countries. How different is that when a Judge in the West, in stead of sending an accused to prison, rather give him or her community service; to uplift, improve a situation and thus learn through his or her mistake and misdemeanor. 

[21] Deu 25:13  ‘A perfect and honest weight shall you have, a perfect and honest measure shall you have, so that your days shall be lengthened on the Land that יהוה , your God gives you. For an abomination of יהוה your God, are all who do this, all who act corruptly’ [Deu 25:15-16]  It is interesting to note when it is said: so that your days shall be lengthened…. From previous discussions and explanations the expression ‘ your days in the Land’ refers also to Life, and fulfilled life as well as Olam Habah / life in the Hereafter.  Similarly it is interesting to note when the word ‘abomination’ is used.  “Verse 14 makes clear that God abhors dishonesty” [11.1065]

What we learn from the Narrative

“The focus of the Hebrew word k’hal is not on ‘meeting’, or ‘congregating’ in the English sense.  It does not refer to those who choose to associate with each other, or join an organization to a cal.  The emphasis is on the concept of response l.  ….. According to the sages of Israel, entering into the k’hal of the Holy One means intermarrying with women who are part of the k’hal of the Holy One, and which are called to receive, to carry to term, to give birth to, to nurture, and to train the seed of Avraham.     Under this interpretation, the issue is intermarriage.

  “You can better understand this interpretation if you recall the first usage of the word k’hal.  It was, as pointed out earlier, in Genesis 28:3 – when Ya’akov was being sent to Paddan-Aram to do what? To TAKE A BRIDE.  ……. Moshe declares, say the sages, that a woman of the k’hal of the Holy One should only marry a sh’ma-ing man – a man who will take to heart Deuteronomy 6:4-9, and will perpetuate the Torah lifestyle – not some religion that emphasizes form and meetings over Torah…(but) responding to our Divine Bridegroom’s Voice as a Bride — in his children, and in his children’s children, forever.”   (*1)

Regarding the reason that the Ammoni and a Moavi male may not be part of Israel ‘to the tenth generation’:  “Applying this “law of context” to the mitzvot regarding admission/entry into the k’hal of the Holy One, one would note that most of the material surrounding these mitzvot deals was with the people of the Holy One at war, in military camps.  Considering that context, the issue would not be solely intermarriage, but also would involve who could be accepted into the military forces of the Holy One’s people….. Torah says this is because:  “. . . they did not come to meet you with bread and water on  your way when you came out of Egypt,  and they hired Bilaam, son of Beor … to  pronounce  a curse on  you.”  [Deuteronomy 23:4]”

 “Compare this concept with what Y’shua had to say in regard to His Kingdom in Matthew 25, where He taught, as part of His Olivet Discourse on the end of times that those who did not give a cup of water, or clothing, or hospitality, or comfort in time of sickness or imprisonment to ‘the least of these My Brothers’ would not participate in the k’hal of the Holy One, but would be sentenced to ‘depart from Me, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.’   Matthew 25:41-46.” 

“The failure to meet the brethren with “bread and water” is to be the basis of the separation of “sheep” nations and “goat” nations.  It is the ultimate separation of those of the Ammoni mindset and character from the k’hal of the Holy One.

 “Compare also the teaching of Kefa in II Peter 2:1-22, regarding false prophets and teachers, who entice others away from a true Torah sh’ma lifestyle, as exemplified by Y’shua, to follow “the way of Bilaam, son of Beor” [II Peter 2:15], who appeal to “lustful desires of sinful human nature” [II Peter 2:18]; for these, Kefa teaches, there is no place in the k’hal of the Holy One. For them, Kefa says, “blackest darkness is reserved.” II Peter 2:17. “ (*1)

“A Just and righteous society, however, cannot be a pacifist society. Some things are worth fighting for. ….a willingness to go to war when war is what is necessary to defend the Holy One’s principles of justness and fairness against lawless nations.”  (*1)

What the Hebrew teaches us

“The word mitzvah….usually mistranslated into English as ‘commandment,’ is actually a form of the word tzavah (tsade צ  vav ו  hey ה  ) meaning, ‘to connect’ or ‘to attach’. A mitzvah is a God-ordained way to connect, or attach ourselves (to G-d)..”  (*1)

“Chapter 22 of the scroll of D’varim [Deuteronomy], which we study today, contains many miscellaneous mitzvot [life instructions] the Holy One has prophesied that those who are His people will perform “when/as you go . . .” Remember, each mitzvah set forth in Torah is designed to function as a “gateway into the kingdom of Messiah”. 

            “That does not mean that performing the mitzvah will earn a person “salvation” – that would be a “works-righteousness” approach which is the opposite of Torah’s way. ……..

“Do you not realize that every single mitzvah of Torah reveals something – some unique aspect – of our Covenant Partner in Heaven’s goodness?

Each mitzvah is an atrium into which the glory of the God of Avraham, of Yitschak and of Ya’akov shines, bringing revitalizing light into the life of anyone who will enter into it, and promising a taste of the sweetness of life in the Gan Eden, before the Fall. “  (*1)

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FOOTNOTES

*1  Bill Bullock’s discussion of KiTetze: https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#label/Bill+Bullock/FMfcgxmVzTMtPFGFXnlqTsKGLVkkMMpl

*2 Rabbi Pini Hecht. Between vineyards and fields of grain.  Parshat Ki Tetze.  The Jewish Report. 28Ag-4Sep 2009.

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Chapter 14: Walk with G-d

Serve G-d with gladness and a good heart  Parshat 50 KiTavo / when  you enter– Deu 26:1-29:8

“...you shall safeguard My decrees and My judgements and  not commit any of these abominations.”  Leviticus 18:26

Ki Tavo –when you enter –  starts off with instructions for the Bikurim feast– First Fruits Festival. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks (*1) discusses it as follows:

“What was original was not the celebration of first fruits. Many cultures have such ceremonies. What was unique about the ritual in our parsha, and the biblical world-view from which it derives, is that our ancestors saw God in history rather than nature. Normally what people would celebrate by bringing first-fruits would be nature itself: the seasons, the soil, the rain, the fertility of the ground and what Dylan Thomas called “the force that through the green fuse drives the flower.” The biblical first-fruits ceremony is quite different. It is not about nature but about the shape of history, the birth of Israel as a nation, and the redemptive power of God who liberated our ancestors from slavery.”

“This is what was new about this worldview: [1] Jews were, as Yerushalmi (see below) points out, the first to see God in history.

 “[2] They were the first to see history itself as an extended narrative with an overarching theme. That vision was sustained for the whole of the biblical era, as the events of a thousand years were interpreted by the prophets and recorded by the biblical historians.

 “[3] The theme of biblical history is redemption. It begins with suffering, has an extended middle section about the interactive drama between God and the people, and ends with homecoming and blessing.

“[4] The narrative is to be internalized: this is the transition from history to memory, and this is what the first-fruits declaration was about. Those who stood in the Temple saying those words were declaring: this is my story. In bringing these fruits from this land, I and my family are part of it.

 “[5] Most importantly: the story was the basis of identity. Indeed, that is the difference between history and memory. History is an answer to the question, “What happened?” Memory is an answer to the question, “Who am I?” In Alzheimer’s Disease, when you lose your memory, you lose your identity. The same is true of a nation as a whole. When we tell the story of our people’s past, we renew our identity.  We have a context in which we can understand who we are in the present and what we must do to hand on our identity to the future.  [Yosef Hayyim Yerushalmi, Zakhor: Jewish History and Memory, University of Washington Press, 1982. The historian David Andress has just published a book, Cultural Dementia, subtitled How the West Has Lost its History and Risks  Losing Everything Else (London, Head of Zeus, 2018), applying a similar insight to the contemporary West. ]”(*2)  

The question I would like to ask you, the reader, is:  Do you see G-d and His relationship with and actions with mankind and Israel as part of your history? That is, the history of your faith?

“The commandment [to bring the First fruits] was not simply a thanksgiving for G-d’s gift of the Land, but primarily for having settled in it as a permanent home.  It was only then that they could rejoice in it with an easy mind” [34.325]

“It is explained in Or Hatorah (Chassidic explanation) that the fruit of a tree is akin to the soul as it is enclothed in the body, and that offering up the first fruit is a act whose significance is the binding of the incarnate soul with its source in G-d. It is written in Hosea, ‘I saw your fathers as the first fruit of the fig tree.’ [Hosea 9:10]” [34.326]

COMMANDMENTS

1. Deu 27:16, 20, 21-23 These commandments recall those in Leviticus 18:1-30 regarding sexual conduct.
2. Deu 27:18  Do not cause a blind person to go astray on the road.

3.       Deu 27:19  Do not pervert judgment of a proselyte, orphan or widow.

4.       Deu 27:24  Acccursed is one who strikes his fellow stealthily.

5.       Deu 27:25  Do not accept bribes to kill an innocent man.

Comments  regarding  the  above  commandments

[1]   Sadly today sexual perversion and the public discussions of the sinful sexual antics of people is so much part of life.  No wonder the youth of today that are schooled in the liberal worldly schools and universities think that anything goes.  If children are not taught the Biblical foundation at home as Torah instructs us to do (see Deu 6:7) they will go astray. They will not develop discernment regarding what’s right and wrong.

It is shocking that even Pope Frances recently indirectly condoned a homosexual lifestyle by suggesting a civil marriage contract is acceptable. For a state to also legalizing the adoption of children by same sex couples surely goes against G-d’s creation and will of what a marriage and family is supposed to be. I cannot help being shocked and saddened when the so called Queer parades in Israel is lauded and promoted, and prominent publicity is given to the thousands of people that especially travel to Israel to take part in this public display of impiety and wickedness.  Surely then G-d cries for the so called Holy Land. Is it not because we idolize democracy and free speech without moral and ethical boundaries?

