The Shabbat after Tisha B’Av is also called “Shabbat Nachamu”, Shabbat of consolation, for now, after three weeks of mourning (Bejn haMejzarim – between the afflictions) to the destruction of the temple, seven weeks will follow in which the life in full color splendor is to return. “Nachamu Ami” (“Be comforted my people”) the people will sing …

… the Sabbath songs according to the Haftarah, see down.

Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11; Haftara: Isaiah 40:1-26

Extracts of the Commentary by Michael Schneider,
Israel today, Jerusalem:
Our weekly reading begins with a moving prayer by Moses requesting that God allow him to enter the Promised Land, despite his earlier sin of striking the rock for water when he was instructed to merely speak to it. Moses has been waiting most of his life to see the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. The Lord is merciful, and grants Moses half of his request by letting him see in a supernatural way from Mount Nebo all of the land from the Golan in the north to the Negev in the south.

Moses knew his people, therefore he warned them strongly before he died: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live! Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (4:9)

In chapter five Moses repeats the Ten Commandments, and in chapter six he reiterates the Torah’s Mega-Mitzvah: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (6:4-5 … Even today, those are the words a Jew recites before he dies.)

At the end of our reading Moses explains why God choose this people. Not because it is great and mighty, but rather the opposite is true: because it is the smallest of the nations! God Almighty chose Israel so that He could do mighty wonders and signs through this rebellious, stiff-necked people, because “in our weakness His power is perfected!”

Interestingly, all the readings from the prophets corresponding to the Torah readings through Deuteronomy, the fifth book of Moses, are from the Book Isaiah. Jesus and the apostles also often quoted from Isaiah (in Hebrew Yeshayahu – YAH will save).

This week’s reading from Isaiah starts with the words: “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.”

Yes, indeed, this people has received a double portion of punishment. But guess what? It also will receive a double portion of blessing!
(By the way, read verse 22 carefully and you will see clear biblical proof that the earth is round! – “He who sits above the circle of the earth.” No need for Leorndado Di Vinci’s “discovery.”)

Shabbat Shalom

Commentary:
On this Shabbat, we find the story of the 12 spies (Numbers 13:1 – 15:41), the first Mossad. Moses sent the spies to scout the Promised Land.

How many people are there? What are their military capabilities? Is the land fruitful? (13:18-20). Those are legitimate questions that responsible people should and have to know.

Ten spies returned with a negative and frightening report. They confirmed that the land was flowing with milk and honey (13:27), but also warned about the presence of giants (anakim), thus discouraging the people and putting disbelief and fear in their hearts.

Unfortunately, the people in these passages, as most people today do, listened to the majority, the hopeless report of the 10 spies.

The negative report and the people’s acceptance of it brought a harsh punishment: “According to the number of days which you spied out the land, forty days, for every day you shall bear your guilt a year, even forty years, and you will know My opposition.” (14:34)

It was probably a huge shock for the people, who were so desperate to enter the Promised Land. The whole generation of the exodus – except for Joshua and Caleb, the two faithful spies – was to die in the desert.

Because of this tragic turn of events caused by man’s tendency to rely on his own understanding, this week’s Torah portion ends with the commandment to wear tzitzit – tassels on the corners of one’s garments – “to look at and remember all the commandments of the LORD, so as to do them and not follow after your own heart and your own eyes.” (15:39)

Our eyes must focus on the Word of God, on Him, and not on what’s going on around us. Today we call this living by faith and not by sight!

The word “scouting” that is used in these passages is from the Hebrew word “tar” or “latur,” from which we get the word for tourist (tayar).

May those who live abroad and the tourists who come today to Israel see the Land as Joshua and Caleb saw it – through the eyes of God, in faith, not to be deterred by reports of danger.

Shabbat Shalom

Abstract of the Commentary by Michael Schneider,
israel today, Jerusalem:
This week’s Shabbat reading begins in the book Exodus with God leading the children of Israel out of Egypt hundreds of years after Josephs’ death. Egyptologist David Rohl believes the Exodus happened in 1207 BC, including 40 years of wanderings in the desert.

From 70 of the house of Jacob a nation of 600,000 men was born. At this time, his descendents “did not know Joseph,” know meaning in Hebrew the same as “loved.”

