Parasha Deuteronomy 1:1 till 3:22; Haftorah Isaiah 1:1 till 1:27

This week we decided to bring our readers a video commentary on the Haftorah, which is read from the book of Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 1:1-27, because this Shabbat is the Shabbat before Tisha B’av, the Ninth of the month of Av, which is the anniversary of the destruction of both the first and the second Temple (Bait HaMikdash):

Shabbat Shalom

Video commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman
(The Temple Insitute Jerusalem):
Liberalism is a phycological disorder, an if that’s the only way to correct them then so be it. Also I don’t believe that Pinchas is Elijah pre-carnate though it would be understandable (to me) if you claimed that he acted in the same righteous spirit. Peace be with you…

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

Extract:
…And Aaron did so; he lighted the lamps thereof over against the candlestick, as the LORD commanded Moses. And this work of the candlestick was of beaten gold, unto the shaft thereof, unto the flowers thereof, was beaten work: according unto the pattern which the LORD had shewed Moses, so he made the candlestick. And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, take the Levites from among the children of Israel, and cleanse them….

Shabbat Shalom

This week we again have a double Torah portion. In the first part, “BeHar – At the mount (Sinai),” God’s appointed times of rest are stressed.
God ordered resting times for mankind and for nature, which He connected with the number seven (sheva). In Hebrew, a week is called shavua because of its seven days. The shabbat, the seventh day, is the holy resting day for all mankind, even gentiles (see Isaiah 66 and The Sabbath Song▼).

Nor was nature forgotten. According to our reading, the land should rest every seven years (the Sh’mita Year).
Additionally, the Seventh Millenium – according to the Jewish calender we are ending the 6000 years! – will see the establishment of Messiah’s Thousand-Year Kingdom, when peace and rest is declared over all the earth. The Mishna refers to this when it calls the Shabbat, the seventh day, a “foretaste of the World-to-Come.”

Seven, as we can see, is a number of fullness and completion (shalem), which has the same root of the word for peace (shalom).
In the second part of our double portion, beginning from chapter 26, the topic is that of blessing and curse. When we serve God with joy and walk in His paths, He showers/overwhelms us with His blessings, and keeps us away from any curse.

“So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His.”

Shabbat Shalom!

Abstract of a commentary by Michael Schneider,
israel today, Jerusalem:
In last week’s Torah portion we learned about clean and unclean animals, this week’s reading begins with, “when a woman gives birth (tazria).” When a child is born, it is the beginning of all things. Also, in this reading we are shown that purity standards were given and at a time when the children of Israel were in the desert. Included in this passage, were also the differences in giving birth to a boy and a girl.

Later we read about the leper (metzora), who was healed through true humility. A classic example we find is in a Torah portion on the prophets (haftarot). There (in II Kings 5) we read about Naaman, a prideful Syrian General, who first needed a godly lesson of humility by dipping seven times in the dirty Jordan River. This is what the prophet Elisha commanded him to do, as it is written in Leviticus 14:7. Before he could be healed he had to immerse and cleanse himself, not only physically, but also spiritually. –That’s real Godly Healing.

Shabbat Shalom!

Down you will find a video commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem:

Here are some impressions which may lead you in the reading of “The Song of Songs”, into God’s love for Israel:

Shabbat Shalom

▼ Sabbath Song:

Abstract of the Commentary by Michael Schneider,
israel today, Jerusalem:

This weekly portion (parashat) begins with ransom (kofer nefesh) and atonement money (kessef kippurim) in the value of “half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary” for every man over 20. “The rich shall not pay more and the poor shall not pay less than the half shekel, when you give the contribution to the LORD to make atonement for yourselves.” (30:15).

In chapter 31, we read about God’s Calling to Bezalel (in God’s shadow) from the tribe Judah. He was a man with the Spirit of God with wisdom, understanding and knowledge. Bezalel Ben-Uri was anointed by the Almighty to design His sanctuary – what a privilege! He was a skilled, inspired craftsman. (The art academy today in Jerusalem is named after him, Bezalel – and is located across the street where the ISRAEL TODAY offices are).

In chapter 32, we read about the building of the Golden Calf. That is what happens when spiritual leadership is missing! Moses, the mediator between man and God, was on Mount Sinai for 40 days….

The Lord warns: “They have quickly turned aside from the way which I commanded them…” (32:8).

Here we have the true test of a man of God: The Lord said to Moses: “… I have seen this people, and behold, they are an obstinate people. Now then let Me alone, that My anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them; and I will make of you a great nation” (32:9-10). God wanted to destroy this rebellious people and bless Moses with a nation through him.

But Moses, a true leader, spoke to the heart of God and pled for his people. He asked God to reconsider, wondering what the nations, especially Egypt, would think of the mighty God of Israel who had delivered them from Egypt just “to kill them in the mountains and to destroy them from the face of the earth” (32:12)?
Second try: Moses reminded the Lord of His eternal Covenant with the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

After seeing the golden calf, Moses broke the two tablets of the 10 commandments and then the golden idol was burn. He said: “Whoever is for the LORD, come to me!” (32:26; which, by the way, is an election slogan for the ultra-Orthodox Shas party today). Following that, 3,000 people were killed in punishment.

After the punishment, Moses approached God for the third time to intercede for forgiveness on behalf of his people. Moses was ready to lay down his life for the sake of his people: “But now, if You will, forgive their sin–and if not, please blot me out from Your book which You have written!” (32:32; also the first hint that there is a Book of Life in heaven)

So God sent “His angel” who walked with the people (verse 34).

Moses wanted to see more of God: “I pray You, show me Your glory!”
But not all the Lord has shown Moses, saying: “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion.”
…New Testament instances:cp. Romans 9:15-20
…and “you shall see My back, but My face shall not be seen” (verse 23).

Then the LORD passed in front of him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness and truth…” (34:6)

Moses fell on the ground to ask forgiveness for his people: “If now I have found favor in Your sight, O Lord, I pray, let the Lord go along in our midst, even though the people are so obstinate, and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us as Your own possession.”
God renewed His covenant: “Behold, I am going to make a covenant before all your people I will perform miracles which have not been produced in all the earth nor among any of the nations…” (34:10)

And so it is until today! God has performed many miracles for His people before the eyes of all nations – just look at the rebirth of the State of Israel and the return of His people to their land after almost 2000 years!

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!

This week again you will find no written Commentary here but a video from The Temple Institute Rabbi Chaim Richman who speaks in this parasha about the jew to bring the light of God into the world. On this Shabbat it is the day of the last, the 8th light of Hanukkah.The righteous Yosef was the dream interpreter and dream facilitator to Pharaoh, and throughout the ages the Jews have fulfilled this role for the nations, ensuring their physical survival. But when…

Shabbat Shalom