[2]   This commandment reminds me of the unfortunate way some children think it is funny and entertaining to tease or annoy and provoke or bully someone that is disabled, studious, old or just different.  It’s the duty of parents and teachers to put a stop to that kind of behavior as soon as it raises its ugly head.

Of course what is implicit in this commandment is to be helpful and kind to such a disabled person. One could also propose a metaphysical application by stating that it is wrong to trick, fool or not inform a person of the true facts of something.  (Does this not in part applies to the ‘Fake media’?)

What  we  learn from the narrative.

Deu 26:12ff  Here we read regarding Tithing. There were basically three types of “money or goods levied for the maintenance of religious institution.  The following types of tithes are mentioned in the Bible: the ‘first tithe’ given to the [Cohen and] Levites after the heave offering, the second tithe which was one tenth of the first tithe given [by the Levites to the Cohen] the ‘poor tithe’ which was given to the poor in the third and the sixth year, and the ‘animal tithe’ which was levied three times a year.” [38.182]  The first two years you take your tithe up to Jerusalem to enjoy there as the Scripture says on ‘whatever your soul shall desire’

It is important to note in your declaration given to G-d when you give your tithes, you declare “I did not give it to the needs of the dead” [Deu 26:14]  This is specifically mentioned here because in those ancient days it was a pagan custom to do sacrifices to the dead and bury the dead with gifts.  Today this is still a custom in certain cultures, but distinctly forbidden in the Bible.

In Deu 26:18 We read the purpose of Israel.  Moses tells them they are distinguished, treasured people.  When they observe and perform the commandments with all their hearts and souls, they will be a supreme nation, a nation of renown and other nations will praise them for their holy splendor.  [But not to forget “Not because your are more numerous that all the peoples did HASHEM [יהוה [desire you and choose you, for you are the fewest of all the peoples. Rather, because of HASHEM’s love for you and because He observes the oath that He swore to your forefathers” Deu 7:7]

In Deu 28ff Moses mentions all the blessings promised to Israel if they perform the  commandments with all their heart and soul; they shall be blessed in the city and in the field; in their produce, walk and offspring;  even their enemies will flee before them.  As we say at the Feast of Trumpets, to be the head and not the tail.

The strong warning uttered by Moses is: “Hashem will send in your midst attrition, confusion, and worry, in your every undertaking that you will do, until you are destroyed, and until you quickly perish, because of the evil of your deeds, for you having forsaken Me.”  [Deu 28:20]  Then verse 37 seems to describe the situation today with Anti-Semitism that is again increasing : “You will be a source of astonishment, a parable, and a conversation piece, among all the peoples where Hashem will lead you”

I have often wondered if verse 23 is not a prophecy concerning the Holocaust, describing the ovens that burnt thousands upon thousands of Jews to ashes: ”Your heavens over your head will be copper and the land beneath you will be iron”

“The central theme of this week’s parsha is thus clearly seen as the renewal of covenant vows – a remembrance…… And we, His treasured possession, are called upon to realize that to us the Holy One is much more than God.  He is Ish [husband].  His ‘commandments’ are not a burden, an obligation — they are the garments He has given us to wear that mark us as His…They are not “law”; they are the natural expression of bridal passion” (*3)

The warning in verse 47: “because you did not serve  יהוה your God, amid gladness and goodness of heart, when everything was abundant” should serve as a warning for us even today.

What  we  learn  from  the  hebrew

‘You shall observe the commandments and decrees that G-d commanded you’ appears in some form or another in this parashat  eighteen times.  The gamatria of the Hebrew word for ‘life’, חי (chai) is 18!

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FOOTNOTES

*1  Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks was the chief rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth from 1991 until 2013. Author of more than 26 books he is described as ‘a moral voice for out times’;  ‘a light unto this nation’ (UK) – and the whole world’; ‘Britain’s most authentically prophetic voice’.

*2  Jonathan Sacks. The Story We Tell 2 Ki Tavo, Covenant and Conversation, 5778

*3  Bill Bullock. Rabbisson@cableone.net. 

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Chapter 15: You will return unto יהוה your G-d, and listen to his voice

Parashat 51 Nitzavim – Deu 29:9-30:20 & Parashat 52 Vayeilech – Deu 31:1-31:30

“I will heal you from your wounds-….In the end of days you will be able to understand it”   Jer.30:17,24

Parashat Nitzavim starts off with Moses renewing the Covenant of G-d with Israel. With all the men of Israel, their small children and their women as well as the proselyte – ‘from the hewer of your wood to the drawer of water’.  Deuteronomy 29:13,14 reads: ‘Not with you alone do I seal this covenant and this imprecation but with whoever is here, standing with us today before Hashem, our God, and with whoever is not here with us today’  This last phrase has especially important implication for the Jews because this states that G-d’s commandments apply also to all Israelites today.

“The covenant of the sh’ma/sh’mar/asah lifestyle of Torah was thus specifically made applicable to and viable in the lives of the foreigners who came to live in the midst of the Redeemed Community. Who were/are those foreigners? Some are descended from the mixed multitude that came forth from Egypt with Moshe and Aharon’s generation. See Exodus 12:38. Some however have joined themselves to Israel’s God in the manner prophesied in Isaiah 56:2, 6-7, where we read:

“Blessed is the man that does this, and the son of man that lays hold on it; that keeps the sabbath from pollution, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.

“Also the SONS of the foreigner, that join themselves to the Holy One, to serve him, and to love the name of the Holy One, to be his servants, every one that keeps the Sabbath from pollution /all who guard the Sabbath against desecration and takes hold of My Covenant [i.e. Torah];

“These I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon MY altar; for My house shall be called an house of prayer for all nations.

“These foreigners are the ‘still others’ prophesied in Isaiah 56:8.  They are the ‘other sheep that are not of this sheep pen’ prophesied in John 10:16.  They are the ‘scattered children of God’ spoken of in John 11:52.  They are among the ‘ten men from every language of the nations’ which Zechariah prophesies will, in the end of days, grasp the [knafim – corners of the Talit] of a Jewish man, saying, “Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you.”’” Zechariah 8:23.  They are the ones ‘left from all the nations which came against Jerusalem’ which Zechariah says will, in the end times, go up from year to year to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, and to KEEP the FEAST of TABERNACLES. Zechariah 14:16.”

“Some of these foreigners may just look a lot like you.  Torah belongs to all the nations.  Hence earlier when we studied the book of Numbers we read that:

“ONE ORDINANCE will be both for you of the k’hal (of Israel), and also for the foreigner that sojourns with you, an ordinance FOREVER in your generations: as you are, so will the foreigner be before the Holy One. One Torah and one manner will be for you[1] and for the foreigner that sojourns with you.” [Numbers 15:15-16]   (*1)

The Torah therefore is binding upon all generations and therefore was not abolished by Yeshua ben Josef. Read again Matthew 5:16-20.

“the first time in history that we encounter the phenomenon enshrined in the American Declaration of Independence, namely “the consent of the governed.” God only spoke the Ten Commandments after the people had signalled that they had given their consent to be bound by His word. God does not impose His rule by force. At Sinai, covenant-making became mutual. Both sides  had to agree. So the human role in covenant-making grows greater over time. But Nitzavim takes this one stage further.

“It happened because Moses knew it had to happen. The terms of Jewish history were about to shift from Divine initiative to human initiative. This is what Moses was preparing the Israelites for in the last month of his life. It is as if he had said: Until now God has led – in a pillar of cloud and fire – and you have followed. Now God is handing over the reins of history to you. From here on, you must lead. If your hearts are with Him, He will be with you. But you are now no longer children; you are adults. An adult still has parents, as a child does, but his or her relationship with them is different. An adult knows the burden of responsibility. An adult does not wait for someone else to take the first step.

“ That is the epic significance of Nitzavim, the parsha that stands almost at the end of the Torah and that we read almost at the end of the year. It is about getting ready for a new beginning: in which we act for God instead of waiting for God to act for us. Translate this into human terms and you will see how life-changing it can be. “  (*2)

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks writes further:  “Then in a lightning-flash of insight, I thought: what if I turn the entire scenario around. What if, instead of waiting for Rabbi X to encourage me, I encouraged him? What if I did for him what I was hoping he would do for me? That was a life-changing moment. It gave me a strength I never had before. I began to formulate it as an ethic. “

“Don’t wait to be praised: praise others. Don’t wait to be respected: respect others. Don’t stand on the sidelines, criticizing others. Do something yourself to make things better. Don’t wait for the world to change: begin the process yourself, and then win others to the cause. There is a statement attributed to Gandhi (actually he never said it , but in a parallel universe he  might have done): ‘Be the change you seek in the world.’ Take the initiative.”

“ That was what Moses was doing in the last month of his life, in that long series of public addresses that make up the book of Devarim, culminating in the great covenant-renewal ceremony in today’s parsha. Devarim marks the end of the childhood of the Jewish people. From there on, Judaism became God’s call to human responsibility. For us, faith is not waiting for God. Faith is the realization that God is waiting for us. “  (*2)

Commandment  in these Parshot

Deu 30:15-20  Choose Life:  The Torah places before us life and the good, and death and the evil.   Love יהוה  your God.  Walk in His Ways, to observe His commandments, His decrees, and His ordinances.  Listen to His voice and cleave to Him, for He is your life and the length of your days.

What we learn from the narrative.

“Moses emphasized that the people were standing before God, because the purpose of the covenant was to bind them to God’s Torah,…Sforno (*3) comments that Moses stressed that they were standing before God, Who cannot be deceived. [11.1087]  We read here as in parshat  Bechukotai, Leviticus 26:13ff,  very severe warnings and punishments if Israel should not follow G-d’s commandments and Word.  Do not make the mistake and think it does not apply to you today.  Yes, we were not promised a rose garden as the well known idiom confirms.  Yet there are sufficient witnesses and testimonies throughout the ages from ordinary people as well as Sages and Prophets that: 

                   יהוה unto the heavens is Your kindness Your faithfulness is till the upper heights; Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains; Your judgments are like the vast deep waters; You save both man and beast O יהוה. How precious is Your kindness, O G-d! Mankind takes refuge in the shelter of Your wings; They will be sated from the abundance of Your house; And from the stream of Your delights You give them to drink. For with you is the source of life; By Your light may we see light.   [Ps 36:6-10]

Don’t fool yourself.  A further warning is mentioned n Deu. 29:28. ‘The hidden [sins] are for יהוה, our God, but the revealed [sins] are for us and our children forever, to carry out all the words of this Torah.”