The people of Israel encountered greater hardships. It is the first time in scripture where affliction’s end came with deliverance and salvation!

When the murder of children on the Nile began (v. 22), God heard the cries of his people and remembered his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The Lord did not answer before accomplishing great things.

Chapter two begins with the birth of Moses whose life was spared as his mother placed him in a basket down the Nile, leading to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became known as the “Prince of Egypt.”

Chapter three tells of Moses’ first encounter with God at the “burning bush,” where the LORD promised him a “Land flowing with milk and money,” and so the exodus begins. It was also here the LORD called Moses to deliver the people out of Egypt.

The following chapter speaks of human weakness as Moses asks, “what should I say or do…so they can believe me.” Don’t we sometimes struggle with having faith?

Moses confronted the heard-hearted Pharaoh with only and staff and great faith because he was sure God would give him the words to speak.

Yet, we find verse 16 most interesting as it says, “…he will be as a mouth for you and you will be (as) God to him!” What does this mean? Moses actedd as a mediator between man and God, a representative of God.

God forewarned Moses of the difficulty he’d encounter when approaching Pharaoh, but assured him that it would be the power of the Almighty God of Israel that would rescue the children of Israel.

Our portion ends with the words from Isaiah 29:23. “But when he sees his children, the work of My hands, in his midst, They will sanctify My name; Indeed, they will sanctify the Holy One of Jacob and will stand in awe of the God of Israel.” Here is our comfort!

Abstract of the Commentary by Michael Schneider,
israel today, Jerusalem:
In our Torah portion, ‘Va‘Yeshev,’ last year, we discussed Joseph. Through Joseph’s brother’s rejection, he was sent to Egypt where he attained status of being second to Pharaoh and regarded as a deity. The Egyptians also used the concept of the trinity with three Pharaoh’s. He became a stranger to his brothers because he was now ‘Egyptian’ and they could not recognize him.

David, like Joseph has a similar story. Both were shepherds and despised by their brothers. Samuel anointed David as king at 17, but it wasn’t until age 30 when he reigned over Israel. Joseph’s life in Egypt began at 17, but he didn’t sit ‘at the right hand’ of Pharaoh until 30. Both, Joseph and David, were sons from another mother, which Jewish scholars claim was the reason for David’s ‘red’ look and why “Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons…”

Chapter 38 interrupts with a different story: the deceitful affair between Judah and Tamar, his daughter-in-law. Judah, in the chapter before intervenes and saves his brother’s life (37:26-27). One interpretation says it’s the reason his descendants are of the royal line in the kingdom of Israel. Judah (where the word ‘Jew – yehudi’ comes from) desired for his sons to produce offspring so they could continue his forefather’s blessing.

When Judah’s oldest son, Er, passed away, his wife Tamar was given to Onan. “Lie with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother” (38:8). But, after Onan died, Judah told Tamar to go back to her father’s home until the third son Shela grew up.

Many years passed and the agreement was forgotten. But, when Tamar saw her father-in-law she sought revenge. She took off her widow’s clothes (38:14), which were a sign she was waiting for Judah to fulfill his promise, and covered her face so he couldn’t recognize her. Once protected from evil she was now covered with the mask of sin and deceit. Out of rage and revenge she dressed like a prostitute and Judah fell into ‘her snare’ (Proverbs 7).

Once her sin was made known, Judah confessed, “She is right, I am to blame.” Tamar went on to give birth to – again – twins, Peretz and Zerach (38:25 – 26). Again, the younger (Peretz) struggled to be born first, like with Esau and Jacob.

Another similarity we find is that Tamar shows Judah his three belongings: his ring, cord and staff. She says, “Recognize please…” (Hebrew haker-na; 38:25), which reminds us of the same words used in the chapter before as Judah himself deceived his father with Joseph’s coat and said: “Recognize please…” (37:32). What Judah did to his father through deceit Tamar did to him.

We can ask ourselves why the LORD allowed the marriage to be ‘legitimate’ even though it was incest and allow the heirs to be a part of the Messianic line of David? God allowed it to happen! Tamar even became one of the four ‘non-Jewish’ mothers along with Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba.

That was answered in our reading in Zechariah 2:14-16: “Shout and be glad, O Daughter of Zion. For I am coming, and I will live among you,” declares the LORD… “The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem.”