Note  the children are mentioned right after the men and before the woman.  This points to the responsibility to teach the children.  The Hebrew tradition and teaching starts at home.  Its not about going out to a building /church to be educated.  Therefore the father’s role as head of the family, and the mother who is with the children and interacts with them most of the time, are very important.

And especially today where the teaching of G-d’s word and prayer have been taken out of schools, the decision which school to send the children to, is also important.

Note the repetition again of the promise that G-d swore to their forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob,  that Israel will be a people to G-d and that He will be their G-d, forever [Deu 29: 12].  Therefore the total negation of this fact by the world,  leaves one dumbfounded.  The so-called Palestinian Arabs,  the European Union and the liberal left, wherever, can ignore this promise by יהוה  the Creator our G-d, till they are blue in the face,  history will prove them wrong and as the Psalmist wrote:  “Why do nations gather;, and regimes talk in vain….He who sits in heaven will laugh, the Lord will mock them.”   [Ps 2:1, 4]

In verse 14 we read: “’And with whoever is not here.’ The covenant was binding even on unborn generations who were not present to enter into it, because parents and children are  like trees and their branches” [11.1087]

Deuteronomy 28:15-69 gives an accurate picture of Israel’s history and the land. And then in Deu 29:23 the reaction of nations regarding the state of Israel after the final exile 134 CE.  We find many confirmations as we read in the reports by travelers in the 19^th century like that of Mark Twain:

In Chapters 46, 39, 52 and 56 of his Innocents Abroad, American author Mark Twain wrote of his visit to Palestine in 1867: “Palestine sits in sackcloth and ashes. Over it broods the spell of a curse that has withered its fields and fettered its energies. Palestine is desolate and unlovely – Palestine is no more of this workday world. It is sacred to poetry and tradition, it is dreamland.”(Chapter 56)^[4][5] “There was hardly a tree or a shrub anywhere. Even the olive and the cactus, those fast friends of a worthless soil, had almost deserted the country”. (Chapter 52)^[6] “A desolation is here that not even imagination can grace with the pomp of life and action. We reached Tabor safely. We never saw a human being on the whole route”. (Chapter 49)^[7] “There is not a solitary village throughout its whole extent – not for thirty miles in either direction. …One may ride ten miles (16 km) hereabouts and not see ten human beings.” …these unpeopled deserts, these rusty mounds of barrenness…”(Chapter 46)  (*4)

In 1856 Henry Baker Tristram said of Palestine (*5) “A few years ago the whole Ghor (Jordan  Valley) was in the hands of the fellaheen, and much of it cultivated for corn. Now the whole of it is in the hands of the Bedouin, who eschew all agriculture…The same thing is now going on over the plain of Sharon where….land is going out of cultivation and whole villages rapidly disappeared….Since the year 1838, no less than twenty villages there have thus erased from the map, and the stationary population extirpated.”  (*4)

 The oft repeated promise by G-d to bring back Israel from the ‘four corners of heaven’ and gather them from al the peoples to which He has scattered them we read in Deu 30:1-6.  In fact  this is described in Jeremiah 32:37-41 and here in verse 41 we read the only time in the Tenach, quoting G-d, Him saying: “I will plant them steadfastly in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul” !  [Read Jer 33:20-22!] And today we see the fulfillment of G-d’s promise. Today the desert blooms, vineyards and orchards are seen all over Israel and villages and cities grew, confirming the prophets’s prophecies.

Again I cannot help but point out the foolish blindness of the politicians and enemies of Israel today.  Why do they deny these facts expounded on here above?  Why is Anti-Semitism running wild again today?  Why this hate towards Israel and the Jews?  There is only one clear answer:  They deny the reality of and truth of יהוה, the Creator of our world,  the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  They are too proud and self-obsessed to acknowledge a Supreme Being and a spiritual world beyond the material world that they worship and that their puny minds cannot fully fathom, master and control.

Parashat Nitzavim ends off with this encouraging and heartwarming decleration:

“For this commandment [Torah]that I  command you today – it is not hidden from you and it is not distant.  It is not in heaven, [for you] to say, ‘Who can ascent to the heaven for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to and perform it?’ Nor is it across the sea, [for you ] to say, ‘Who can cross to the other side of the sea for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it?’ Rather, the matter is very near you – in your mouth and in your heart – to perform it.”  [Deu 30:11-14]  And I would like to add:  in your hand, in front of you.  Today you can read the Bible yourself.  It is not chained to a stender in a church any more.  It has been printed and translated into hundreds of languages.  No more is it forbidden, as poor William Tyndale had to give up his life for in 1535. (*6)

Note in the above quote ‘to perform it’ is mentioned three times. Therefore the false belief that Christians have that it is not necessary to perform the applicable commandments of the Torah,  is obviously false and an incorrect teaching by the church.   Here I am referring to for example the commandments that I listed in these last 8 chapters in my discussion of the fifth book of the Torah, Devarim / Deuteronomy.

Note also the consistency of the Bible from the time of Adam and Chava [Eve] right through the Bible were the Torah is referred to as the Tree of Life.

“ Earlier we saw that the strongest correlation between the Torah and the tree of life was made in Devarim 30:15, the end of Moses’ speeches.  Amazing that the Torah would begin with a story concerning the tree of life and end in the same manner.  So likewise, Revelation 22:2 (the end of the Scriptures) recaptures the image of the tree of life, bringing us back to Genesis………Lastly, note the thematic parallel between Moses and Yeshua, in that both of them gave prophecies concerning the second coming of the Messiah just before their deaths!” (*7)

“Praiseworthy is a person who has found wisdom, a person who can derive understanding  [from it],  for its commerce is better than the commerce of silver, and its Produce is better than fine gold. It is more precious than pearls, and all your desires cannot compare to it….Its ways are ways of pleasantness and all its pathways are peace. It is a tree of life to those who grasp it,  and its supporters are praiseworthy.”[Prov 3:13-18]

Israel was told ‘יהוה, your God – He will cross before you’ [Deu 311:3] as they were poised to cross over the Jordan river into the Promised Land.    And then in Verse 6 we read ‘Be strong and courageous!’ There could be times that we feel G-d is hiding his face from us – see Deu 31:17,  that is when we need to do Teshuva and: ‘Call to Me and I will answer you’ says G-d.  [Jer 33:3]   There is therefore hope, support and trust!  It is worthwhile to remind yourself every day on your daily walk of this promise to Israel.   Then we can sing this Hymn, from the Haftara  for this parashat:

                        “I will rejoice intensely with יהוה, my soul will exult with my God, for He has dressed me in the raiment of salvation, in a robe of righteousness has He cloaked me, like a bridegroom who exalts [himself] with splendor, like a bride who bedecks herself with her jewelry.   For, as the earth sends forth its growth and as a garden sprouts forth its seedlings, so will my Lord, יהוה  Elohim, cause righteousness and praise to sprout in the presence of all the nations.” [Isaiah61:10-11]

In Deu 31:11-13 the Seventh year, the Shmitta year,  at Succot , the sixth Moed – i.e festival of יהוה our G-d,  the Torah had to be read in Jerusalem [‘the place that He will choose] to the men, women and small children, “and your stranger who is in your cities –so that they will hear and so that they will learn, and they shall fear Hashem your God, and be careful to perform all the words of this Torah”   NOTE!  that the ‘stranger’ is also included.

                   “Revelation 11:18 states that it is time for יהוה to reward His saints and judge those who destroy the earth.  The next verse states that the ark of the testimony could be seen.  Why are these verses placed next to each other—hint, what’s in the ark? This is thematically connected to Matthew 5:17-21 where Yeshua plainly stated that our future standing in the Kingdom would depend on whether or not we obey and teach the Torah…. The topics of Revelation 11:18 are placed next to Revelation 11:19 because the Torah (which was in the ark) is the basis for judgment and reward.  Remember, the Torah has not been abolished and it will be the basis of reward and punishment.” (*6)

Jeremiah 33:20-22 & 25 states “Thus said יהוה: If you could annul My covenant with the day and My covenant with the night,  so that day and night would not come in their proper times, so too could My covenant be annulled…”  Therefore, clearly we cannot pick and choose what to believe;  what we take seriously or choose what we want to do.

Do you now realize how false the teaching of a pastor or priest is that says: “The Law was nailed to the cross, Yeshua fulfilled it”  How can:  to be kind to your neighbor, the widow and the orphan; not to take bribes; to be honest and just in your business dealings; not to be cruel to animals, etc. etc. – laws / commandments that were listed in chapters 8 to 14,  not apply and not be those that a Christian should do ??

                   “Remember this and strengthen yourselves; take it to heart, O evildoers: Recall the early events of ancient times, [see] that I am God and there is no other;  [I am] God and there is none like Me.  From the beginning I foretell the outcome;  and from earlier times, what has not yet been; [but] I say and My plan will stand, and I will carry out My every desire”  [Isiah 46:8-10]

What we learn from the Hebrew text

In Deu 30:1-6 assurance is given to those that do Teshuva and listen to the Voice of G-d will be  brought back to the land.  To do Teshuva is more than ask forgiveness.  The Hebrew actually means, “Ask forgiveness from G-d, and turn back to the way that you are supposed to walk”

In Deu 30:3-6 ‘listen to His voice’ is mentioned THREE times.  When 3, 30, 300 0r 3000 is mentioned in the Bible one can usually find ‘hidden’ information – on the Sod & Remez level of the Hebrew text [See Chapter  7 of this blog] regarding the promised Messiah.

Therefore note Deu 18:18:  “A prophet from your midst, from your brethren like me, shall יהוה, your God, establish for you – to him shall you hearken.”  And:- “And calling the crowd to Him, He said to them, ‘Hear Me, everyone, and understand’ [Mark 7:14]

“The Hebrew word nitzavim is usually translated ‘standing’, but is, more literally ‘standers – men who stand’.  Nitzavim, you see, is the masculine plural form of the Hebrew verb natzav [nun, tzade, veit], Strong’s Hebrew word #5324, pronounced naw-tsawv‘. 

“There are two Hebrew verbs which are translated into English as ‘to stand’. The more frequently encountered word is amad. It is this word from which the word Amidah, from which the most common name given to the Sh’moneh Esrei prayer, is drawn.

“Amad merely refers to a human being assuming an upright position. Natzav, on the other hand, means something more like to stand up and be counted, or to take a stand.

“Natzav – the root of the word nitzavim — means standing boldly, with power and with strength.   And it means, quite often, standing in for someone else – like an ambassador stands in for a king. ……..

“Strong’s Hebrew word #3320, pronounced yaw–tsawb‘.  The first Biblical usage of this verb is found in Exodus 2:4, where we are told that Miryam, as a little girl, stood [Hebrew, yatsab] a distance away from the ark in which her baby brother Moshe was placed in the Nile, to watch over him.  This verb is the root of the word Nitzavim, ‘standing ones’, which described everyone participating in the covenant renewal ceremony of Deuteronomy 28-30.  As discussed in that context, the Hebrew verb focuses not on the act or posture of standing [i.e., being on one’s feet], but upon the purpose of standing – to be of service, to pray, to participate in a covenant act, etc. “ (*1)

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FOOTNOTES

*1  Bill Bullock. Nitzavim – The Parashat of Decisions. https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?tab=wm#inbox/FMfcgxvzKQsXmFqCgSGbXMGGPHXHHBrT

*2 Jonathan Sacks.  Covenant and Conversation.  The World is Waiting for you.  Nitzavim 2018-5778 

*3  Sforno: Ovadia ben Jacob Sforno (Obadja Sforno, Hebrew: עובדיה ספורנו) was an Italian rabbi, Biblical commentator, philosopher and physician. He was born at Cesena about 1475 and died at Bologna in 1550

*4  Wikipaedia.

*5   The name Palestine was given to the Land of Israel by the Romans to be an insult.  During the Ottoman period and also under the Mandate of the British, this name was used.  The orchestra in Israel during the 1920’s was thus called the Palestine Orchestra.  Jews born during the mandate and up to 1948 had written in their passports, born in Palestine.  After 14 May 1948 the Holy Land was given the correct name ‘Israel’.  There was never a state called Palestine as such as the Arabs living in Israel today claim. No king of Palestine, coinage, stamp, flag, parliament or constitution of an Arab state there ever existed!

*6  MAN, John. The Gutenberg Revolution. How printing changed the course of History.  Johanesburg:  Bantam. 2009.

*7  Tony Robinson. Mishpacha beit Midrash. https://irp-cdn.multiscreensite.com/0da55621/files/uploaded/NitzavimVayeilekh_2xqC1t8SJeNHis8Wtby3.pdf

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Chapter 16:  God’s  Three appointed Festivals: Joyful and Special Appointments

“…The appointed times of  יהוה   which you are to proclaim as set-apart gatherings,  –My appointed times are these.”  Leviticus 23:2

And by this we know that we know Him, if we guard His commands.  The one who says ‘I know Him,’ and does not guard His commands, is a liar and the truth is not in Him.  [1John 2:3,4]

In chapter 6 I discussed the importance of Shabbat, and what it really means and entails.  Namely, that it is so to speak our betrothal or wedding ring of our G-d for us because we who follow His commandments, His Way and keeping the Shabbat, is like a rehearsal for the Festivals,  and the Festivals are a rehearsal for the End of Days and Olam Haba.  And we are His Bride that the Messiah will come to fetch and take to Olam Haba  (*1)

To believers who are familiar with the book of Revelation [Hazon] written by the Jewish apostle John, originally in Hebrew (*2) will be familiar with the concept of ‘the Bride’ 

   And one of the seven messengers …came to me and spoke with me, saying, ‘Come, I shall show you the bride, the Lamb’s wife.’….and showed me the great city, the set-apart Yerushalayim descending out of the heaven from Elohim…..And the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon, to shine in it, for the esteem of Elohim lightened it, and the Lamb is its lamp. And the nations, of those who are saved, shall walk in its light…And there shall by no means enter into it whatever is unclean, neither anyone doing abomination and falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.  [Rev.21:9,23,24,27]

And a voice came from the throne, saying, “Praise our Elohim, all you His servants and those who fear Him, both small and great!” And I heard as the voice of a great crowd, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunders, saying, “Halleluyah, for יהוה  El Shaddai reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him praise, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife prepared herself.” And to her it was given to be dressed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteousnesses (sic)  of the set-apart ones. And he said to me, “Write, ‘Blessed are those who have been called to the marriage supper of the Lamb!’ “ And he said to me, “These are the true words of Elohim.”  [Rev 19:5-9]

Therefore, as it is clearly stated in Revelation 21:8 ‘But as for the cowardly, and untrustworthy, and abominable, and murderers, and those who whore, and drug sorcerers, and idolaters, and all the false, their part is in the lake which burns with fire and Sulphur, which is the second death”-   are not part of the Bride.  The prophet Jeramiah, in chapters 7, 16, and 25 of his book,  points out that because of the sinfulness of Yehuda, them trusting “false words which do not profit – stealing, murdering and committing adultery, and swearing falsely, and burning incense to Ba’al…..in the cities of Yehudah and in the streets of Yerushalayim I [G-d] shall make to cease the voice of rejoicing and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice  of the bride….. the land shall become a waste!” [Jeremiah 7:8,9,34]

The Bride will be those that ‘Obey G-d’s voice’, walk in all the ways that He commanded “so that it be well with you” [Jeremiah 7:23]” The prophet Isiah in his book  chapter 49, also refers to the bridegroom and Bride that will not be rejoicing because they said יהוה  has forsaken them,  but on the day of vengeance (the End Times, time of Judgement) of Elohim, those that mourn will be comforted “And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your Elohim rejoice over you”  [Isaiah 62:5]

The three Festivals of Pesach [the Redeemer revealed], Shavuot [the Ketuba given] and Sukkot [Yeshua revealed as bridegroom] can be referred to in terms of a typical traditional Hebrew wedding as:  The match is made and the gifts are exchanged (Pesach), the Ketuba (*3) is given at Shavuot (Pentecost) and Sukkot is the marriage feast. “The Scriptures teach us that the Father created signs, seasons, days and years as we know it on the fourth day.  The word seasons in the original Hebrew is ‘appointed times of festivals’ that is moadim.  These festivals are templates of Who the Messiah is, what He would do and when He would accomplish it.” (*4)

 For new followers of G-d’s way, His Torah [teachings],  these festivals  are important to acknowledge and keep because of the deeper meaning of each of these festivals as well as the direct relationship with the Messiah.  In fact they are remarkable Shadow images of the first appearance of Yeshua, Yeshua ben Joseph,  and the promise of His return as Yeshua ben David (*5), to rule from Zion (Jerusalem). Remember how the quotation from Leviticus referred to here above, clearly states that these festivals are G-d’s festivals and not Jewish festivals as so easily often commonly referred to.  See also Exodus 31:13 and       Ezekiel 20:12.

1  Pesach

It is quite remarkable how the days and dates of the Pesach festival mirrors the 7  days of what is usually referred to as the Passion week:  the triumphal entry of Yeshua into Yerusalem – as the prophet Zechariah prophesized: ‘Rejoice greatly, O daughter of  Tsiyon! Shout, O daughter of Yerushalayim! See, your Sovereign is coming to you, He is righteous and endowed with deliverance, humble and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ [Zach 9:9] and the people laid down palm branches and cried out: ‘This is the day יהוה has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it…Blessed is He who is coming in the Name of יהוה [Ps 118:24,26]- [& see Matt 21:9 and John 12:13];  Thus also the crucifixion and the rising of Yeshua [see the prophecies of Isiah 53:1-12 (*6)and Daniel 9].  See also Talmud: Sanhedrin 98a.

Pesach takes place in the Spring, in what is also called the month of Aviv, meaning Spring, but is today referred to as Nisan, the first month of the year as referred to in Exodus 12:1  This is when the barley grain ripens and therefore the barley is associated with Yeshua, the Messiah, and is the month when he was actually born. [Listen to the excellent explanation at https://youtu.be/ptIsXtTf6nO by Johnathan Cahn]

On the 10^th of Nissan [Friday evening to Saturday – see footnote *9], each household had to take an “unblemished lamb or kid, a male …..for examination until the fourteenth day” [Ex 12:1-6]  This day co-inside with Yeshua’s entry on a colt into Jerusalem. See now how Yeshua was ‘examined’ and judged the days before his crucifiction – Matthew 21:10-26:5 – as the Lamb was kept for 4 days in the homes of the Israelites in Egypt.