Commentary by Michael Schneider,
israel today, Jerusalem:
This week’s Torah portion begins with Jacob returning to the land of his parents after working for his father-in-law Laban. Upon his return, Jacob meets Esau who 20 years earlier sought to kill him.

Even though, Jacob had excess riches he was lacking one thing: peace with his brother. Once again he attempts to create his own way of avoiding conflict with Esau. He heard that 400 men were escorting Esau and “he was scared” (32:8). He divided the camp into two, using a typical military strategy, so that one camp would survive. This tactic is still used by Israel, the sons of Jacobs, today. This happens when we fear because we do not fully trust the Lord.

Jacob reminded God of his promise (32:10-11, 13): “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother…” he pleads. “But you have said… my descendants will be like sand of the sea…” – so how come that Jacob is standing now before a great danger? Are these not similar situations believers face?

Jacob tried with all his wealth and riches to flatter his brother. He didn’t know God also had blessed Esau and changed his heart. Jacob sent his wives and children to the back of the camp for safety, but he stood up front all alone. It was when he thought everything was ‘under control’ that he had an encounter with the Lord that night. Jacob wrestled with a Man who said. “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me” (32:26).

Every believer needs to have this experience otherwise he will wrestle and struggle all his life. Man needs to let go of his life and allow the Lord to take control. Jacob needed to come to this point so God could rename him to ‘Isra-El,’ God will strive (for you). “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed (32:28).”

The deceitful and manipulative characteristics of Jacob turned into Fear of God. He was released from the fear of man and was able to meet his brother through trusting God.

The site was called Peniel, because “he saw God face to face” (panim means face and also refers to internal; 32:30). At the meeting with Esau the term ‘VaYera’ (and he feared; 32:7) changed to ‘VaYare’ (and he saw; 33:1).

In chapter 34, we read about Jacob’s daughter Dinah who was “violated” by Shechem, the son of Hamor the Hivite, who then wanted to marry her (34:9, 21). The brothers of Dinah sought revenge, murdering the sons of Hamor after the men of Hamor had submitted to Jacob’s son’s wishes and were pain as they were circumcised.

Chapter 35 speaks about the cleansing of all idols influenced by pagan nations surrounding them in Bethel and of the death of Rachel during the birth of her second child, Benjamin. Isaac, Jacob’s father died at the age of 180 and was also buried by his two sons, Esau and Jacob, at Hebron.

Jacob and Esau, like Abraham and Lot, also had an abundance of flocks and herds, which became so great they needed to go their separate ways. Later we will see that one of Esau’s descendants, Amalek, will become Israel’s biggest enemy (36:12).

Shabbat Shalom

Abstract of the Commentary by
Michael Schneider, israel today, Jerusalem:
In this week’s Torah Portion we meet another childless couple: Isaac and Rebekah (25:21). We can read of several Man of God that shared the same fate like Abraham and later the parents of Joseph, Samuel and also Samson…

After 20 years of prayer, when Isaac was 60 years old, the LORD in his sovereign grace allowed Rebekah to bear twins, Jacob and Esau. Verse 22 tells us the twins “struggled within her.” God told her “two nations are in your womb … and the older shall serve the younger.” This was one promise Rebekah kept to herself until later.

We find parallels between Abraham’s life story to Isaac’s, such as the times of famine and both men lying to authorities, claiming that their wives were their sisters. Isaac did so, lying to the Philistine king in Genesis 26:7. So the lesson was not learned!

A Jewish commentary says, why was Jacob cooking lentils? It was during the Shiva (the seven-day mourning to eat lentils during the mourning period. And how old was Jacob and Esau when Abraham their grandpa passed away? They were 15 years old. Thus, the three patriarchs, Abraham, Yitzhak (Isaac) and Jacob, lived during the same period for 15 years.