On the evening of Friday 9^th Nissan (*7), Yeshua had supper at Beit Te’enah, where Martha served Him and Lazarus, and disciples.  He had just raised Lazarus from the death, [See Sanhedrin 98b] after praying out loud to יהוה , in order that the many people surrounding Him, and Martha and Miriam will believe that G-d sent Him [John 11:42] “Therefore many of the Yehudim who had come….believed in Him. But some of them went away to the Pharisees and told them what Yeshua did.  So the chief priests and the pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? Because this Man does many signs.   If we let Him alone like this, they all shall believe in Him, and the Romans shall come and take away from us both our place and nation.’ And one of them, Kayaphas, being high priest that year (*8), said….it is better for us that one man die for the people than the entire nation should perish.’ “ [John 11:45-53] And therefore for days Yeshua was watched and judged by the chief priests and the pharisees.  [ See also Matthew 26:57-64 and Talmud: Sanhedrin 98b]

The 14^th day of Nissan [Tuesday evening till Wednesday evening] (*9) We read the instruction in Leviticus as commanded to Israel:  ‘In the first month on the fourteenth of the month in the afternoon is the time of the pesach-offering to יהוה [Lev 23:5] 

After the meal that Yeshua had with His disciples, which is referred to as The Last Supper, He went down to the garden of Gethsemane at night, with His disciples to pray.  He was captured there by Roman soldiers and taken to the High Priest Kayaphas and then to the Roman Consul Pontius Pilate, and then to Herod.  There he was mocked and hit [see Isiah 53:5 and Sanhedrin 98b ] He was taken back to Pilot and though Pilot found no fault in Him, had Him led away and he was crucified at 9:00 and passed away when the Pesach lambs were sacrificed at 15:00.  What is utterly amazing is that at the time that Yeshua died,  it is the same day the world over! From the West coast of the US to the East as far as Australia!  Therefore His death was literally covering all peoples, all nations.

The Israelites had to paint the lintel and door posts with the blood of the Lamb. It therefore was in the shape of the Hebrew letter ‘chet’ ח which is the 8^th letter of the Hebrew alphabet and the meaning of 8 is Olam Haba, or the 8^th millennium and the Hebrew word חי, ‘chai’ means ‘Life’!

The Hebrews had to eat the Lamb sitting ready to leave with their “loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand.  And you shall eat it in haste,  It is the Pesach of יהוה…..And I (G-d) shall pass through the land….I shall execute judgment. I am יהוה And the blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you are, And when I see the blood, I shall pass over you, and let the plague not come on you to destroy you…And this day shall become to you a remembrance.  And you shall celebrate it as a festival to  throughout your generations…an everlasting law.” [Ex 12:11-14]   What strikes one in these verses is:  the blood that protects them from death [see Ex 12:23], that they had to be ready to go immediately at the call/ command,  as the Bride has to be ready when the King Messiah arrives.

When some of the scribes and Pharisees asked Yeshua for a sign to validate who he is and what he is doing, He answered them saying: “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Yonah.  For as Yonah was three days and three nights in the stomach of the great fish, so shall the Son of Adam be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” [Matt 12:38-40]  Therefore, compare now:  Yeshua was crucified just before sunset on Wednesday, i.e. Wed-Thurs = day 1;  Thurs-Fri = day 2;  Fri – Shabbat = day 3.  The 3 nights are: Wed, Thurs & Fri,  because He rose the night of Shabbat, before sunrise Sunday.  [It is a mystery how the RCC and the Christian tradition can count from Friday, that they call ‘good Friday’, till Sunday morning to be 3 days and three nights!]

An Omer of Barley would be cut on the first Shabbat of the Feast of Leaven Bread, that is the 7 days that follow the Passover meal, and be waved as a First Fruit Offering, called The wave of the Omer. This therefore coincides with the resurrection of Yeshua – and is another sign why Yeshua ben Joseph is associated with barley. [Reading Matthew 1:1-17], and counting the forefathers of Yeshua, confirms that He is the first of the 14^th generation of redeemed that will be resurrected.] [19:36-38,&56]

He was therefore not crucified on a Friday.  It is so strange that the Church throughout the centuries cannot count to 3!  No, but there is a reason.

From the start of the 2^nd Century, the so called Christian Church, became extremely anti-Jewish, anti-Torah, anti-Shabbat, and anti-Synagogue.  [See again chapter 5] By this time more and more gentiles became members of this New Way of Judaism. At first during the days of the Apostles after the Ascension of Yeshua thousands of Jews followed the teachings of Yeshua, and it was then called The Way (*10) and in the Talmud they were referred to as Notsrim. But as more and more gentiles  became adherents to this new movement,  ego, ambition and avarice and power overcame these men of clay feet that came from pagan traditions.  In 115CE  Bishop Ignatius exclaimed these new believers should no longer live for the Sabbath but for the so called ‘Lord’s Day’, Sunday.  Marcion in 140CE misinterpreted Matthew 5:1 – as many Churches still do today –  and said no more Torah study is needed because the Law has been fulfilled.  Polycarp in 155CE spoke out against keeping the Pesach and elevated Easter Festivities to be kept by the new believers.  Justin Martin in 160CE with his anti-Semitic writings influenced the Replacement Theology that still has influence today.

2  Shavuot

On the First Fruit Offering Festival: “on the morrow of the rest day the Kohen shall wave it (an omer of barley)…You shall count for yourselves – from the morrow of the rest day, from the day when you bring the Omer of the waving – seven weeks, they shall be complete….(after) fifty days..you shall bring bread…..first-offerings to יהוה  “ [Leviticus 23:10-16]   This is then “a holy convocation for yourselves – you shall do no laborious work;  it is an eternal decree in your dwelling places for your generations.” [Lev23:21]

This festival commemorates the giving of the Ten Commandments to Israel at Mount Sinai. Now Moses went up and down Mount Sinai to fetch the tablets of the commandments, but note the following verse that is known as the Jewish Riddle:  “Who ascended to heaven and descended? Who else gathered the wind in his palm? Who else tied the waters in a cloak? Who established all the ends of the earth? What is his name, and what is his son’s name, if you know? [Proverbs 30:4] 

After the day of the Ascention of Yeshua,  the disciples went to stay in Jerusalem as He told them to, and ‘they were continually in the Set-apart Place (Temple Mount) praising and blessing Elohim’  [Luke 24;53] They were there the time and day of the Festival of  Shavuot (which means seven weeks and is also called the Festival of Weeks), when the Shechinah of יהוה appeared, and a rushing mighty wind was heard,  and flames of tongues appeared and rested on the Disciples. [See Acts/Ma’Asei 2:1-11] Note! They were in the Temple and not in the socalled Upper Room. (*11)

Yeshua Messiah through His teachings revealed the way how to replace hearts of stone, to write G-d’s laws on our hearts and grow into the image of the Messiah who was like in character and deed like G-d and represented our Holy Father and Creator, יהוה on earth– and this is what I have tried to convey in the preceding chapters : ”Carry out My laws and safeguard My decrees to follow them; I am יהוה your G-d. You shall observe My decrees and My laws which man shall carry out and by which he shall live – I am יהוה.” [Lev 18:4] “You shall sanctify yourselves and you will be holy, for I am יהוה your G-d. [Lev 20:7] See also Matthew 5:48.

  “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Master, Master,’shall enter into the reign of the heavens, but he who is doing the desire of My Father in the Heavens….. I shall declare to them, ‘I never knew you, depart from Me, you who work lawlessness!’ [Matt 7:21,23]

Yeshua said more than once: “I and My Father are one….believe that the Father is in Me, and I in Him [John 10:30,38]  This is a Hebraic idiom meaning: we are of one accord.

“In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.  He who possesses My commands and guards them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me shall be loved by My Father, and I shall love him and manifest Myself to him….if anyone loves Me he shall guard My Word.  And My Father shall love him, and We shall come to him and make Our stay with him.” [John 14:20,23](*12)

As it is also written: “My brothers, what use is it for anyone to say he has belief but does not have works? This belief is unable to save him….belief, if it does not have works is in itself dead…Was not Abraham our father declared right by works when he offered Yitshaq his son …For as the body without the spirit is dead, so also the belief is dead without the works.”  [Jacob (James) 2:8-26]

Pesach and Shavuot form what is called the Spring feasts.  At Pesach we commemorate our Redemption /Deliverance  from bondage and slavery;  be it pride, wealth, status, whoring etc.- [as the 2^nd cup at the Pesach Festival dinner is called]  At the one-day Feast of Shavuot, we are reminded of G-d’s Way,  His Commandments that we are to keep if we wish to be His Bride and enter His everlasting rest in the After Life which Yeshua confirmed and also taught.

3  Yom Teruha,  Yom Kippur,  Sukkot – The Fall Festivals

The Fall Feasts consists of 3 parts:  Yom Teruah (or the feast of Trumpets),  Yom Kippur and Sukkot. These also are linked to a harvest, and at this time, the fruit harvest:  e.g. pomegranates, dates and grapes.  The hard shell of the pomegranate symbolizes our hard hearts that need to washed by the blood of Yeshua – red pips – and made righteous – white of pips.  Grapes or wine symbolizes joy.  The fruit harvest also should remind us that our faith and life that is walked in G-d’s Way, should bear fruit.

Yom Teruha

Before His Ascension, Yeshua said that He is going to prepare a place for us:  “I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I shall come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, you might be too.” [John 14:2] So just like in the traditional Hebrew wedding pattern, the groom goes, after the gifts were exchanged and the Ketuba is written,  to prepare a place for His bride at his father’s house.  And it is not known when he will return to fetch his bride because it depends on his father’s satisfaction of what the groom has prepared and built.

A very well known parable that Yeshua taught is that of the Ten Virgins in Matthew chapter 25.  It starts off saying clearly: the reign of the heavens shall be compared to ten maidens who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom.  Five of them were wise, and five foolish.  The five foolish took their 5 lamps but no extra oil with them.  “Now while the bridegroom took time, they all slumbered and slept.  And at midnight a cry was heard, ‘See, the bridegroom is coming, go out to meet him!’…..And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us of you oil because our lamps are going out… the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. And later the other maidens also come, saying, ‘Master, Master, open up for us!’  But he answering, said, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’  Watch therefore, because you do not know the day nor the hour in which the Son of Adam is coming.” [Matt 25:1-13]

To understand that this is clearly about the coming of the Messiah at the End of Days we need to look closely at a few details.  Firstly, why did they not know when the groom is coming?  Yeshua clearly said to his disciples:  “..concerning that day and the hour no one knows, not even the messengers of the heavens, but My Father only” [Matt 24:36].  Furthermore, the term ‘that day’ when used in the Tenach, usually refers to the End of Days, and the Day of Judgement and The Lords Day. [See also Talmud: Sanhedrin 99a]  Secondly,  this parable is about Yom Teruha.

1 Thessslonians 4:13-18  “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.   For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Master, that we who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Master shall in no way go before those who are asleep. 

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God: and the dead in Messiah shall rise first: 

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord (Bridegroom) 

So then encourage one another with these words.”  [This is what is known as the Rapture.]

Each Festival is like a Shabbat.  One has to prepare and cook for Shabbat. Because Pesach is on the 14^th of Nisan,  and after the counting of weeks, i.e. 49 days and then knowing when Shavuot the 50^th day will be,  one knows when to prepare for the Shabbat which is Pesach as well as Shavuot.  But, Yom Teruha takes place on the 1st of Tishrei.  Because the Hebrew calendar is a solar & lunar calendar, and the months go according to the moon, having 29 or 30 days,  one has to actually see the New Moon to know when the month starts. If the new moon is not spotted, then the next day would be the 1^st of the new month.  That is why Tishrei 1, or Yom Teruha is also known as “The Long Day” and therefore, this feast is kept over 2 days. And in the parable mentioned above, the fact that the 10 virgins fell asleep, and only five wise virgins took additional oil, hints at this: “Now while the bridegroom took time, they all slumbered and slept” [Matt 25:5]

We read in Psalm 119:105 “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” Furthermore,  Israel was instructed to be a light unto the world. [Isaiah 44:8 & 49:6] And that is also the meaning of the Menorah in the Temple. Therefor a message regarding the oil the virgins had, is that it had to be sufficient, to shine until the bridegroom comes.  If the Messiah is our bridegroom that will come to fetch His Bride of faithful believers that have kept G-d’s word – Torah and its commandments – till the end,  shining brightly, then they will partake in the wedding feast and not those that have fallen by the way side or are lukewarm: “He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and not one shuts, and shuts and no one opens [see Isaiah 22:22] says this:….’I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot…So, because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I am going to vomit you out of My mouth.” [Revelation 3:7-16]

The arrival of the Messiah when he comes to judge and then take His Bride away, will be announced by heavenly voices and with the shout of G-d’s Trumpet. [See 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18]

Then we also read “And in that day it shall be that a great shophar is blown and those …..shall worship יהוה on the set-apart mountain, in Yerushalayim”  [Isaiah 27:13 & Sanhedrin 97a]  [Here we read about the coming of Mesiah, returning to the earth to be King and rule in Zechariah 14:1-9]

Yom Kippur

It is quite possible that Christians think that Jews only ask G-d for forgiveness on Yom Kippur. That is totally false.  The Ethics of the Fathers, which is a well known Tractate of the Talmud, and was compiled by Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, who was the redactor of the Mishnah, that is part of the Talmud, gives numerous ethical and moral instructions.  The Torah’s standards are very different from the world’s.  The Torah “speaks to the total personality.  It has been axiomatic since the Patriarch Abraham that sage and saint must be synonymous, that intellect, piety, ethics, and morality are part of an inseparable whole. Judaism is not a compartmentalized creed….In Judaism, to speak of legal authority without moral authority is as ludicrous as accepting the Ten Commandments with the exception of the first one: ‘I am Hashem, your God.’…. The Torah molds total people, not just minds; it defines values, not just norms of performance.” [55.XV]

In Pirkei Avos, we read the following, in a typical Hebraic way of thinking, said by  Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus[1^st-2^nd CE] ‘Repent one day before your death.’ [55.44]  Now, no one knows when he will die. Therefore, this dictum said by this well known sage in fact teaches one to do teschuva (*13) every day.  In fact three times a day a Jew will pray, and when he or she recites the Shema and the Amidah prayers, they implore G-d to redeem them,  to sanctify them with the Commandments, and set them right with good counsel from before His Presence, and save them for His Name’s sake. 

At the end of the day it is also custom to review the day’s activities and actions, and pray for forgiveness for what you may have done wrong, by word, deed or thoughts or against your neighbor.

As we read in Psalm 14:1-3 and 53:1-4, as quoted by Paul in Romans 3:10-18: “There is none righteous, no, not one!”  Every person has sinned. “For the wages of sin is death but the favourable gift of Elohim is everlasting life in Messiah Yeshua our Master” [Romansj 6:23] The penalty that we should pay for what we have done wrong, was paid in our stead by Yeshua on the cross.   Israel was for example sanctified, delivered and redeemed (*14) at the first Pesach in Egypt, and purified, mikved, in the crossing of the Sea.

Sukkot

Five days after Yom Kippur, is the 8 day festival of Sukkot. The first, seventh and eighth days are Shabbat festivals.   It is also called the Festival of Booths.  Jews then build a Sukkah made of flimsy materials which includes branches as roof covering so that one can see the sky and stars.  The meaning of this is a reminder of the Israelites’ forty-year journey through the desert.  It also symbolizes our total dependence on G-d and his provision and protection for us.

It also is to remind us of the time when The Messiah will come and be with us.  It is therefore a joyful festival when we invite people every day or evening into our Sukkah for a festive meal. The 8^th day is also a High holiday or Shabbat.   It is as if G-d is not keen for us to take leave and it also is because the deeper meaning of 8 symbolizes Olam Habah, eternity. This again also connects us to the concept of the coming of The Messiah.

This festival is very popular with Christians from many countries.  At this festival one sees people from China, Brazil, Holland, Sweden, Africa, Italy, Germany, France, England, Samoa, and many more, in Jerusalem.  Why is this?  The reason is because of a prophecy in Zachariah: “It shall be that all who are left over from all the nations who had invaded Jerusalem will come up every year to worship the King יהוה, Master of Legions, and to celebrate the festival of Succos.  And it shall be that whichever of the families of the land does not go up to Jerusalem to bow down before the King יהוה, Master of Legions there will be no rain upon them…The …plague will come to pass with which יהוה will strike the nations that do not go up to celebrate the festival of Succos.” [Zach.14:16-18]

_______________________________

From the discussion in this chapter it should be clear that Shabbat is clearly part of these festivals and how to keep them.  Shabbat is therefore not only the week’s 7th Day of Rest as G-d has commanded us, but also is intimately part of the festivals that not only reflect the History of the Hebrews, but are prophetic shadow exercises and occasions to remind us of the promise of the Messiah, his appearance and promised coming at the End of Days. 

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FOOTNOTES

*1  The World to Come.  The hereafter… will begin with the resurrection of the dead and a final judgment.  The righteous will be rewarded and the wicked will be punished.  [38.129]

*2  Watch  the interviews with Dr Miles Jones   https://aroodawakening.tv/tv-radio/watch-now/shabbat-night-live/?mc_cid=000316ddfd&mc_eid=ac9191cd6b, for Survival of the Hebrew Gospels.

*3  The marriage contract that sets out the obligations between the couple and especially protects the woman.

*4   See The Messiah revealed in the festivals. Preparing the Bride for her Hebrew Messiah. Hebrew Festival Series. DVD [Kolkallah.com]

*5   “Jewish tradition speaks of two redeemers, each one called Mashiach,  Both are involved in ushering in the Messianic era.  They are Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yossef.” [53.93] See Sukah 52b; Zohar I:25b; ibid.II:120a, III:153b, 246b and 252a;  Midrash Agadat Maschiach.  Targum Yehonathan on Exodus 40:11;  Midrash Tehilim 60:3

“The harmonoy and cooperation between Mashiach ben David and Mashiach ben Yossef signifies the total unity of Israel, removing the historical rivalries between the tribes of Judah and Joseph;  see Isaiah 11:13 and Rashi there. (Cf. Bereishit Rabba 70:15)

*6   Rashi [Rabbi Shlomo Yitzhaki 1040-1105] the esteemed Sage and commentator of the Torah and most quoted,  early in his life concurred that Isiah 53 refers to the suffering Messiah, called Messiah ben Yosef, but later in his life,  after the cruel murderous actions of the 1^st Crusade 1096 who on their way to The Promised Land killed more than 18 000 Jews in three cities along the Rein river in Germany where Rashi lived. He changed his opinion and after that terrible time of persecutions said that Isiah 53 refers to Israel being the Suffering Servant, as Rabbi’s till today do. Isiah 53 was a Haftera reading in the Philips Sidur in England till the 1920’s but has been removed since then.  See also Talmud: Sanhedrin 98b and 99a.

*7   In Judaism a day starts at Sunset and ends at the next Sunset.  This tradition is from Genesis 1:5 ‘And there was evening and there was morning, one day’ So here we mean the evening of the 9^th day of Nisan was actually already the 10^th.

*8  Remember the priests and High Priest were ‘political’ Roman appointees. See Johnson [43.111] and Dimont [51.90,91]

*9   It can be exactly calculated when the crucifixion of Yeshua took place because of the following facts to consider: Herod killed 2 priests at the Altar when there was a Lunar eclipse.  There was a lunar eclipse 2BCE; Herod died on a fast day of the Jews.  Pilot left Yerusalem 36CE,  Tiberius recalled him to Rome, but Tiberius died before Pilot got there. John the Baptist was  killed by King Herod, and Yeshua ben Yosef’s ministry was only 1 year.  [See Rood, 19.48]

*10  See Acts 2:41; and 21:20  and  [Richardson  52.76] “It is highly likely that in the predominately secular Jewish Tiberias of the second and early third centuries, members of the local Nazarene community of The Way lived in close proximity to their non-believing Jewish neighbors, with whom they quickly became bonded by their common, uniquely Jewish underpinnings, especially by the rich Jewish traditions they all shared.” [54.86]

*11 Most of the places, especially in Jerusalem, that Christian tourists are taken to, are NOT the actual places where some events of the Brit Chadasha / New Testament took place.  Most of these places were decided and pointed out by the pagan Emperor Constantine’s mother.