But Isaac and Rebekah’s younger received the covenant blessing of promise also in following generations. Jacob even favoured Joseph’s younger sons in blessings over the older ones, so with Ephraim. While this seems unfair to man, God looks at the heart (I Samuel 16:7).
To the question ‘Why Jacob and not Esau?’ we find answer in our prophet portion in Maleachi 1…

Now, why did God hate Esau? Esau didn’t value God’s blessing and was ready to sell it for bread and lentil soup. Genesis 25:34 says, “So Esau despised his birthright…”

Jacob, in Hebrew is related to the word “akev” meaning “heel” (25:26). “Akov,” also related, means ‘deceitful’, like the heart of man (Jeremiah 17:9). Yes, Jacob – even if it meant receiving the blessing from God – was a deceiver (27:35) – we would even call it today a tricky manipulator. He attempted to do all in his own strength until he wrestled with God “face to face” at Peniel. From this time on, Jacob was called Isra-el, or God strives (for you).

The same will happen to the “Sons of Jacob” as a nation, Israel will meet His Saviour and not needing anymore to “put on clothes of someone he is not”!
Esau, today, would be identified as a “real man,” the type of son who makes his father proud as a skilled hunter. Jacob, on the other hand, would be called a “mama’s boy” as a quiet guy who hung around at home.

Nevertheless, Esau was disobedient to his father taking foreign wives while Jacob obeyed his father (28:6-7). But Jacob listens to the will of his father.
Jacob received the blessing by deceiving his father with the help of his mother, but it came at a price. Although Rebekah took the curse on her (27:13), Jacob had to leave his parents’ tents to flee the wrath of his brother. There Jacob met an even greater deceiver – his future father-in-law, Laban.
That’s how the LORD works sometimes in order to humble the prideful heart/man.
“If you will not hear, and if you will not take it to heart,
To give glory to My name,” says the LORD of hosts,
“ I will send a curse upon you, and I will curse your blessings.
Yes, I have cursed them already, because you do not take it to heart.” (Malachi 2:2; from our Haftara)

Shabbat Shalom

Would you someone, who called you a disloyal, faithless, stubborn and deceitful folk and who inciting billion people to pray against you invite to your home? Why do you belief, Mr. Ratzinger, a member of the German Hitler Youth, you have been invited to Israel during the past year, 5769? Could be the reason:
In Eretz Israel – where you have no ownership on and the God you mock every day – you are still invited to worship Him and serve only Him alone. But you abused his hospitality and prayed against the God in Israel – because you despise the law of the One God. Too bad. For you and the Christian world – not for Israel!

For the land of Israel is pleased with the Torah – the one people of God, it cheers!
Therefore Simchat Torah begins with the Great Hallel (Psalms 113-118) …

and we are pleased with Isaiah (Jeschajahu 25) that:
…in this mountain the LORD of hosts will make for all people a feast of choice pieces, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of well-refined wines on the lees. And He will destroy on this mountain the surface of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.

… and the feast of rejoicing ends each year (Joshua 1) with God’s to Israel and every Jew issued order:

Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

… To have even later, my once an abandoned MIR President of the United States or MIR blasphemous German Pope to stand up to ME and divide my land new (so it would stand today in the Bible).

Have a glad feast …

… Chag Sameach,
Eric Martienssen

Extracts of the Commentary by Michael Schneider,
Israel today, Jerusalem:
Our weekly reading begins with a moving prayer by Moses requesting that God allow him to enter the Promised Land, despite his earlier sin of striking the rock for water when he was instructed to merely speak to it. Moses has been waiting most of his life to see the fulfillment of God’s promise to Israel. The Lord is merciful, and grants Moses half of his request by letting him see in a supernatural way from Mount Nebo all of the land from the Golan in the north to the Negev in the south.

Moses knew his people, therefore he warned them strongly before he died: “Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live! Teach them to your children and to their children after them.” (4:9)

In chapter five Moses repeats the Ten Commandments, and in chapter six he reiterates the Torah’s Mega-Mitzvah: “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” (6:4-5 … Even today, those are the words a Jew recites before he dies.)

* In Mark 12 we see the full quotation of this, including the Shma, when Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment.

At the end of our reading Moses explains why God choose this people. Not because it is great and mighty, but rather the opposite is true: because it is the smallest of the nations! God Almighty chose Israel so that He could do mighty wonders and signs through this rebellious, stiff-necked people, because “in our weakness His power is perfected!”

Interestingly, all the readings from the prophets corresponding to the Torah readings through Deuteronomy, the fifth book of Moses, are from the Book Isaiah. Jesus and the apostles also often quoted from Isaiah (in Hebrew Yeshayahu – YAH will save).