*12  Yeshua did not say that he is G-d.  He said to Satan when He was tempted by him in the desert:  “For it has been written, ‘You shall worship יהוה your Elohim, and Him alone you shall serve” – quoting Deuteronomy 6:13. [Matthew 4:10]

“…one came and said to Him, ‘Good Teacher, what good shall I do to have everlasting life?’  And He said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except One- Elohim.. [Matt 19:16,17]  See also: Isaiah 11:2; 53:6; Ps 110:1;   Matt 4:10, 19:16;  26:29;  Lk 18:19;  Jn 5:18,19  Jn 8:26,29,42,50;  Jn 12:49, Jn 14:28,  Jn 17:11,  Jn 20:17  Act 1:7, 7:31,  9:29;  Phil 2:6ff;  1Cor 15:57;  2Cor 4:4; 2Thes 3:3ff

*13  Teschuva does not just mean to say you are sorry, to ask for forgiveness.  This Biblical concept actually means to show remorse and turn back to the right way that G-d expects you to walk and be according to His Torah.

*14 These refer to 3 of the 4 cups of wine that is drunk at the Pesach meal. The 4^th  cup is the cup of Restoration, and it is that cup that Yeshua did not drink and said:  “I shall certainly not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on till that day when I drink it anew with you in the reign of My Father.” [Matt 26:29]

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Chapter 17: A daily walk      

“The Righteous shall live by his faith.”   Habakkuk 2:4  and “In ALL your ways know Him. ” Proverbs 3:6

Something that is so singular and distinctive about the daily walk of a Jew are the rituals that a man, woman or child will perform throughout the day from the moment he or she wakes up till evening and before going to sleep.  These actions are those little moments throughout the day that connects one to our Creator G-d and draws down holy sparks from Heaven to the mundane and material life.  In fact, these are to treasure and keep – therefore to Shema (*1)

This especially is another example what Christianity does not share.  Praying together or reading a scripture with the children all depends on the parent’s habit of demonstrating and living his or her faith.  The stresses of modern life and the rush to get the children off to kindergarten or school and be in time for work are typical constraints that impinge on any kind of personal ritual one may feel inclined to keep.  And because these, or the bed time reading and prayers, are not prescribed in the Christian faith and therefore not an ancient tradition,  it is totally up to an individual to do or not to do.

The Hebrew or Jewish daily walk is very different.

The G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is not only the Creator of all things, Lawgiver and Guide of History but also man’s Helper:  ‘Your miracles which are daily with us, Your wonders and goodness which are wrought at all times, evening, morn and noon’  If one keeps and enacts all of the following throughout the day, one will indeed notice the many small miracles that happened during our daily walk.  As the great teacher Dr Gerrit Nel said:  How can you expect to have a relationship with your wife if you seldom acknowledge her, speak to her and interact with her?  So is it also with our relationship with G-d.

(1)The first thing one does when opening one’s eyes when waking up in the morning, one says a prayer to thank G-d for a peaceful night’s rest, for being alive and restoring one’s soul.  The Jewish prayer that one recites is called the  Modei Ani.  What can be meaningful is to thank G-d for three specific things that are really relevant to you personally; and each morning three things that you did not mentioned the day before.  As Milton Steinberg said: “…some of it represents folk practice or local custom or individual option; all of it ….is subject in some degree to diversity of interpretation.  So, within a framework of uniformity, a fair measure of variety and freedom is achieved.” [50.122]

Then before continuing the daily tasks after getting up, one washes one’s hands. Susannah Heschel writes of her father Abraham Joshua Heschel, “my father never wavered in his piety, even continuing the custom of ‘nagel wasser‘ (rinsing the hands first thing upon awakening, in order to begin the day with prayer)” [58.xiv] It is the same principal as the custom to wash one’s hands before the breaking of bread, and starting the meal. As the Psalmist writes: Who may ascend the mountain of Hashem, and who may stand in the place of His sanctity? One with clean hands and pure heart (Ps 24:3&4)

There is also a custom for one to then put charity aside.  As you expect G-d to hear your prayers and requests, so you should give to those that need.  A charity box is not an unfamiliar site in a Jewish home.  Often each child would have his own to put his or her contribution from his pocket money in.  A wife could… give to someone begging that one passes.

(2) As  one steps out, and when putting on your right shoe, say: I am a child of G-d, confident and strong in my Soul and Spirit because of G-d’s love and faithfulness.

(3) Then when washing and doing the morning ablutions one says a blessing.  So often one feels dejected, desponded and weary but when you look at yourself in the mirror remember what    G-d said: 

                Before I formed you in the belly I knew you, and before you left the womb I sanctified  you  [Jeramiah 1:5]

Remind yourself:

                For You [G-d] have created my mind; You have covered me in my mother’s womb.  I acknowledge You, for I am awesomely, wondrously fashioned;  wondrous are Your works, and my soul knows it well   [Psalm 139:13,14]

(4) It is a tradition to say a blessing after leaving the toilet.  Ask any one who has had a bowel operation, or had procedures done to any of the body’s private parts, how pertinent it is to thank G-d that one’s body is functioning normally.

(5) Men have the additional obligation to say prayers when donning the undergarment adorned with  fringes [Tzitzit] as commanded in the Torah,  as well as putting on Tefillin.(*2)  “So he refers his every move to G-d and fulfills the instruction that a man shall be strong as a lion and fleet as a deer to do the will of his Father who is in Heaven” [50.122]

(6) When you are cleanly, freshly, and for women especially, modestly dressed; and feel clean and refreshed by G-d’s Spirit, step out aware that you convey His image;  you walk, talk and act in His Image as a son or daughter of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Therefore, as you leave your home and touch the Mezuza (see *3) the latter statement should be your guide.

(7) Not everyone is so fortunate to habitually arise at sunbreak.  With the overloaded obligations, commitments and tasks of this fast paste life that we lead; it is not easy to start the day with a Scripture reading or study.  I remember how my mother would at last at round about ten in the morning when the household had settled down, have her quiet time. At boarding school a bell was rung when we had to be dressed and ready to go down for breakfast, and which indicated the five minutes we had to first read the Bible and do our private prayers. I always especially recommend to people that are depressed and stressed, to read a Psalm and to underline the positive bits that can easily be reread or referred to in future.  These phrases and verses of praise and joy of G-d’s help, provision and guidance is the best tonic to carry with during the day.

(8) It is a custom before one drinks a glass of water, or any beverage, to thank G-d.  And how appropriate is it not today when all over the world we experience drought or unclean water. I usually at the same time thank G-d for the privilege to share company,  or thank Him for the friend that I am sharing time with.  Or pray that I may be a blessing and shine His light in the company that I am.

(9)  We read “When you have eaten and are satisfied, thank G-d” (Deu 8:10)  The term ‘saying Grace’ is familiar to most people. To make it a habit either before or after a meal is a beautiful tradition to teach children and bind a family together.  There is that very famous painting by the American artist Norman Rockwell that shows an old woman and young boy sitting at a table in a restaurant saying grace with all the people around them looking at them.  It is not unusual for a Jew to take out his daily devotional booklet in the restaurant and read the word of the Birkat HaMason. Thus one gives testimony to the miracle and privilege of having food to eat as well as that the Creator of this world provides all living beings with nourishment.

The custom to wash one’s hands before eating bread which usually commences dinner, reminds us of the Lather [bowl of water in front of the curtain leading to the Holy chamber of the Tabernacle] in which the priests washed their hands and feet, to be spiritually clean before they entered the Holy chamber.  By bending over the water they would see their reflection, all dressed in white, in the bowl made of the woman’s mirrors.  That was a visual reminder of being holy people onto G-d.  “Who does go up onto the mountain of יהוה And who does (may) stand in His set-apart place? He who has innocent hands and a clean heart” [Ps 24:3 &4]

This same image and reminder should be a reminder to each of us when we partake of a meal to thus lift up the occasion to a spiritual level, and this is especially pertinent on Shabbat.

(10) On leaving one’s house one touches the Mezuza (*3) on the doorpost.  This should not be just a fleeting and automatic action. To make it a meaningful moment, think about what the verse actually says:   Belief in one G-d, that you love G-d with all your heart, soul and resources; to teach this to your children; to be beware that you are not seduced by pagan, worldly and foreign ways. It will be meaningful to say in your own words: May I walk according to Your commandments and let Your light shine into the world.

(11) When setting out on your journey, be it by bus, train or car,  say a short prayer asking for G-d’s blessing on this journey and to protect you from harm. In olden days they would refer to protection from wild animals.  Today it is also so applicable because of the many dangers we face not only because of reckless drivers but also the many deranged people all over Europe, US, Israel, Asia, Africa, that blindly would attack and kill for their god.

And on returning home safely one says a prayer of thanks.

(12) There are many more occasions to invoke G-d’s name .  Judaism ordains benedictions for almost every juncture in life.  “Should (you) don a new garment, taste a fruit just then in season, see a flash of lightning, hear thunder, catch a glimpse of the ocean or of a rainbow or of trees burgeoning in the spring…(or) hear good news.” [50.124] At the beginning of Summer when I walk into the grocery store and with delight see the colorful display of the new fruits of the season, I cannot help but silently utter my amazement and joy saying ‘Oh G-d, how wonderful is your creation and provision!’

Throughout the day, wherever you are, notice and thank G-d for: the beautiful morning light falling into the room;  the breeze rustling through the trees;  singing of birds;  the patterns and colors and leaves on the ground where you are walking;  a squirrel dashing away;  the sound of children laughing;  a dog playing, and look up to the magnificent mountain or sky that fills your vision. All a reason to feel joy and sing a praise to our Father and Creator.

Greet people with a smile and when appropriate say a blessing.  Take cognizance of a poor person you pass or an obviously unhappy person, and say a silent prayer for them.  There may be also the opportunity to give tzedakah (alms) to a beggar. Ask the busy street sweeper or the tired till operator at the supermarket how they are and wish them well.

There are other occasions like when baking bread, the Tradition is to break off a small piece and say a blessing in remembrance of the priests and Temple.  When picking up your child from school, ask G-d for insight and patience.  Or as you go into a meeting, ask for wisdom and clarity.  As you can glean, there are many occasions throughout a day that one can communicate with our Father in Heaven.

(13) As from the moment you woke up, so too you end the day with a prayer to thank and praise G-d;   pray for people on your special prayer list and end off with the brief Shmah or Our Father prayer. (*4)

It should be clear from the above, that these customs inculcate an awareness of G-d’s presence in one’s life and that it is of inestimable value for yourself and your children to learn and practice.

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FOOTNOTES

*1    See Deut. 6:4   In the Hebrew text of the Bible [Tenach] we read the famous first verse of what is called “The Shma” which is the closest to an affirmation of faith or creed one finds in Judaism.  Note also that this verse contains two unusual features.  The  ‘a’ or  ע which appears at the end of the first word (Shma),  and the ‘d’ or  ד  which appears at the end of the last word of this verse – echad which means ‘one’, appear larger than all the other letters.  [Remember there are no capital letters in Hebrew.] These two letters taken together and pronounced  ‘ed’ means ‘witness.’  And this is exactly what one’s actions throughout the day should be:  be a witness of our faith in G-d.

*2  Also referred to as Phylacteries. Exodus 13 and Deuteronomy 6 and 11, teach that Jews must bind the commandments upon their hand and between their eyes.  This is fulfilled by bindings special boxes containing three Biblical passages with leather straps over the forehead and round the arm.  The verses written on parchment cover the fundamentals of the Jewish faith: 1) Ex 13:1-10 & 11-16 describing the duty to always remember Israel’s redemption from Egyptian bondage and the obligation to educate his children of this as well as G-d’s commandments.  2) Deu 6:4-9  The Shema, pronouncing the unity of one G-d, and command to love and fear Him.  3)Deu 11:13-21  G-d’s assurance to us of reward that will follow our observance of His commandments. [See Chabad.org]    The practice is an ancient one and mentioned in the Brit Chadasha / New Testament.

*3  According to Deu 6:9 the children of Israel must write G-d’s words upon the doorposts of their houses.  In order to fulfil this, the words of Deu 6:4-9 and 11:13-21 are written on parchment and placed in the small container called a Mezuza, and attached to the right hand doorpost of the house. [38.115]

*4  In A Prayer to Our Father, the Hebrew Origins of The Lord’s Prayer,  by Nehemia Gordon and Keith Johnson, [Hilkiah Press, 2012],  they write how they discovered a Hebrew version preserved in secret by Jewish rabbis for over a thousand years,  that reveals a powerful message of spiritual growth for Jew and Christian alike.

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Chapter 18:   Conclusion

“Woe to those who speak of evil as good and of good as evil; who make darkness into light and light into darkness; they make bitter into sweet and sweet into bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and in their own view, understanding”  Isaiah 5:20,21

“The Torah teaches us not to move the markers.  Losing everything begins by losing a little bit at a time. When we move the landmarks of  [Torah] life, slowly and inexorably we lose our borders  and the lines become blurred.  Children, in particular, need clear solid lines to understand the boundaries the dos and don’ts of living correct[ly]..” [33.214]  All over the world – in the USA, Europe, the UK and even Israel – we have been witnessing this happening;  losing the Judean-Christian principles especially since the 1960’s.  No more is G-d or the Bible mentioned in our everyday communication.  In private or in  public forums.  We even hear the terms Eurasia and Londislam used.

Near the end of the Torah, in parshat Haazinu, we read the song that G-d told Moses to write down and teach the Isralites. [Deu 31:15-19]. It is to be a reminder to the nation Israel that G-d is a caring and loving G-d ‘like an eagle, arousing its nest, hovering over its young …יהוה alone guided them’ [Deu 32:11 & 12] who gave them the bountiful Land of Israel and that G-d ‘He will avenge the blood of His servants; He will bring retribution upon His foes, and He will appease His Land and His People’ [Deu 32:43]

At times you will feel as if G-d is concealing or hiding His face from you. That is when you need to turn to G-d and call out to Him as the psalmist did again and again and consider if ‘you became fat, you became thick, you became corpulent’ because of all your prosperity, status and wealth,  and ‘you deserted G-d your Maker’.   That is when you have to take to heart Moses’s concluding words to Israel:

“Apply your hearts to all the words that I testify against you today with which you are to instruct your children to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah, for it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life, and through this matter shall you prolong your days..”[Deu 32:46-7]

“Good fortune is a serious challenge to a nation’s moral standing, for people are prone  to indulge their lusts when they have the resources to do so….When the great stray a little bit the commoners fall into a steep decline” [11:1103 & 1105]  As King Solomon, in the book Ecclesiastes warns that man should not be deceived by the dazzling splendor that blinds so many people to what really matters in life.  Rather, one must maintain one’s sense of values and always recognize that man, as the only creature with a Godly soul, must spire to higher goals. 

          “The sum of the matter, when all has been considered: Fear God and keep His commandments  for that is [because this is] man’s whole duty. For God will judge every deed – even everything hidden – whether good or evil.” [Ecc 12:13-4]

“ The law, as it were, lays down a minimum threshold: this we must do. But the moral life aspires to more than simply doing what we must…..At first Moses said that you are to keep His statutes and his testimonies which He commanded you, and now he is stating that even where He has not commanded you, give thought as well to do what is good and right in his eyes, for He loves the good and the right.

“Now this is a great principle, for it is impossible to mention in the Torah all aspects of man’s conduct with his neighbors and friends, all his various transactions and the ordinances of all societies and countries. But since He mentioned many of them, such as, “You shall not go around as a talebearer,” “You shall not take vengeance nor bear a grudge,” “You shall not stand idly by the blood of your neighbor,” “You shall not curse the deaf,” “You shall rise before the hoary head,” and the like, He went on to state in a general way that in all matters one should do what is good and right, including even compromise and going beyond the strict requirement of the law … Thus one should behave in every sphere of activity, until he is worthy of being called “good and upright.”

“Ramban is going beyond Rashi’s point, that the right and the good refer to a higher standard than the law strictly requires. It seems as if Ramban is telling us that there are aspects of the moral life that are not caught by the concept of law at all. That is what he means by saying “It is impossible to mention in the Torah all aspects of man’s conduct with his neighbours and friends.”

“Law is about universals, principles that apply in all places and times. Don’t murder. Don’t rob. Don’t steal. Don’t lie. Yet there are important features of the moral life that are not universal at all. They have to do with specific circumstances and the way we respond to them. What is it to be a good husband or wife, a good parent, a good teacher, a good friend? What is it to be a great leader, or follower, or member of a team? When is it right to praise, and when is it appropriate to say, “You could have done better”? There are aspects of the moral life that cannot be reduced to rules of conduct, because what matters is not only what we do, but the way in which we do it: with humility or gentleness or sensitivity or tact.” (*1)

“Faith is precisely the courage to take a risk, knowing that “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me” (Ps. 23:4). It took faith to challenge the religions of the ancient world, especially when they were embodied in the greatest empires of their time. It took faith to stay Jewish in the Hellenistic age, when Jews and Judaism must have seemed small and parochial when set against the cosmopolitan culture of ancient Greece and the Alexandrian empire.”  (*2)

In Deuteronomy  6  “when Moshe laid out in passionate language the general life-principle of sh’ma-ing the Voice of the Holy One. At that time Moshe made it clear that for us job #1 – i.e., the most important thing a redeemed person can do, and that which separates a person from the way of the world — is to dedicate his life and his home to listening to, and hearing, and treasuring as one’s most prized possession, the Words of the One True God, to internalizing that Word, and letting that internalized Word totally  transform the way he thinks, speaks, and acts.” (*3)  Furthermore Bullock states that the pursuit of the Holy One is through TORAH instead of through religious activities which meet with public approval, make us appear pious, draw a crowd.  And I would like to add:  also through cultivating a personal relationship with G-d.  Being aware of His presence constantly wherever you are.  Talking to Him constantly.  Not just with silent prayer or praying out loud, but really talking to Him, thinking of Him as your Father, friend, confidant and helper.

As Rabbi Yossy Goldman reminds us in his book From where I stand, Life messages from the weekly Torah Reading, every day can be like a new beginning.  When we open our eyes in the morning and start a new day. [33.4 & 6]

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I truly hope that I have stirred your – the reader’s – heart and touched your mind.  We need today (2020) more than ever the  Guidance of G-d’s word;  to hold fast to absolute and timeless principles that are revealed in the Bible.

Therefore, as chosen one of Elohim, set-apart and beloved, put on compassion, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving each other if anyone has a complaint against another…But above all these put on love, which is a bond of the perfection. And let the peace of Elohim rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one Body, and be filled with thanks.  [Colossians 3:12-15]

He (G-d) gives strength to the weary and grants abundant might to the powerless. Youth may weary and tire and young men may constantly falter, but those whose hope is in HASHEM  יהוה will have renewed strength;  they will grow a wing, like eagles;  they will run and not grow tired, they will walk and not grow weary. [Isaiah 40:29-31] 

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FOOTNOTES

*1    Jonathan Sacks.  The Right and the Good (Va’etchanan 5775) Covenant & Conversation.

*2    Jonathan Sacks.  The Courage to Live with Uncertainty. (Noach 5776) Covenant & Conversation

*3      Bill Bullock.  Parshot Va’Etchanan.  Behold it with your eyes. [Rabisson@cableone.net]

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