This week’s reading from Isaiah starts with the words: “Comfort, O comfort My people,” says your God. Speak kindly to Jerusalem; and call out to her, that her warfare has ended, that her iniquity has been removed, that she has received of the LORD’S hand double for all her sins.”

Yes, indeed, this people has received a double portion of punishment. But guess what? It also will receive a double portion of blessing!
(By the way, read verse 22 carefully and you will see clear biblical proof that the earth is round! – “He who sits above the circle of the earth.” No need for Leorndado Di Vinci’s “discovery.”)

Shabbat Shalom

*) God’s Sabbath International tries at passages marked with star to observe common and sometimes even connecting doings between Jews and Christians

In the commentary on today’s Parasha (Balak) Michael Schneider from Jerusalem writes that the Jewish People are the most cursed people of the world. Israel has been cursed the most – after the Germans – by the entire world community, the United Nations, the UNO. It’s only that this was no longer called a curse, but, quite liberal, called Law Of Nations or UN resolution. The main thing was that it achieved it’s goal: the destruction of Israel in the name of justice by stealing Israel the right to defend itself.

This insidious UN curse now has competitors. But not by peace intention feigning, God totally ignoring representatives of the Nations. No, first of all through the (natural) German pope’s in mid-May in Israel declared idea to devide the Holy Land of God in the name of Christianity, represented by him, into two parts. And three weeks later through the once Christian minded US-Americans, represented by their moslemic President Barack Hussein Obama. Who would have thought that the Christian world one day choose spiritually a God forsaken pope and at the same time politically a Muslim as “Führer”? Uniting against the God of Israel – almost like a double pack in the curse of spiritual and secular power.

But can the man replace the God of Israel in the hearts and souls of His creation? Wake up America, wake up Rome, and throw the two Israel hater out of office! Get rid of your seduction that takes you to the death, re-elect life! “Blessed is everyone who blesses you (Israel), and cursed is everyone who curses you.” Look up to the God of Israel, praise His holy name and take the example of His holy people. See the video above, a contribution by the Director of the International Department of the Temple Institute, Rabbi Chaim Richman, a Jewish response to the Obama Cairo speech!

Let’s brake up to the God of Israel once again,
„Arise (Israel), shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee“,
Shabbat Shalom
Yourth Eric C. Martienssen

Digest of the Commentary of Michael Schneider, israel today, Jerusalem:
We read in our weekly Torah portion about Balak, king of Moab, who was frightened by thevictorious people of Israel after they defeated the mighty Sihon, king of the Amorites, and Og, king of (Golan)

Bashan. (Both of these battles are still remembered in daily Jewish prayers!)

Balak turned to spiritual powers for help: He called upon Balaam, a known seer, to curse Israel! We see that at first Balaam resisted the demands of the king, wanting to obey God. The king sent first messengers then princes to persuade him. God saw Balaam’s heart grow increasingly weak so He allowed him to go: “Rise up and go with them” (22:20). Balaam waited for the ‘green light’ from God. We read how quickly the next morning he packed his donkey and went.

But “God was angry because he was going” (22:22).
God used the situation to demonstrate that he can use anyone to proclaim His word, even through a talking donkey.

Later we see that instead of a cursing, Balak had to listen to a blessing on Israel (23:11 and 25) three times. He, like Pharaoh, did not give up easily and it became a power struggle between a human ruler and the “still unknown” God of Israel.

“Blessed is everyone who blesses you (Israel), and cursed is everyone who curses you.” (24:9) However, the story shows us, that the Jewish people are the most cursed people in all history! The United Nations has passed more resolutions condemning Israel than against all other nations put together including Iraq! (2006) Of the 175 resolutions of the UN (UNO) Security Council, 97 were against Israel!

On the other hand, people, companies and individuals are blessed because they bless Israel whether through practical and financial help or prayer. Yes, this formula still holds good.

One of Balaam’s blessings even became the introduction of a prayer: “How fair are your tents, O Jacob, Your dwellings, O Israel” (24:5).
Let it be a word of comfort to us: God can change any ordered and planned curse into a blessing!

Shabbat Shalom

See also our Currant Themes: Jewish response to Obama Cairo Speech – No Messiah, he steals Israel everything

Rabbinic Commentary: